Jesus Run 2002
Press Release
Release Date: Immediate
Contact: Rob Sigmon
Phone: 1.888.713.5700
Fax: 303.703.6468
E-mail: rob@jesusrun.org
June 11th, 2002
2000 PARTICIPATE IN 3RD ANNUAL JESUS RUN WEEKEND FESTIVAL DENVER
$100,000 RAISED FOR MISSIONS, KAAGE OF KENYA WINS MARATHON IN 2:26
Jesus Run, the world's largest Christian walking and running event,
announces the results of it's third annual weekend festival in Denver
including 3 USATF Certified road races: Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k,
as well as the all day Concert Festival and Missions Symposium Speaking
Series.
For 2002, the Jesus Run events were moved to downtown Denver, June
7th-9th. "The professionalism and cooperation shown to us by the City
and County of Denver officials, Denver Police Department, Denver Para med
and Special Events Office, made planning for this event incomparably
easier than last year," said Race Director, Rob Sigmon, who hired 190
police officers and supervised the placement of over 50 directional signs
along the race to keep participants on track.
This year's events started June 7th at 6pm with a Celebration Banquet at
the Marriott City Center, featuring Dove Award winning Christian
Contemporary vocalist Geoff Moore and former Harlem Globe Trotter, Melvin
Adams. The evening honored participants who had raised over $1000 for
their missionary through Jesus Run.
On Saturday, June 8th, a dozen speakers including the President of Food
for the Hungry, Ben Homan, addresses participants by challenging them to
"get out of the pews and into the mission field."
The Race Expo for all runners was open at the Marriott from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and all participants picked up their event
T-shirt, Race Packet, Race Timing Chip and turned in Missionary Funds
raised throughout the year. Over $100,000 was raised through the Jesus
Run Missionary Fundraising program.
Saturday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. featured a collection of
Christian Contemporary artists including: Mark Schultz, FFH, Michelle
Tumes and local favorite Shauna Chandra, performing live on stage at City
Park.
The running events all went off as scheduled on Sunday morning with the
Marathon and Marathon Relay beginning at 6:30 a.m., the Half Marathon at
6:45 a.m. and the 5k at 7 a.m. Runners and walkers emerged from City
Park and traversed downtown Denver and a combination of scenic views
through Cheesman Park and the perimeter of Washington Park. All races
started and finished at City Park behind the Natural History Museum.
This year, 12 Elite Athletes from the US, Russia, Germany, Kenya and
Czechoslovakia and Romania competed for $30,000 in cash and prizes.
Patrick Kaage of Kenya won the Marathon in 2:26 and $3000, followed by
Lazarescu Petru from Romania in 2:30 with $1000 and Sergey Nochevny of
Russia in 2:32 and $500.
Among female Marathoners Nutu Olaru from Romania won the race in 2:49 and
$3000, followed by Olga Nikokayeva of Gainsville, Florida, in 2nd with
$1000 and Tatyana Mironova of Russia in 3:03.
The Half Marathon Male Winner was Mark Werner of Boulder in 1:03 and
Zuzana Sarikova of Salt Lake City, Utah was the female winner in 1:16.
Both participants won a free trip to Jesus Run Israel, January 9th, 2003
at the Sea of Galilee.
Complete results including the 5k, Marathon Relay and Wheelchair Marathon
events were being posted to the website www.JesusRun.org the evening of
June 11th.
"As a ministry, the most exciting news of the weekend was to hear 31
people dedicated their lives to Christ over the course of the weekend.
This is why we do the event each year and why we will continue as the
Lord directs," comments Assistant Race Director, Linda Rose.
Registration is currently open for Jesus Run Israel, around the Sea of
Galilee on January 9th, 2003. Jesus Run hopes for 1000 participants at
the inaugural event and registration has started strong. For complete
event and tour information see www.JesusRun.org. Jesus Run plans to
announce final plans for their 2003 U.S. Race schedule on July 1st.
Jesus Run would like to thank the following Official Race Sponsors of
Jesus Run 2002: Food for the Hungry, 94.7FM, Denver's Christian Station,
Equally Yoked Christian Singles-Denver, Pro Form, Coral Travel and Tours
LTD., Mardel Christian and Educational Supply, Double Quick Printing and
The Israel Ministry of Tourism.
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