FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RECORD FIELD EXPECTED FOR SACRAMENTO COWTOWN MARATHON
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An estimated field of 2,000 is expected to participate
Sunday (Oct. 2) in the newly named Sacramento Cowtown Marathon in what
organizers believe will be the largest field in the event's history.
The 29th annual event, formerly the Sacramento Marathon, begins at 7:15
a.m., across the street from Sacramento City College in William Land Park.
It will include marathon, half-marathon, four-person marathon relay and
five-kilometer run/walk divisions.
Under the direction of new owner Rich Hanna of Sacramento, participants
will enjoy a new course featuring live music in multiple locations as well
as a new race logo featured on participants' finishing apparel.
Ashley Carroll of Stanford, Calif., who last year claimed the women's title
in 3 hours, 7 minutes and 9 seconds, will return to the marathon field,
which could include nearly 400 entrants, according to current registration
totals.
Christopher Gustafson of Davis led the field of 257 marathoners last year
while en route to winning the overall marathon title in 2:54:10.
Mark Murray of Sacramento captured the 2004 overall half-marathon title
among the field of 668 in 1:20:55. Kathleen Aragon of Billings, Mont., won
the women's half-marathon in 1:26:58. This year's half-marathon field is
expected to more than double and will include Steve Moreno of Oakland.
Moreno, who placed 15th in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, will be
using the event as a tune-up race for the New York City Marathon in
November.
New course records will be established this year, but the event's records
include marks set by some of the Sacramento area's pioneering athletes.
Adam Ferreira set the men's marathon record of 2:20:31 in 1982, while Heike
Skaden established the women's marathon record of 2:47:37 in 1981.
Dennis Rinde established the men's half-marathon record of 1:05:38 in 1982,
while Niamh Nicholas set the women's half-marathon mark of 1:16:42 in 1999.
The event's new management, new course and a sizable influx in participants
from local training organizations are responsible for the Sacramento
Cowtown Marathon's popularity resurgence. More than 450 runners and walkers
are entered in the event representing the Team In Training, Sacramento Fit,
Train To End Stroke and Fleet Feet training groups
The 2005 Sacramento Cowtown Marathon will be presented by Sutter Medical
Center, Sacramento, and will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of
America.
All entrants will receive a custom event T-shirt with the popular cow
artwork of Sacramento artist Tony Milevsky. Additionally, all marathon and
half-marathon finishers will receive one-of-a-kind medallions.
The event will be dedicated to the memory of Paul Smith, the previous event
co-owner who died in May of colon cancer
For registration and other race information, visit the Sacramento Cowtown
Marathon web site, www.sacramentocowtownmarathon.com, or contact
Rich Hanna, Tel. (916) 492-8966; e-mail: ; web
site: www.capitalroadrace.com.
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