FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Bysiewicz
(203) 481-5933
INTERNATIONAL FIELD SET FOR MYSTIC PLACES MARATHON
East Lyme — This weekend at Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic, CT, the
Mystic Places Marathon and Niantic Bay Festival will feature community
appearances from four-time Olympian, Colleen DeReuck as well as a top
international field with runners from Ethiopia, Kenya, Belarus, Russia,
Canada and the U.S.
Colleen DeReuck Appearances
Colleen De Reuck is the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon Champion. She
will be speaking about her Olympic experiences and training at few area
events taking place this weekend. In September De Reuck competed in her
fourth consecutive Olympics. Born in Vryheid, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa,
this was her first Olympics as a U.S. citizen. She finished 39th in the
Athens. She is the former world record holder at 10 miles (51:16 – Cherry
Blossom) and 20km (1:05:11 – New Haven). She is married to Darren De
Reuck, her manager and agent. They live in Boulder, CO with their daughter
Tasmin.
DeReuck’s appearances open to the public are as follows:
Date Time Location Event
10/22 10am Niantic Center School Assembly with elem.school
10/22 4pm Rocky Neck State Park Rocky Neck Invitational (Start Race)
10/23 10:30am Kelley’s Place Meet and greet (Mystic)
10/23 1-3pm Rocky Neck Kids races
10/23 4-4:30pm Niantic Bay Festiva Meet and greet-Niantic Main St
10/24 9am-2pm Rocky Neck Meet and greet at race
Top athletes will be competing in the marathon for a prize purse of over
$15,000. The top men and women will each take home $3,000. Bonuses of
$500 will be given to men breaking 2:20 and women breaking 2:45. The race
also serves as the Connecticut Open and Masters Championship.
The men’s elite race field will once again feature Ethiopian Araya Haregot.
Harregot is the current Mystic Places Marathon champion. He will be
challenged by his countryman, Zintu Meaza who won the 2004 Hartford
Marathon. Also hoping to make a run at the title is Dzmitry Sivou, of
Belarus and Amos Gitagama, of Kenya. Sivou ran 2:16 at last year’s Motorola
Marathon in Austin, TX. Gitagama has a personal best in the marathon of
2:19. Last year’s course record of 2:19:30 is likely to fall.
The women’s field favorites are Russian Tatyana Maslova and Belarus’ Halin
Karnatsevich. Maslova set the course record in 2002, winning the race in
2:45:16. She finished 2nd last year and should finish amongst the leaders
in 2004. Maslova has run a marathon in 2:33 minutes. Karnatsevich has a
personal marathon best of 2:35; she finished first at the Wroclaw Marathon
(Poland).
The deep women’s field also features Canadians Helen Zaikoff (2nd in 2001
Mystic Places Marathon) and Nathalie Goyer. Russian Marina Bychkova
finished 2nd in this year’s Comrades Marathon and has a personal marathon
best of 2:44. Branford’s Kerry Arsenault is running extremely well and
should finish in the top 5. Maslova’s course record could be in jeopardy.
Over 2,000 runners are expected to compete in the marathon, marathon relay,
10-mile race and kids’ races that wind through the scenic seaside village
of Niantic. Designated funds from the event will be divided among numerous
local non-profit organizations. To register online, go to
www.mysticplacesmarathon.com or through www.active.com or call (203)
481-5933.
About the Mystic Places Marathon & Niantic Bay Festival
Presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, The Mystic Places
Marathon & Niantic Bay Festival is produced by the Chamber of Commerce of
Eastern CT, Inc., and Mystic Coast & Country Travel Industry Association,
Inc. in conjunction with local business and municipal governments.
Additional support comes from the Connecticut East CVB, Town of East Lyme,
Niantic Main Street and AMTA CT Sports Massage Team. Corporate sponsors
include: Coca-Cola, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Tee’s Plus Screen
Printing Company, Tri-Town Foods and the Waterford Hotel Group and WFSB.
Goldblatt, Bokoff, and Company, hitekracing.com, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts,
Michelob Ultra, Puma, Smith Insurance and Yankee Gas are also supporting
the event.
For information on volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, call (203)
481-5933 or visit the Website at www.mysticplacesmarathon.com. Mystic
Places Marathon merchandise can be purchased online at teesplus.com or
mysticplacesmarathon.com.
About Mystic Places
Mystic Places is an exciting and colorful destination blending the
tranquility of classic New England seascapes and scenic rolling hills with
rich cultural heritage and sophisticated, top-flight entertainment. Home to
Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun,
Mystic Places stretches 40 miles through scenic southeastern Connecticut
and coastal Rhode Island -- a convenient escape, located just two hours by
car or train from both Boston and New York City, and easily accessible from
Hartford and Providence airports. For a FREE Mystic Places Vacation Kit,
call 1-800-MYCOAST (800-692-6278), or visit us online at www.mycoast.com.
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