FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Valley of the Sun Marathon
Sue Berliner, 480.947.3900
sweatmag@ix.netcom.com
or
Write Way Solutions
Tom Trush, 602.361.6619
tom@writewaysolutions.com
Sunday's Valley of the Sun Marathon:
Attracting a Strong Field of Elite Runners
PHOENIX—March 12, 2004—Sunday’s fourth edition of the Valley of the Sun
Marathon is drawing an elite field of runners from across the country. Some
of the athletes confirmed to appear include qualifiers for the Olympic
Marathon Trials, World Championships as well as a world-class wheelchair
competitor.
The Woodlands, Texas, resident Kelly Keane, a 2000 and 2004 Olympic
Marathon Trials qualifier as well as a World Championship qualifier in the
half marathon, marathon, Ironman triathlon and duathlon, set a personal
record in the 2003 Valley of the Sun Half Marathon (1:13:06) and returns
this year to defend her title and set a new record. For the men, Kevin
Collins, three-time U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier, second at the 2003 U.S.
National Marathon Championships and first American at the IAAF World
Marathon Championships in 2003, will head the group of half-marathon
competitors. In 2002, Collins set the course marathon record at the Valley
of the Sun Marathon with a time of 2:17:36.
Other elite athletes in the half-marathon field include Kim Hager, Janice
McCaffrey, Paula Morrison, Trina Painter, Brianna Torres, Joel McCreary,
Randy Williams, Peter Vail, Steve Greenspan, Patrick Hennigan, Keith
Walters, Brandon Leslie, Matt Holton and Louis Paciello.
Among the marathon competitors in this year’s race, Tracy Malone, the
women's first-place finisher at the 2002 event, is returning for a chance
to reclaim the top spot. For the men, Bruce Kilulai, who’s coming off a
second-place finish at the Lost Dutchman Marathon in January, will make his
first appearance in the Valley of the Sun Marathon.
In the wheelchair division, Alan Bergman, a member of the Canadian National
Development team and a veteran of the Boston, Oita and Columbus Marathons,
will compete in the marathon. Bergman is currently training to qualify for
the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece.
About the Valley of the Sun Marathon
Now in its fourth year, the Valley of the Sun Marathon will be held on
March 14, 2004, with the expo taking place the day before at the
Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Museum in Mesa. The race has become
the second largest March marathon in the nation, attracting runners from
all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa. Each race – the marathon,
relay and half-marathon – features point-to-point, descending routes which
wind through desert backdrops highlighted by breath-taking valley views,
the world-class Las Sendas golf community, historic Falcon Field Airport,
blossoming orange groves and beautiful residential neighborhoods. To
encourage health and fitness for the whole family, the event also includes
a 3-mile run and Kids K. For more information, visit
www.valleyofthesunmarathon.com or call the race hotline at 480.647.5373.
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