Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from the USATF Friday, November 30, 2001
BIRMINGHAM TO HOST 2004 MEN'S OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS
MOBILE, Ala. - Birmingham, Alabama, will host the 2004 Olympic Team Trials -
Men's Marathon, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Friday at its 2001
Annual Meeting.
"I'm especially pleased that we are opening up new territory," said USATF
President Bill Roe. "This is a place that has never had an Olympic Trials
before. I hope we'll be able to infect a new group of people with Olympic
fever. We are especially grateful to (University of Alabama-Birmingham
Athletic Director, USOC vice president and former USATF vice president)
Herman Frazier for his leadership role."
The Alabama Sports Foundation and Birmingham Marathon, Inc., organizers of
the Mercedes Marathon, partnered on the successful bid, which will provide
$350,000 in prize money and development funds for the Olympic Trials and men
's long distance running. The race will be held February 7, 2004, with the
Olympic Games to follow in August in Athens, Greece. Birmingham also will
provide travel and accommodations to all athletes who qualify with a U.S.
Olympic Trials "A" standard time of 2:20:00 or faster. Athletes qualifying
with an Olympic Trials "B" standard time of 2:20:01 to 2:22:00 may compete
in the race but do not receive funding. Olympic qualifying standards have
not been set yet by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Birmingham's own Scott Strand qualified for the Olympic Trials at the 2001
New York Marathon, where he ran 2:21:16 to finish 10th among Americans.
Meeting the Olympic Trials "A" standard in New York were Scott Larson, Clint
Verran, Chris Lundstrom, Shawn Found and Keith Dowling.
Birmingham beat out competing bids from New York City, St. Louis and
Washington, D.C., in a selection process conducted by USATF's Men's Long
Distance Running Committee.
"This is a tremendous victory for Birmingham," said Alabama Sports
Foundation Chairman Dr. Larry Lemak. "To be chosen for both the 2003 U.S.
Men's Marathon Championships and the 2004 Men's Olympic Marathon Team Trials
gives us a great opportunity to make Birmingham a training city for men's
long distance runners."
On February 7, 2004, men's marathoners competing in the Olympic Trials will
run on a criterium course in downtown Birmingham. Our Birmingham Marathon
will be run on the following morning on its regular course. "Running the
2003 U.S. Men's Marathon Championships and the 2004 Men's Marathon Trials on
the day before our marathon gives the everyday runner an opportunity to
watch the heroes of our own sport compete," said Valerie McLean, President
of Birmingham Marathon, Inc., and owner of the Trak Shak Running Shop in
Homewood. "Most competitions such as the Olympic Trials have been
historically run in conjunction with a bigger race, which doesn't allow the
average race participants the opportunity to see the fast guys finish. In
structuring the events as we have, we hope to bring in runners from all
around the country for a whole weekend of marathon activities."
According to Gene Hallman, Executive Director of the Alabama Sports
Foundation, the benefits to be reaped on the city of Birmingham and state of
Alabama for hosting the 2004 Men's Marathon Olympic Trials are huge. "We
foresee a large economic impact and tremendous media coverage for the 2003
Championships and for the 2004 Trials. We are thrilled to have beaten out
outstanding sports cities like New York, St. Louis and Washington, D.C."
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