FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Olympic Marathoner Ryan Hall Joins 2010 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon Field in an Attempt to Lower the Men's American Record
The Hall Steps Foundation Contributes to Marathon's
Rich Philanthropic Heritage by Building Team of 100 to Run with Ryan
CHICAGO, IL (April 6, 2010) - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon today
announced U.S. Olympic marathoner Ryan Hall, 27, will compete in the
October 10, 2010 race in an attempt to lower the 2:05:38 American record
set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. The Mammoth Lakes, Calif., resident and
recognized philanthropist will lead a team of 100 runners representing his
non-profit organization, The Hall Steps Foundation.
"I have been preparing for an attempt to lower the American record since I
ran my first marathon in London in 2007, and there is no other U.S. course
that could allow me a better opportunity than Chicago," commented Hall from
Boston where he is in final preparation for the Boston Marathon on April
19. "It's remarkably flat and fast with a veteran production team that sets
a stage for athletes to produce personal and national records, which is my
goal. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon also has a long history of
generating millions of dollars for charitable causes, so it felt like the
ideal place to expand our Hall Steps Foundation running team from the 20
that will run in Boston to 100 in Chicago."
In conjunction with his athletic pursuit at the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon, Hall will lead a team of 100 runners to raise funds for the
non-profit organization he founded with his wife, Sara. The Hall Steps
Foundation's main mission is to take small steps toward the marathon goal
of ending poverty. To that end, it supports international efforts to
provide clean water, end human trafficking and fund rescue homes. In the
U.S., it seeks to establish a mentor running program for at risk youth.
As one of 150 charities forming teams for the October race, The Hall Steps
Foundation will contribute to a total $10 million raised on race day. The
money raised by Hall Steps runners will directly support the launch of its
youth mentor and running program, a mission that falls in line with a
recent program launched by the event's title sponsor, Bank of America.
Last month, Bank of America announced a new Chicago Youth Fitness
Initiative in which the bank is matching a two-dollar donation from each
entry fee to its Chicago-based road races to support local youth fitness
organizations. Through its involvement with the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon (45,000 participants) and Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
(36,000 participants), the bank is generating $324,000 to be split among
four local youth fitness organizations: ChicagoRun, Girls on the Run, MGR
Foundation, and Special Children's Charities/Special Olympics Chicago. The
initiative is the latest in the bank's support of after school programming
in Chicago.
"Through the Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative, we have been able to combine
the tradition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with support for
local after-school programs in a very impactful way. As a result, hundreds
of thousands of dollars have been generated to expand programs that provide
a great service to our children," said Bank of America Chicago and Illinois
Market President Tim Maloney. "We are thrilled to welcome a world-class
athlete like Ryan Hall who shares the mission of giving back, and we look
forward to partnering with him to do so around the race."
Hall's current personal record is the 2:06:17 mark he set in London in 2008
before qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic marathon team with a commanding
2:09:02 first-place finish in New York. Among the world's greatest runners
and amid extremely warm conditions during the Beijing Olympic Games, Hall
placed 10th with a 2:12:33 finish time. This month he will compete at the
Boston Marathon in an attempt to become the first U.S. champion in the race
since Greg Meyer in 1983. His next 26.2-mile race will be in Chicago.
"Ryan is a very smart athlete and has gone about his career the right way
starting with an amazing debut in London in 2007," said Bank of America
Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "He has
positioned himself for a breakout race in Chicago this fall and has all the
focus and drive needed to make a run at the American record. What is unique
about Ryan is his interest beyond personal success and his tireless
charitable efforts. He's an athlete and a humanitarian."
Open registration for the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon closed on
March 23, but a limited number of entries are still available through its
charity partners, including The Hall Steps Foundation. For information on
how to register through a charity, visit www.chicagomarathon.com.
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