FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LASALLE BANK CHICAGO MARATHON TO OFFER BONUS INCENTIVE FOR
AMERICAN OLYMPIC HOPEFULS
Up to 100 American Athletes Competing for Bonus Purse and
U.S. Olympic Marathon Qualifying Times
October 7, 2003 (Chicago)---With the confirmation of the American
women’s elite athlete field last week and the American men’s field this
week, The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will offer a bonus incentive for
runners looking to earn qualifying times for the 2004 Olympic Trials.
“The Marathon has been very supportive of young athletes with Olympic
aspirations,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director. “We decided to
offer this incentive program to reward and help offset the cost of training
for and traveling to Birmingham, Alabama and St. Louis, Missouri for the
men’s and women’s U.S. Olympic Trials. Our hope is that we will assist
American marathon runners in achieving their goals of competing in the U.S.
Olympic Trials.”
The Marathon will offer $3,500 to any American Male that has a sub 2:20:00
effort (the “A” U.S. Trials Standard), $2,500 to any American Male that has
a sub 2:22:00 effort (the “B” U.S. Trials Standard), $3,500 to any American
Female that has a sub 2:40:00 effort (the “A” U.S. Trials Standard) and
$2,500 to any American Female that has a sub 2:48:00 effort (the “B” U.S.
Trials Standard).
Up to one hundred American athletes will compete for both qualifying times
and the bonus prize purse during this year’s Marathon. Among the American
men are two previously confirmed runners: Dan Browne and Mike Donnelly.
They will be joined by Trent Briney, Nick Cordes, Josh Cox, Rod DeHaven,
Shawn Found, Mike Fox, Dan Held, Mebrahtom Keflezighi, James Lander, Todd
Reeser, Ben Rosario and Brian Sell.
Four of these runners – Mike Fox, James Lander, Ben Rosario and Brian Sell
– have participated in the Hansons-Brooks Olympic Distance Running Project
and three of them will make their Chicago Marathon debut this year. Rosario
is the only member of the group who has run in the Chicago Marathon.
MORELaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon Olympic Bonus add one
The American women’s elite athlete pool includes: Jenny Spangler, Colleen
De Reuck, Jennifer Tonkin and Kimberly Fitchen-Young, who have competed in
the Chicago Marathon in years past. They will be joined by Chicago Marathon
newcomers Julia Stamps, Deeja Youngquist and Rachel Sauder-Kinsman.
Elite athletes will compete this Sunday for the highest Marathon purse
ever, $550,000. The male and female winners each will earn $100,000, the
largest first place payout in the sport. The 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon begins Sunday, October 12 at 8:00 a.m., starting and finishing in
Chicago’s Grant Park. The Marathon has drawn its registration cap of 40,000
participants. CBS 2 CHICAGO is the official broadcast partner of The
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and will cover the race live from 6:00 a.m.
to 11:00 a.m. race day.
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