FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: T. Hauser of LaSalle Bank
312-904-4687 - cell
312-907-2863 - fax
2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor
to Run LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Eyes 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
to Break Her American Record on Home Soil
CHICAGO, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Deena Kastor, the 2004 Athens Olympic
Marathon Bronze Medalist, has her sights set on breaking her 2:21:16
American Women's record at The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Kastor
and Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski announced today that she will
return to Chicago this year and run in the Sun., October 9 LaSalle Bank
Chicago Marathon and in The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K on Sun.,
April 3.
(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040127/LASBANKLOGO)
Kastor, 31, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. ran in The LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon in 2002 and finished sixth with a time of 2:26:53. Six months
later, Kastor set the American Women's Record at the 2003 Flora London
Marathon with a time of 2:21:16. She has a goal of reducing her record by
more than a minute in Chicago and wants to deliver a sub-2:20 performance
to bring the American record back home.
"I want to run under 2:20," said Kastor. "That's my specific goal and I
couldn't think of a more fitting race to accomplish this goal. The LaSalle
Bank Chicago Marathon is one of the top races in the world -- the fast
course, the millions of people that line the streets and the competitive
field give you that extra motivation and adrenaline to perform at your
best. You have to be aggressive in Chicago and that's what I intend to do."
Pinkowski was in Athens and witnessed Kastor at her best. "We are extremely
pleased with Deena's decision to compete in The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon," commented Pinkowski. "I was privileged to be in Athens to watch
Deena's Olympic-medal performance. She executed one of the most intelligent
and patient athletic performances ever in a major marathon competition that
I have seen. It illustrated not only Deena's athletic ability, but also her
character and determination. She will be a wonderful addition to this
year's event."
Kastor's path to Chicago will include an organized progression of training
and competition with one other major race scheduled -- the 10,000m final at
the IAAF World Track and Field Championships this August in Helsinki,
Finland. Her personal best in the 10,000m is 30:50 and Kastor would
"ideally like to take a minute off that time."
A big difference for Kastor this year is that she will run only one
marathon -- Chicago.
Last year she ran three marathons in seven months, including the U.S.
Olympic Trials where she placed second to Colleen DeReuck with a time of
2:29:38 on April 3.
In an emotional and inspirational run on August 22 on worldwide television
in Athens, she finished in third-place picking up the bronze medal with a
time of 2:27:20; and was the first American medalist in the Marathon since
Joan Benoit-Samuelson's fete at the 1984 Los Angeles games.
She finished the circuit with a disappointing run on Nov. 7 at the New York
City Marathon where she ran out of gas at mile 16, culminating a momentous
year.
"Chicago is definitely going to be a different tactical race than I ran in
Athens," commented Kastor. "Every marathon and marathon training session
seems to have given me so many learning experiences. What rings loudest is
that every race is different and that you can't have the same formula and
strategy. I am excited about Chicago and have big plans to run fast and
feel confident that my experience and determination will help me reach my
goal."
For additional information regarding Deena Kastor's career and images of
her racing, please visit www.deenadrossin.com/ .
The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 9
starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The race will be broadcast
live on CBS 2 CHICAGO and ESPN 1000. Last year's race attracted the maximum
40,000 participants. Elite athletes will compete for a portion of the
$650,000 prize purse, the highest in the sport. The LaSalle Bank Chicago
Marathon draws world-class athletes and participants from all 50 states and
from more than 120 countries across the globe.
Runners may register online at chicagomarathon.com until August 15, 2005,
or when the participation capacity has been reached (whichever comes
first). Race weekend entries will not be accepted. The entrance fee for the
Marathon is $90 for U.S. runners and $100 for international runners.
The Health & Fitness Expo will take place Friday, October 7 and Saturday,
October 8, 2005. The weekend will include more than 150 exhibitors
featuring the newest designs in running gear and shoes, as well as the
latest developments in sports, fitness and nutrition.
For more information on The LaSalle Chicago Marathon visit
http://chicagomarathon.com/ or call (312) 904-9800.
This morning's teleconference announcement was recorded and sound bites
from Deena Kastor are available at 866/535-2480 if you were unable to
participate in the call.
Photo: NewsCom: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040127/LASBANKLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk,
Source: LaSalle Bank
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