| March 2002 Newsletter |
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NYRR To Hold 2002 USA Men's 8K Championship
NEW YORK, Feb. 11 - After an absence of nine years, the USA Men's 8K Championships will be revived as a feature of the New York Road Runners (NYRR) 8000 (4.97 miles) along with the annual Police/Fire race in Central Park on Saturday April 6, it was announced today by NYRR President and CEO Allan Steinfeld at the Track Writers Association of Metropolitan New York's weekly luncheon.
A field of approximately 20 of the top American road racers will be assembled by the NYRR to compete for a total prize money purse of $20,000. First place prize will be $5,000; 2nd place $4,000; 3rd place $3,000; 4th place $2,000 and 5th place $1,250. Prize money will be offered to the top 15 finishers.
Joining Steinfeld in making the announcement were the first confirmed entries Scott Larson and Nick Rogers.
Larson, 32, of Boulder, CO is the reigning USA Men's Marathon Champion (2:15:26) and will be returning to New York for the first time since capturing that title at last year's New York City Marathon. Larson has represented the USA in World Championships in cross-country and the half-marathon and is a former All-American at the University of Colorado.
Rogers, 26, of Lake Springfield, OR is the 2001 USA 10K Champion (28:18) and a 2000 Olympian at the 5000m.
Also announced as entered was Dan Browne, 26, of Portland, OR Browne is the 2001 USA Running Circuit Grand Prix Co-Champion (with Larson). He is the reigning USA 20K (1:00:10) and USA Half-Marathon (1:03:55) champion and was a two-time All-American at West Point.
"The chance to bring back the 8K national championships and showcase it before the greatest road running community in the world was too good of an opportunity to pass up," said Steinfeld. "The 8K distance combines speed and strength and with the field we have assembled it should be an incredible race down to the wire."
The USA Men's 8K Championships joins the New York Women's Mini Marathon (June 8) and the NYC Marathon (Nov. 3) as the cornerstones of this year's NYRR elite running calendar and continues the tradition of the NYRR in bringing the very best runners in the world to New York.
The USA Men's 8K Championships will be the feature attraction of a three-race festival planned for the day. Beginning the program will be the New York Road Runners 8000 open to men and women of all abilities. Approximately an hour later the USA Men's 8K Championship will start prior to the 25th running of the annual Police/Fire run that is restricted to members of both departments.
The USA Men's 8K Championships was last held in 1993. Ed Eyestone (22:40) won the title in Portland, OR. The American 8K record is held by Alberto Salazar (22:04) set in 1981.
The USA Men's 8K Championships is part of the USA Running Circuit, a
USATF road series featuring USA Championships at distances from 5K to 25K
and offering more than $250,000 in championship prize money.
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