Kochik, Kimball Win USA 50 Mile Trail Titles at White River
Steidl, Kimball Set Course Records

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, Wash. - (July 31, 2004) - At the USA 50 Mile Trail Championships hosted by the White River Trail Run, Phil Kochik of Seattle and Nikki Kimball of Livingston, Montana earned national titles in 6:58:20 and 7:45:21 respectively. Kimball also defended her U.S. crown and broke her own course record in the process. German citizen Uli Steidl of Seattle defended his overall race title in 6:32:43 (also breaking his course record). Kochik was second overall.

The race course featured 8700 feet elevation gain and 8700 feet elevation loss.
With temperatures in the 70s, 104 finished out of 125 starters.

White River 50 Mile Trail Run: USA Trail Championships
Crystal Mountain, WA, Saturday, July 31, 2004

MEN
1) Uli Steidl (GER/WA) 6:32:43*
2) Phil Kochik (WA) 6:58:20
3) Chad Ricklefs (CO) 6:58:44
4) Karl Meltzer (UT) 7:03:25
5) Michael Lynes (WA) 7:18:43
6) William Emerson (OR) 7:22:08
7) Hal Koerner (CO) 7:22:56
8) Ian Torrence (NV) 7:26:29
9) J.T. Lindholm (AK) 7:27:36
10) Brian Morrison (WA) 7:34:17
11) James Kerby (WA) 7:54:28
*course record (previous record 6:37:02 by Uli Steidl in 2003)

MEN 40-44
1) William Emerson (OR) 7:22:08
MEN 45-49
1) Michael Allen (AL) 9:03:03
MEN 50-54
1) Steve Smucker (OR) 8:27:22
MEN 55-59
1) Roy Pirrung (WI) 9:45:56

WOMEN
1) Nikki Kimball (MT) 7:45:21*
2) Bev Abbs (CA) 8:08:39
3) Krissy Sybrowsky (WA) 8:18:44
4) Mary Fagan (CA) 8:18:48
5) Anthea Schmid (CO) 8:27:51
6) Meghan Arbogast (OR) 8:34:39
7) Annette Bednosky (NC) 8:43:37
8) Helen Cospolich (CO) 8:50:35
9) Connie Gardner (OH) 8:56:30
10) Karen Scott (CO) 9:02:49
*course record (previous record 7:46:33 by Nikki Kimball in 2003)

WOMEN 40-44
1) Bev Abbs (CA) 8:08:39

WOMEN 50-54
1) Marlis DeJongh (WA) 12:02:49

For complete results, go to the race website at:
www.whiteriver50.com
 

Contacts:
Audra Fleming/Susan Reid, Elite Racing, (800) 311-1255

Changes Announced for 2005 Country Music Marathon™ & ½ Marathon
Wave Start Planned for First Time in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (August 2, 2004) - Elite Racing, Inc., organizers of the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, announced several changes for the 2005 event in a recent press conference. With an eye toward continued growth, the sixth annual race, scheduled for April 30, 2005, will be the first Elite Racing event to implement a wave start.

The 2004 Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon enjoyed a 30% growth in participation as a record breaking 16,123 runners registered for the race. Organizers recognized a need to ease crowding in the early stages of the race where marathoners and half marathoners run together for the first 10 miles. The wave start will alleviate crowding on the course and ensure that all runners enjoy their experience in Music City.

In addition to the wave start, the elimination of the hill at mile 11 on the half marathon course will help maintain each runner's rhythm throughout the 13.1-mile journey. With over 11,000 half marathoners in 2004, this course adjustment will only increase the participation and excitement on the scenic half marathon route through Music City.

"After making significant changes to the marathon course in 2004, and successfully designing a flatter, faster course, we just needed to make minor adjustments," said Adam Zocks, General Manager of the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon. "By implementing a wave start, we can continue to grow the event and bring more visitors to Nashville while still giving our runners a great, comfortable race."

With these changes, the race is able to set an aggressive goal of trying to increase its participation to 18,000 for the 2005 event.

Both the marathon and half-marathon courses start in Centennial Park on West End Ave. and finish outside of The Coliseum, home of the Tennessee Titans. Runners are treated to Nashville's Music Row, Belmont University and Bicentennial Mall. Marathoners also run along the Cumberland River and through beautiful Shelby Park.

The Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon also announced Fifth Third Bank, which debuted as the event's official bank in 2004, has committed to a three-year partnership with the race. Fifth Third Bank will again be the exclusive financial services sponsor and will enjoy naming rights of the Fifth Third Bank Family Reunion.

In 2004, the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, celebrated its fifth anniversary as one of four musical marathon events created by Elite Racing. Participants experience live bands playing approximately every mile along the 26.2 and 13.1-mile course, hundreds of cheerleaders and a post race concert featuring a major headlining act. Past performers include Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, Diamond Rio and Brad Paisley.

For more information or to register for the race, visit www.cmmarathon.com or contact the Country Music Marathon, 240 Great Circle Road, Suite 340, Nashville, TN 37228 or call (615) 742-1660.

ABOUT CMM
The Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon is produced by Elite Racing, Inc. The annual event attracts over 16,000 runners and 100,000 spectators and benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising over $2.5 million annually. In addition, the race receives extensive national, regional and local media coverage and is taped to broadcast regionally on Comcast Sports Southeast and nationally on Fox Sports Net.

Elite Racing, Inc., a sports marketing and management company based in San Diego, Calif., is the leader in producing world-class running events. In addition to the Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, Elite Racing, a Running USA Founding Member, produces eight events each year, including the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon and the Carlsbad 5000, the world's fastest 5K.
 

Contacts:
Michele Lee Sexton/Marci Blaze, The Blaze Company
(310) 450-6060; Mleesexton@blazecompany.com

Los Angeles Marathon Announces "Wings on Their Feet" Promotion for Early Online Registration

LOS ANGELES - (August 2, 2004) - Online registration for the Los Angeles Marathon opened this month with immediate bonuses for early sign-ups. "Wings on Their Feet" is a promotion for participants who register before September 15, 2004 to be eligible to win prizes including round-trip American Airlines tickets and Saucony running shoes. More details about registering for the 20th anniversary event to be held on March 6, 2005 and a complete list of the incentives are available at www.lamarathon.com.

Entrants may also sign up at the L. A. Marathon offices at 11110 W. Ohio Avenue, Suite 100, L. A. Race day will include more than 45,000 participants for the 26.2 mile run, the Acura L. A. Bike Tour and a 5K Run/Walk. The L. A. Marathon will be broadcast live on NBC 4 & Telemundo 52.

"We're very proud of our 20 year history and the support that we've received over the years," said Dr. William Burke, president of the L. A. Marathon. "The Wings on Their Feet promotion is our way of saying thanks to our participants. We're confident that our Marathon will continue to unify the City of Los Angeles and to preserve our legacy as the people's race."

Breakthrough innovations in marathon competition have been the cornerstone of the L. A. Marathon since its inception in 1986. In 2004, when 25,514 runners gathered for the race, the introduction of "The Challenge" allowed elite women runners to start 20 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of the men. In addition, a $50,000 bonus was awarded to the winner, Tatyana Pozdnyakova, and raised excitement to new levels for Marathon competitors and spectators.

The L. A. Marathon was inaugurated in 1986 to strengthen the spirit of camaraderie within the city following the 1984 Olympic Games. The nation¹s fourth largest marathon, the Los Angeles Marathon has raised over $16 million for many charities over the course of its 20-year history. In addition, the L. A. Marathon engages runners from 50 states and 80 countries and attracts more than 12,000 volunteers each year. The Acura L. A. Bike Tour, introduced in 1995, drew 17,000 cyclists in 2004.

For more information about and to register for the L. A. Marathon, visit www.lamarathon.com.