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New York Road Runners Raising $250,000 for Elites
by Selling ING New York City Marathon Entries at $1,000 a Pop Minneapolis/St. Paul - July 24, 2007 - The New York Road Runners (NYRR), which provides support for the Team USA Minnesota Distance Training Center, is raising money for U.S. post-collegiate development through the ING New York City Marathon, which will be held Nov. 4. The organization has set aside 250 spots in this year's marathon at $1,000 each with a goal of raising $250,000. The ING New York City Marathon filled its allotment of 38,000 entrants in June. In addition, a $2,500 donation to the New York Road
Runners through its NYRR Champion's Circle program will give donors guaranteed
entry into the ING New York City Marathon in 2007, as well as complementary VIP
finish line seating at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon on
Nov. 3. The Men's Marathon Trials will be held in New York City's Central
Park. Funds raised through the NYRR Champion's Circle will also be
directed to fund long-term development of professional USA distance runners to
prepare them to compete successfully in domestic and international
competition.
"We are big believers in our sport and in our
athletes, but without additional support to keep our athletes and coaches going
like at Team USA Minnesota, there will be few great athletes to help fuel our
sport on all levels," said Mary Wittenberg, NYRR president and CEO and ING New
York City Marathon race director. "Our athletes work at least as hard and
are as compelling as Tiger, LeBron, Venus or Serena, but they need
grassroots support of all types to rise to the upper echelon of the sporting
world.
"High performance in distance running, beyond the
very top one or two athletes, is woefully under funded compared to other
sports. We applaud every marathoner who steps up and donates to the
important project of helping our young Americans not only fulfill their dreams,
but also to inspire legions of youngsters across the nation to get moving to
healthier, fitter and faster lives."
Those interested in participating in the
fundraising effort for U.S. post-collegiate and Olympic development training
groups through the ING New York City Marathon should e-mail usadistancerunning@nyrr.org for
more information.
About Team USA
Minnesota
Team USA Minnesota is based in the Twin Cities of
Minneapolis/St. Paul. Formed in 2001, the purpose of the nonprofit
training center is to improve post-collegiate American distance running and to
develop Olympians. The athletes are coached by Dennis Barker, head cross
country and track coach at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Team USA
Minnesota's major sponsor is Life Time Fitness (www.lifetimefitness.com) and its
silver sponsor is the Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. (www.mtcmarathon.org). It is also
supported by the New York Road Runners. For more information, visit the
web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.
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