By David Monti
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
NEW YORK (07-Apr) -- The inaugural NYRR Distance Carnival, hosted by
the University of California at Berkeley on Friday, April 24, has
attracted 16 Olympians, the New York Road Runners announced today.
Part of the two-day Brutus Hamilton Invitational, the meet represents
the first ever formal partnership between the New York Road Runners,
America's largest road race organizer, and a university track and field
program. The meet will feature professionally-paced distance races
designed to help athletes achieve IAAF World Championships qualifying
times at 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Shannon Rowbury, the 2008 USA Olympic Trials 1500m champion, will run
the 5000m against compatriots Emily Brown, Sara Hall, and Sara
Slattery, plus Irishwoman Mary Cullen. Olympians Juan Luis Barrios of
Mexico, Tom Lancashire of Great Britain, Kevin Sullivan of Canada and
Jorge Torres of the United States are entered in the men's 5-K, along
with former NCAA 5000m champion Bobby Curtis.
In the men's 10,000m race, America's top steeplechaser and two-time
Olympian Anthony Famiglietti will race against Australia's Collis
Birmingham, Ireland's Martin Fagan, and Britain's Andrew Lemoncello,
all of whom competed in the Beijing Olympics. Katie McGregor, Kenyan
Philes Ongori and Mexican Olympian Dulce Maria Rodriguez will run the
women's 25-lap contest.
The NYRR has recruited quality athletes to handle the pacemaking,
including Serbia's Marina Muncan for the women's 5000m, Jon Rankin for
the men's 5000m, Bolota Asmerom and Kenyan Haron Lagat for the men's
10,000m, and Bahraini Teyba Naser for the women's 10,000m. Lagat will
also assist with the early pacing in the men's 5000m.
The event will take place Cal's famed Edwards Stadium, which will have
special lights in place for the NYRR Distance Carnival. The meet will
be administrated by Cal's director of track and field, Tony Sandoval,
and his director of operations, John Rembao. The NYRR's professional
athletes manager, Sam Grotewold, will be coordinating the invitational
races of the Distance Carnival.
