Saturn Midwest Distance Solution This Saturday--Olympic Trials last chance meet not lacking 'A' talent Press Release
Rochester Hills, MI, June 4, 2008
--Elite
track athletes from around the country will meet at the oval in
Hillsdale Michigan this Saturday for the Saturn Midwest Distance
Solutionin what will be their last chance at running a qualifying time
for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which will be contested at the legendary
Hayward Field in Eugene later this month.
The Saturn Midwest Distance Solution will include both a mens and
womens 800, 1500, steeple, 5000, and 10000 meters. The 1500, 5000 and
10000 will include pacers to help athletes achieve their respective
qualifying marks, and up to $17,500 will be paid out to athletes
meeting performance standards in each of the events. Highlighting the
evenings events will be the mens 1500 meters and the women's 10000
meters.
The mens 1500 will include Rob Myers, who was the 2008 AT&T USA
Indoor champion in the 1500 in February. Myers, who sits comfortably in
sixth on the U.S. time list with a 3:36.49, is a bona fide contender
for the Olympic team and will be racing Saturday as part of his
preparation for a 1500 meters field in Eugene that will include two Olympic
medal contenders.
The womens 10000 meters--featuring 14 women with sub-34:00
credential--is the race most likely to shake-up the current Olympic
trials qualifying list. With the field size capped at 24 for the
Olympic trials, and 11 women already qualified with the sub-32:45 A
standard, the women racing on Saturday will likely need a sub-33:30
performance to provisionally qualify for the trials race.
For a list of entries in all the events, click here.
For a current list of U.S. athletes who have met the Olympic Trials standards, click here.
Meet Schedule
6:45 PM - W 800
7:00 PM - M 800
7:15 PM - W Steeple
7:35 PM - M Steeple
7:55 PM - W 1500
8:10 PM - M 1500
8:25 PM - W 5000
8:50 PM - M 5000
9:15 PM - W 10000
10:00 PM - M 10000
Admission: $5.00
Directions to Hillsdale
FROM DETROIT: Take I-94 West to U.S. 127 South (Exit 142). Proceed about 20
miles to the second stoplight and turn right on U.S. 12 West. Take U.S.
12 West about 16 miles to Jonesville. In Jonesville, turn left onto
M-99 South. Proceed about four miles to the third stoplight and turn
left onto Fayette Street. Go to the flashing stoplight on Hillsdale
Street and turn left. Follow the blue signs to campus.
FROM TOLEDO:
Take I-80/90 West to Ohio State Route 15 (Exit 13) and proceed north.
The road number will change to M-99 at the Michigan border, and farther
north will appear to end at a flashing red light. Turn left, and
continue on M-99 to Hillsdale. Proceed straight through all downtown
traffic lights (3) and follow the blue signs to campus.
FROM CHICAGO:
Take I-80/90 East to Angola, Indiana (Exit 144). Follow I-69 North
about ten miles to Coldwater (Exit 13) and turn left onto U.S. 12 East.
You will proceed straight through Quincy and Allen. In Jonesville, turn
right onto M-99 South. Proceed about four miles to the
third stoplight and turn left onto Fayette Street. Go to the flashing
stoplight on Hillsdale Street and turn left. Follow the blue signs to
campus.
For additional information, photo requests, or to contact those quoted
or mentioned in this release, please contact Mike Reneau at
mwreneau@hotmail.com or (612) 245-8764. You can also visit the teams
website at www.hansons-running.com. The team web page includes
individual athlete biographies and resumes.
ABOUT <Hansons-Brooks Distance
Project> - The Hansons-Brooks Distance Project is a post-collegiate
training program for runners with Olympic aspirations. Athletes in the
program live and train together in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Team
sponsors include Brooks Sports, Inc., Saturn Corporation, Aruba Sport
Eyewear, and Hansons Running Shops.
