April 16, 2009

BERKELEY - Sixteen Olympians, including 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500-meter champion Shannon Rowbury, two-time Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti and 2008 U.S. 10,000-meter Olympian Jorge Torres are currently entered in the inaugural NYRR Distance Carnival on Friday, April 24, as the night portion of the first day of the Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Edwards Stadium. The distance carnival is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start.

An international field of athletes will be attempting to achieve qualifying times at 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, and the 3000-meter steeplechase for the IAAF World Championships later this summer in Berlin. In partnering with the University of California to host the NYRR Distance Carnival, NYRR will arrange pacemakers for the seeded heats of the men's and women's 5000- and 10,000-meter races.

Rowbury, a top American entrant in the women's 5000 meters, most recently finished second in the Carlsbad 5000 on April 5. She is expected to face stiff competition from a trio of rising Americans in Emily Brown, Sara Hall, and Sara Slattery. On the men's side, Torres, a 2008 Olympian at 10,000 meters, will line up against three fellow 2008 Olympians in Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico, Tom Lancashire of Great Britain, and Kevin Sullivan of Canada.

Team USA Minnesota's Katie McGregor is the top American in the women's 10,000 meters. Famiglietti will face Olympians from five different countries in the men's 10,000 meters.

Top entrants include:

Men's 5000 meters
Juan Luis Barrios, MEX - 2008 Olympian, 5000m
Bobby Curtis, USA - 2008 NCAA Champion, 5000m
Tom Lancashire, GBR - 2008 Olympian, 1500m
Kevin Sullivan, CAN - Three-time Olympian and Canadian record-holder, 1500m
Jorge Torres, USA - 2008 Olympian, 10,000m

The race will be paced by Jon Rankin and Haron Lagat.

Women's 5000 meters
Mary Cullen, IRL - 2009 European Indoor Championships bronze medalist, 3000m
Emily Brown, USA - 2009 USA Cross Country champion
Sara Hall, USA - 2009 USA Indoor Championships runner-up, 3000m
Shannon Rowbury, USA - 2008 Olympian, 1500m
Sara Slattery, USA - 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist, 10,000m

Men's 10,000 meters
Michael Aish, NZL - Two-time Olympian
Collis Birmingham, AUS - 2008 Olympian, 5000m
Martin Fagan, IRL - 2008 Olympian, marathon, and Irish record-holder, half-marathon
Anthony Famiglietti, USA - Two-time Olympian
Andrew Lemoncello, GBR - 2008 Olympian, 3000m steeplechase
Ed Moran, USA - 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist, 5000m
Juan Carlos Romero, MEX - 2008 Olympian, 10,000m

The race will be paced by Bolota Asmerom and Haron Lagat.

Women's 10,000 meters
Katie McGregor, USA - Four-time USA champion
Philes Ongori, KEN - 2008 world's fifth-ranked 10,000-meter runner
Dulce Maria Rodriguez , MEX - Three-time Olympian

The race will be paced by Teyba Naser.

New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners, founded in 1958, is dedicated to promoting the sport of distance running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and responding to community needs. Our road races and other fitness programs draw upwards of 300,000 runners annually, and together with our magazine and website support and promote professional and recreational running. A staff of more than 100, assisted by thousands of volunteers, stages the ING New York City Marathon, as well as a road race nearly every weekend plus many track and cross country events. NYRR's home base in New York, and its lifelong identification with Central Park, have given many of its events iconic status, attracting the world's top professional runners. Our youth programs provide running to 50,000 schoolchildren in New York City, around the country, and in South Africa who would otherwise have few or no fitness opportunities. For more information, visit www.nyrr.org.

For complete information on the Brutus Hamilton Invitational and the NYRR Distance Carnival, please click here