Bauhs, Hastings, Pierce and Willard Join Team Running USA

New additions bring talent and youth to top distance training group

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - (January 14, 2009) - Team Running USA, the accomplished training group based in Mammoth Lakes and San Diego, Calif., has added four new members to its talented roster which includes U.S. distance running stars: 2004 Olympic Marathon medalists Meb Keflezighi (silver) and Deena Kastor (bronze), three-time Olympian Jen Rhines and Olympians Dan Browne (2004), Ian Dobson (2008), Ryan Hall (2008) and Kate O'Neill (2004).

"Coach Terrence Mahon has recruited another outstanding group of young, dedicated runners to compliment and enhance Team Running USA and its mission to be the best in the world, and we welcome Scott Bauhs, Amy Hastings, Jon Pierce and Anna Willard to the team and look forward to their and the team's success in 2009 and beyond," said Susan Weeks, CEO of Running USA.

Short bios of the new Team Running USA members:

* Scott Bauhs, 22, Danville, CA - Three-time NCAA Division II national champion at Chico State; 2008 NCAA Division II Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year; sub-4 minute miler (3:59.81); 5000 meter personal record (13:31.90); 10,000 meter PR (27:48.06, #4 U.S. in 2008); sponsored by adidas

* Amy Hastings, 24, Leavenworth, KS - 2008 World Cross Country Championships team; 5000m PR (15:30.17); 10,000 meter PR (32:18.72, #8 U.S. in 2008); 2006 NCAA 5000 indoor champion at Arizona State; fastest U.S. collegiate 5000m indoor performance (15:30.17); sponsored by adidas

* Jon Pierce, 25, Canton, NY - 2008 World Cross Country Championships team; 2008 Olympic Trials 3000m steeplechase qualifier; steeplechase PR (8:37.73); All-American at Stanford; engaged to Anna Willard; sponsored by Nike

* Anna Willard, 24, Greenwood, ME - 2008 Olympian 3000m steeplechase; 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials 3000m steeplechase champion (set U.S. record); former U.S. steeplechase record holder (9:27.59); steeplechase PR (9:22.76, #2 U.S. in 2008); 1500m/mile PR (4:06.26/4:28.37, #4 U.S. in 2008); 2007 NCAA steeplechase champion; Brown University graduate; sponsored by Nike

The above athletes join teammates Sara Hall (ASICS), Deena Kastor (ASICS), Julia Lucas (Reebok), Kate O'Neill (Strands), Jen Rhines (adidas), Sara Slattery (Nike), Dan Browne (WCAP), Ian Dobson (adidas), Ryan Hall (ASICS), Meb Keflezighi (Nike), Mike McKeeman (ASICS), Jacques Sallberg and Steve Slattery.

About Team Running USA
Team Running USA, formerly Team USA California, is a national athlete development program created by Running USA, a national industry organization. The mission of Team Running USA is to support, promote and assist the development of U.S. distance runners.

Since 2001, Team Running USA athletes have won two Olympic medals, four major marathons and 12 World Cross Country Championship medals, set one world road record, 23 national records and numerous personal records, earned 61 national titles and six USARC Grand Prix titles and added to world and U.S. all-time lists. In short, they are the most accomplished training group in the United States.

Supported by the New York Road Runners, Running USA, Town of Mammoth Lakes, USA Distance Project and Atlanta Track Club, the program's athletes utilize the resources at Mammoth Lakes for high/low altitude training and the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for sea level training throughout the year. Renowned and Olympic coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen and coach Terrence Mahon coordinate this elite group.

For more information on Team Running USA including sponsorship opportunities or to make a donation, contact: Ryan Lamppa, (805) 696-6232, ryan@runningusa.org