Eight Olympians to Compete in Distance Carnival at Brutus Hamilton Invitational

Eight Olympians to Compete in Distance Carnival at Brutus Hamilton Invitational



Michael Coe set a school record in the mile (3:56.18) at the 2009 Brutus Hamilton Invitational.



April 15, 2010


BERKELEY - Galen Rupp and Amy Begley lead a field of eight Olympians entered in the New York Road Runners (NYRR) Distance Carnival on Friday, April 23, as part of the Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Edwards Stadium, it was announced by NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. In its second year, the event is an initiative by NYRR to support the longstanding Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Cal.

The NYRR Distance Carnival program will feature a women's 3000 meters and a men's 5000 and 10,000 meters. All three races will be broadcast live at www.flotrack.org.

"We are very excited to once again be hosting the Distance Carnival at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational," said Wittenberg. "The more opportunities we can give middle- and long-distance runners to shine, the better. This is part of our commitment to the sport."

Rupp, 25, of Portland, Ore., is the 2009 NCAA outdoor 5000- and 10,000-meter champion. He set a personal-best time of 7:42.40 with his fifth-place finish at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships 3000 meters. Rupp will compete in the 5000 at the Distance Carnival against fellow American Patrick Smyth, who started off his year with a win at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run 4-mile race in New York.

On the women's side, Begley, 32, of Boulder, Colo., will be making her NYRR Distance Carnival debut. She will be racing in the 3000 against fellow 2008 Olympians Yuriko Kobayashi of Japan and Jen Rhines of the United States.

"I'm really excited to be making my seasonal debut at the New York Road Runners Distance Carnival at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational," said Begley. "My training in Albuquerque the past few months has been going very well and I look forward to testing my fitness in a great race against a stacked field in Berkeley."

In the 10,000 meters, American Brett Gotcher will face Yuki Sato of Japan, who boasts the fastest time in the field (27:38.25).

Top entrants include:

Women's 3000 meters
Renee Metivier Baillie, USA - 2010 USA Indoor 3000-meter champion
Amy Begley, USA - 2008 Olympian, 10,000 meters
Yuriko Kobayashi, JPN - 2008 Olympian, 5000 meters
Katie McGregor, USA - Five-time USA champion
Jen Rhines, USA - Three-time Olympian





Men's 5000 meters
Matt Gabrielson, USA - 2009 IAAF World Championships team, marathon
Galen Rupp, USA - 2008 Olympian, 10,000 meters
Patrick Smyth, USA - Seven-time NCAA All-American at Notre Dame

Men's 10,000 meters
Brett Gotcher, USA - 2:10:36 debut marathon (No. 4 USA debut time in history)
Yuki Sato, JPN - Fastest PR in the field (27:38.25, No. 3 all-time in Japan)

In addition to the Distance Carnival, there will be a full slate of events at Edwards Stadium both Friday and Saturday, April 23-24, as part of the Brutus Hamilton Invitational. On Friday, field events begin as early as 10 a.m. with the women's hammer, while running events start at 4 p.m. with the women's 400-meter hurdles. After a dinner break from 5-8:25, collegiate distance races - men's and women's 3000-meter steeplechase and men's and women's 5000 meters - will be contested under the lights before the Distance Carnival get underway at 9:35 p.m.

On Saturday, university and invitational events start at 10:30 a.m. with Upshaw Family Invitational Long Jump. Running events are slated to go from 1:00-5:30 p.m.

Click here, for a complete schedule.

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 75,000 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.

courtesy Cal