DeReuck Wins First USA Championship at Carolina 8K

DeReuck Wins First USA Championship at Carolina 8K
By Carol McLatchie, Running USA wire

COLUMBIA, SC - (February 10, 2001) - New U.S. citizen Colleen DeReuck
showed why she is one of the world's best road runners with a convincing win at
the Carolina 8K, the USA Women's Championship. Under partly cloudy skies and
70 degrees, the long-time Boulder, Colo. resident took control of the noon
race from the start as the former South African passed the slightly downhill
first mile in 4:45 with the trailing pack--led by Vicki Mitchell, Susannah Beck
and Kim Pawelek--14 seconds back.

Over the three lap rectangular course in Ft. Jackson, DeReuck continued to
build her lead. With a 21 second advantage at four miles (21:11), victory
was virtually assured, and later she cruised home in 26:16. Beck of Eugene,
Ore., the 1998 USA 12K champion, finished second in 26:33 with Mitchell and
Pawelek third (26:53) and fourth (27:19) respectively.

"I was pleased with my race overall, and it feels great to win a U.S.
title. This race was an excellent prep for the Paris Marathon in April," beamed
the new USA 8K champion.

For her first major race on U.S. soil as a U.S. citizen, the three-time
Olympian earned $4000 as national champion plus an extra $800 as the
leader after every mile. In addition, DeReuck, 36, set a U.S. single age 8K
record with her 26:16. The top master and 6th overall, Mary Knisely, 41, of
Naperville, Ill., also set a U.S. single age record (27:34).

Annette Peters of Eugene, Ore., a race favorite, was unable to get to
Columbia due to weather problems during a Chicago stopover. Shelly Steely
also was a late scratch due to the flu.

The Carolina 8K also opened the 2001 USA Running Circuit, a USA Track &
Field road series. The 2001 USARC, the seventh edition for the men and sixth for
the women, offers over $290,000 in prize money plus a $25,000 grand prix
purse. All USARC events--six for men and eight for women--are USA
Championships. U.S. men open their Circuit at the Gate River Run 15K
(joint national championship) in Jacksonville, Florida on March 10.

Per race, the first ten U.S. runners earn points (15 for first, 12 for
second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1) with a final $12,500 grand
prix purse ($6000, $4000 and $2500) for the top three men and women point
scorers overall. At the USA Marathon Championships, USARC points will be doubled.

Carolina 8K: USA Women's Championship
Columbia, SC, February 10, 2001

1) Colleen DeReuck, 36, Boulder, CO     26:16   $4800*
2) Susannah Beck, 32, Eugene, OR        26:33   $2500
3) Vicki Mitchell, 31, Amherst, NY      26:53   $2000
4) Kim Pawelek, 27, Jacksonville, FL    27:19   $1500
5) Betsy Kempter, 34, Chapel Hill, NC   27:27   $1000
6) Mary Knisely, 41, Naperville, IL     27:34    $950#
7) Katie Courtwright, 36, Dallas, TX    27:44    $600
8) Robin Lawhorn, 30, Frankfort, KY     27:58    $500
9) Kim Kauls, 31, Forest Lake, MN       28:18    $400
10) Kristin White, 30, Fayetteville, NY 28:19    $300
11) Amanda Lynch, 23, Kingsport, TN     28:20    $100
12) Michelle LaFleur, 28, Savannah, GA 28:21    $100
13) Emily Nay, 23, Ogden, UT            28:35    $100
14) Janice Addison, 40, Columbia, SC    28:42    $250#
15) Judy Johnson, 23, Atlanta, GA       28:58    $100
*includes mile primes ($200 as each mile leader)
#includes masters prize money

For complete race results and more, go to the race website at:
http://www.carolinamarathon.org/marathon.html

USA Running Circuit Standings
after one race
1) Colleen DeReuck, 36, Boulder, CO     15
2) Susannah Beck, 32, Eugene, OR        12
3) Vicki Mitchell, 31, Amherst, NY      10
4) Kim Pawelek, 27, Jacksonville, FL     7
5) Betsy Kempter, 34, Chapel Hill, NC    6
6) Mary Knisely, 41, Naperville, IL      5
7) Katie Courtwright, 36, Dallas, TX     4
8) Robin Lawhorn, 30, Frankfort, KY      3
9) Kim Kauls, 31, Forest Lake, MN        2
10) Kristin White, 30, Fayetteville, NY 1

Next USARC race:
Gate River Run 15K (men & women), Jacksonville, FL $46,800 March 10

#   #   #

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator
USATF Road Running Information Center
5522 Camino Cerralvo, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252
http://www.runningusa.org
http://www.usaldr.org

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