Deena Kastor, the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist, has her sights set on breaking her 2:21:16 American Women's record at The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.
Kastor and Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski announced today that she
will return to Chicago this year and run in the Sun., October 9 LaSalle Bank
Chicago Marathon and in The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K on Sun., April
3.
Kastor, 31, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. ran in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
in 2002 and finished sixth with a time of 2:26:53. Six months later, Kastor
set the American Women's Record at the 2003 Flora London Marathon with a time
of 2:21:16. She has a goal of reducing her record by more than a minute in Chicago
and wants to deliver a sub-2:20 performance to bring the American record back
home.
"I want to run under 2:20," said Kastor. "That's my specific
goal and I couldn't think of a more fitting race to accomplish this goal. The
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is one of the top races in the world -- the fast
course, the millions of people that line the streets and the competitive field
give you that extra motivation and adrenaline to perform at your best. You have
to be aggressive in Chicago and that's what I intend to do."
Pinkowski was in Athens and witnessed Kastor at her best. "We are extremely
pleased with Deena's decision to compete in The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon,"
commented Pinkowski. "I was privileged to be in Athens to watch Deena's
Olympic-medal performance. She executed one of the most intelligent and patient
athletic performances ever in a major marathon competition that I have seen.
It illustrated not only Deena's athletic ability, but also her character and
determination. She will be a wonderful addition to this year's event."
Kastor's path to Chicago will include an organized progression of training
and competition with one other major race scheduled -- the 10,000m final at
the IAAF World Track and Field Championships this August in Helsinki, Finland.
Her personal best in the 10,000m is 30:50 and Kastor would "ideally like
to take a minute off that time."
A big difference for Kastor this year is that she will run only one marathon
-- Chicago.
Last year she ran three marathons in seven months, including the U.S. Olympic
Trials where she placed second to Colleen DeReuck with a time of 2:29:38 on
April 3.
In an emotional and inspirational run on August 22 on worldwide television
in Athens, she finished in third-place picking up the bronze medal with a time
of 2:27:20; and was the first American medalist in the Marathon since Joan Benoit-Samuelson's
fete at the 1984 Los Angeles games.
She finished the circuit with a disappointing run on Nov. 7 at the New York
City Marathon where she ran out of gas at mile 16, culminating a momentous year.
"Chicago is definitely going to be a different tactical race than I ran
in Athens," commented Kastor. "Every marathon and marathon training
session seems to have given me so many learning experiences. What rings loudest
is that every race is different and that you can't have the same formula and
strategy. I am excited about Chicago and have big plans to run fast and feel
confident that my experience and determination will help me reach my goal."
For additional information regarding Deena Kastor's career and images of her
racing, please visit http://www.deenadrossin.com
.
The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
The 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, October 9 starting
and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The race will be broadcast live on CBS
2 CHICAGO and ESPN 1000. Last year's race attracted the maximum 40,000 participants.
Elite athletes will compete for a portion of the $650,000 prize purse, the highest
in the sport. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon draws world-class athletes and
participants from all 50 states and from more than 120 countries across the
globe.
Runners may register online at chicagomarathon.com until August 15, 2005, or
when the participation capacity has been reached (whichever comes first). Race
weekend entries will not be accepted. The entrance fee for the Marathon is $90
for U.S. runners and $100 for international runners.
The Health & Fitness Expo will take place Friday, October 7 and Saturday,
October 8, 2005. The weekend will include more than 150 exhibitors featuring
the newest designs in running gear and shoes, as well as the latest developments
in sports, fitness and nutrition.
For more information on The LaSalle Chicago Marathon visit http://chicagomarathon.com
or call (312) 904-9800.
This morning's teleconference announcement was recorded and sound bites from
Deena Kastor are available at 866/535-2480 if you were unable to participate
in the call.
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