For Immediate Release

CONTACTS: (Please do not publish these numbers.  THE NUMBER FOR PUBLICATION IS THE RACE HOTLINE AT 301-320-3350):

Frank McNally
Media Coordinator
703-443-9444 Cell phone: 703-801-2566

Phil Stewart
Event Director
301-320-6865

WASHINGTON, DC -- Marla Runyan, the legally blind runner who made history when she qualified for the 1500-meter U.S. Olympic team in 2000 (ultimately finishing 8^th in Sydney), has joined an already talent-laden women’s field for the 30^th running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile on Sunday, April 7. Venturing into her longest distance major road race ever, Runyan, who set an American indoor 5,000-meter record of 15:07.33 in 2001, will battle defending women’s champion Elana Meyer, 1999 winner Jane Omoro, and last year’s 4^th place finisher Milena Glusac in pursuit of the $5,000 first place prize, the largest payday in any Washington metropolitan area race.

One the men’s side, John Korir and Reuben Cheruiyot, who finished 1-2 respectively just inches apart last year, are expected to lead the men’s field once again.

Further back in the pack, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson also will making his first attempt at a 10 mile event. A veteran of a number of 5k and 10k events, Secretary Thompson will be joined by a squadron of his senior staffers who are enthusiastic about spending Sunday morning with their boss and setting an example of physical fitness for all Americans.

Also entered is Ben Beach, the only runner who has entered and finished all 29 previous editions of the race extending back to 1973. Beach hopes to finish in about 65 minutes.

The race, which will offer prize money of $29,000 -- the largest amount ever -- to the top male and female finishers, always attracts some of the world's top distance runners. Past champions have been Olympic medallists, world champions, and world record holders. The men's and women's world records have been set on the course, including the current women's world record of 51:16 set by South African Colleen DeReuck in 1998. The top local male and female finishers will receive trips to the APRRO Race of Champions@ held at the Peachtree Road Race 10k in Atlanta, GA on July 4, 2002. The Credit Union Cherry Blossom is part of the PRRO circuit, a five-race series culminating in the Atlanta race. 

This year's charity recipients are the Children's Miracle Network, which will receive a minimum of $25,000 from the event, and the RRCA's Road Scholars program, which will receive $8,000 of funding for two training grants for up-and-coming U.S. distance runners. 

Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a partnership of Credit Unions and affiliated organizations, is the new title sponsor. Nearly 3,500 Credit Union members have enrolled in the event and over 350 Credit Union employees have volunteered for the event. Supporting sponsors include Gatorade, Gryphon Technologies, and Fleet Feet of Washington, DC.

Additional volunteers are needed to conduct the race. Individuals or groups wishing to see the action up close may sign up on the website, www.cherryblossom.org/vol.html, or call the race hotline, 301-320-3350.
Entries for the 10 mile are closed, but runners may participate in the 5k Fun Run, and children ages 12-and-under may sign up for the Kids 1k Run on race day. No advance registration is required, just show up in West Potomac Park by 7:15 a.m., sign up, and run. There is no entry fee for these events.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run is part of the 2002 National Cherry Blossom Festival ®, happening from March 23 to April 8.