U.S. Athlete Development Project Comes To Houston

U.S. Athlete Development Project Comes to Houston
Chevron Houston Marathon to support 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials hopefuls

Contact: Steven Karpas, (713) 957-3453; skarpas@chevronhoustonmarathon.com

HOUSTON - (September 24, 2006) - The Houston Marathon Committee, in partnership with Greg McMillan of McMillan Running Co., Inc., is proud to continue its support of U.S. distance running by launching the U.S. Athlete Development Project at the Chevron Houston Marathon, to be run Sunday, January 14, 2007.

Designed to help emerging U.S. talent attain a marathon qualifying time for the Olympic Trials preceding the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Project will bring as many as 100 of America's top developing male and female distance runners to the 35th anniversary of the Chevron Houston Marathon.

"We are thrilled to add the Project to our commitment to U.S. distance running," said race director Brant Kotch, "and to help dozens of rising new stars achieve their dreams and get to the Olympic Marathon Trials. Coupled with the 2007 USATF Men's and Women's Half-Marathon National Championships, also to be run here over Marathon weekend, the Project will definitely make Houston the place to be in January."

Begun at the 2006 Austin Marathon, the program will continue to provide logistical and financial support to athletes who have met an established marathon time standard. Additionally, runners who achieve an "A" or "B" qualifying time at the Chevron Houston Marathon will receive financial incentives from the Houston Marathon Committee.

"Houston is the perfect venue for runners looking to get their qualifying standard," said Greg McMillan, who coached Kelly Keane to victory at the 2005 Houston Marathon. "In addition to ideal January weather conditions and phenomenal crowd support, the course is renowned for being one of the fastest in the country."

Additional information, including how to register for the U.S. Athlete Development Project, is available by contacting Greg McMillan at: greg@chevronhoustonmarathon.com

The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA Founding Member, is the nation's premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S. states and more than 30 foreign countries. The race will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2007. The marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston's largest single-day sporting event. More information is available online at ChevronHoustonMarathon.com or (713) 957-3453.