Spangler set to run as tune up for Olympic Marathon Trials;
Creighton, Liss try to four-peat
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle Elite Field
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 13:56:50 -0600
THE 25th Anniversary LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K
SET FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 28
Field Includes Past Champions Chasing Four-Peats, Olympians and 20,000
Runners
CHICAGO (March 9, 2004) ? The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle, the world's
largest 8K race (4.97 miles), is set to take place Sunday, March 28 in
Grant Park. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of this event that
traditionally kicks off Chicago's running season. More than 20,000 runners
are expected to witness two possible four-peat champions and a group of
former and future Olympians.
Ten-time Australian champion and two-time Olympian Shaun Creighton is
making the trek from Australia to Chicago in order to defend the Men's
title and take another stride towards history with a four-peat effort. For
the past three years, Creighton, 36, has made Chicago a special place in
March. "Shaun has been phenomenal for our race and Chicago's reputation as
a great city for runners," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski.
"This race could be extremely special for us with the possibility of
crowning two four-time champions and our 25th Anniversary celebration
happening in the same year."
Three-time champion and Indiana-born Collette Liss, 31, is attempting to
become the first four-time female champion. Liss won the 1999, 2000 and
2003 races. Course record holder (with a time of 25:25) Kathy Butler, 30,
showed good form in her recent victory at The Reebok UK Intercounties held
in Nottingham, England on March 6. Butler interrupted Liss' consecutive
titles with her only LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle championship in 2001.
Local running star from Lake Villa, Ill. and 1996 Olympic Marathon Trials
winner, Jenny Spangler, 40, will use The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle as
her final tune-up for this year's Olympic Trials being held the following
weekend in St. Louis (Saturday, April 3). "We are thrilled to have Jenny
join us this year because her return to competitive racing is an
inspiration to all of us in the Chicago area, " added Pinkowski. "This is
a great opportunity for all her fans to see her before she goes to the
Trials and hopefully on to her second appearance at the Summer Olympic
Games in Athens."
Coming off break-through performances at the U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon
Trials, Hansons-Brooks Olympic Distance Project team members Trent Briney,
25, and Clint Verran, 28, look to upset Creighton in his quest for the
four-peat. Brian Sell, 24, (also with the Hansons-Brooks team) fell short
of stealing the Olympic Marathon Trials held in Birmingham, Ala. earlier
this year, will attempt to change the finishing order of the race from a
year ago when he finished second to Creighton.
Race packet pick-up and race-weekend registration takes place at the Health
& Fitness Expo in the lower level Northwest exhibition halls of the Hilton
Chicago located at 720 S. Michigan Ave. on Friday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to
8 p.m. and Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the
Health & Fitness Expo is free. There is no race-day packet pick-up or
registration for the 8K race or the 5K walk.
For the second consecutive year, The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Post-Race party will take place under a tent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in
Grant Park (on the east side of Columbus Drive on Balbo). Poi Dog
Pondering, who adopted Chicago as its home town in 1992, will rock the
crowd during the Post-Race party. The Post-Race party is open for all
registered participants and one guest per registered race participant.
For more information on The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K visit
www.shamrockshuffle.com or call (312) 904-9814.
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