For more information, contact:
Victor Knight (334) 438-2276

MOBILE, Ala.-(November 2, 2000)-The USA Men's 10K Championship, hosted by the Delchamps Senior Bowl Charity Run on Saturday, November 4, is stacked to say the least. Included in the field are recent Olympians Rod DeHaven and Nick Rogers (last year's winner), current USA Running Circuit leader Shawn Found, 1999 USA 10K champion Phillimon Hanneck, 1998 USA 10K champion Dan Browne, 1998 Delchamps champion Andre Williams and a host of young hungry U.S. distance runners.

Along with the U.S. title and the $20,000 championship prize purse, the 13th Charity Run also has added significance because it is the Men's 2000 USA Running Circuit finale, and unlike the past five editions, none of the three grand prix money positions ($6000, $4000 and $2500) have been claimed. Seven USARC Grand Prix contenders--Found, DeHaven, Browne, Hanneck, Todd Reeser, Peter DeLaCerda and Eddy Hellebuyck--are expected in Mobile to vie for the extra $12,500.

"The Charity Run has always been committed to showcasing top American distance runners, while providing them with the opportunity to win significant prize money so that they can continue to improve and compete at the international level," said Charity Run race director Vic Knight. "Serving as the national 10K championship is a natural extension of this philosophy and commitment and it is a great honor, as we seek to play an even bigger role in the development of premier U.S. distance runners like 2000 Olympian Nick Rogers, last year's champion."

"With all that is on the line this year, this race should be the most competitive and exciting Charity Run race in history," Knight continued.

Last year, Rogers took control of the race at the halfway point and never looked back as he cruised to a 28:40 victory; the biggest win of his young career. Jeff Campbell was second in 28:59.

Here are the top U.S. men expected in Mobile:

1) Nick Rogers, 25, (Eugene, OR), defending Charity Run champion; 2000 Olympian 5000 meters and 3rd U.S. Olympic Trials 5000 meters

2) Rod DeHaven, 34, (Madison, WI), 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion (2:15:30) at Pittsburgh; 1994/'98/2000 USA Half-Marathon champion (Parkersburg); 1998 USARC Grand Prix Champion; currently 2nd in USARC standings (32 points)

3) Shawn Found, 30, (Boulder, CO), current USARC leader with 33 points; 4th 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 meters (28:33.73), USA 25K champion (Old Kent River Bank) and USA 15K national runner-up (Gate River Run); 3rd last year at the Charity Run (29:03)

4) Dan Browne, 25, (Lafayette, CO), 2000 USA 15K champion (Gate River) and 6th Carlsbad 5000 (13:37); in 1998, won five USA titles (5K, 10K, 10,000m, 3000m indoor and 4K cross country)

5) Phillimon Hanneck, 29, (Clackamas, OR), defending USA 10K champion (Bowling Green); 3rd 2000 USA Half-Marathon Championships (Parkersburg); 1999 20K champion and 3rd USARC Grand Prix; formerly from Zimbabwe; 3rd 1999 Carlsbad 5000 (13:38); 1992 1500 meter Olympian; past winner of the Bix 7, Carlsbad 5000 and Gasparilla 15K road races

6) Todd Reeser, 26, (Canandaigua, NY), 2000 USA 20K champion (New Haven) and USA Half-Marathon national runner-up (Parkersburg); currently 3rd in USARC standings

7) John Sence, 30, (Cincinnati, OH), 2000 Canadian Int'l Half-Marathon winner (1:04:42); 1999 Las Vegas Half-Marathon winner; 1998 USA 25K champion; 1997 USARC Grand Prix champion, USA 25K champion and 3rd at Delchamps (28:41); 1999 and 1996 World Half-Marathon Championships team

8) Mike Mykytok, 29, (Ramsey, NJ), 1999 USA 10 Mile champion; 1997 U.S. 10,000 meter champion (28:34.93), 2nd at Delchamps (28:38) and 3rd USARC Grand Prix

9) Peter DeLaCerda, 29, (Alamosa, CO), 2nd 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (2:16:18, PR) and 3rd USA 15K Championships (Gate River Run); 4th USARC standings

Other top U.S. men include:

Tim Broe (Birmingham, AL), 4th 2000 Olympic Trials 3000m steeplechase; Jeff Campbell (Brevard, NC), 2nd 1999 Delchamps (28:59); Chris England (Columbus, OH); Jimmy Hearld (Louisville, KY); Eddy Hellebuyck (Albuquerque, NM), 2nd 1999 USA Marathon Championships; Chad Johnson (Rochester Hills, MI); Weldon Johnson (Flagstaff, AZ); Jim Jurcevich (Rochester Hills, MI), 6th 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m; Scott Larson (Boulder, CO), 2nd 1999 USA Half-Marathon Championships; Teddy Mitchell (Longwood, FL); John Mortimer (Ann Arbor, MI); Chad Newton (Brevard, NC); Chris Pluchos (Brevard, NC); Clint Wells (Boulder, CO) and Andre Williams (Arlington, VA), 1998 champion.

The total prize purse at Delchamps equals $40,000 with $20,000 USA Championship prize money ($6000, $4000, $3000, $2500, $1500, $1000, $800, $600, $400 and $200).

10K Records
Course  28:25   Todd Williams   Delchamps Charity Run, AL   11/05/94
U.S.    27:48   Mark Nenow  Continental Homes, Phoenix, AZ  03/02/85
World   27:20   Joseph Kimani (KEN) Revco-Cleveland, OH 05/05/96

Although not a women's championship, their field is also strong. The top women expected include 2000 Olympian Elva Dryer (1998 champion), Cheri Kenah, Kristy Johnston, 1992 Olympian Shelly Steely, Carrie Tollefson, Gina Procaccio, Emily Nay and Katie McGregor. The women's prize purse is $10,000 with the winner earning $3500. Francie Larrieu Smith set the women's course record (32:00) in 1990.

In addition, the Charity Run is part of the Association Athlete Development Program (AADP) which is administered by USATF's LDR Committees. Its purpose is to assist upcoming distance runners from local associations. For the championship, eleven U.S. men are part of the program.

This year's Delchamps Senior Bowl Charity Run is expected to draw approximately 1,500 runners in the 10K and 3,500 in the One-Mile Fun Run. The flat, fast loop course starts and finishes in downtown Mobile. There will be separate men's and women's races, as the men's race starts at 8:00 a.m. and the women's 10K at 8:45. Both races use the same course.

The Charity Run will also host the USA Men's 10K Championship in 2001 and 2002 and the USA Women's 10K Championship in 2001. Since 1989, the race has donated over $1.6 million to charity. For more information on the race visit their website at www.seniorbowl.com.

USA Men's 10K Road Champions since 1985

1985    Keith Brantly   28:39   Asbury Park Classic, NJ
1986    Dirk Lakeman    27:49   Penofin, CA
1987    Keith Brantly   28:47   Asbury Park Classic, NJ
1988    Ed Eyestone 30:01   Bolder Boulder, CO
1989    Keith Brantly   28:55   Old Reliable Run, NC
1990    Harry Green 28:56   Red Lobster Classic, FL
1991    Gordon Sanders  30:02   Bolder Boulder, CO
1992    John Trautmann  28:46   Charlotte Observer, NC
1993    Ed Eyestone     28:39   Eastman Road Race, TN
1994    Arturo Barrios  28:43   Eastman Road Race, TN
1995    Keith Brantly   29:12   Crescent City Classic, LA
1996    Matt Giusto 27:59   Crescent City Classic, LA
1997    Todd Williams   28:50   Crescent City Classic, LA
1998    Dan Browne  29:08   Bowling Green, KY
1999    Phillimon Hanneck   28:51   Bowling Green, KY

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Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press release.
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