The American Association of Running Clubs (AARC) and the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) have announced the Class of 2004. Five developing elite distance-running athletes were chosen to receive ROADS SCHOLAR® the annual grants. The five recipients, including two men and three women, are Amy Yoder Begley of Kendallville, Ind.; Kristin Price of Raleigh, N.C.; Turena Johnson Lane of Statesboro, Ga.; Matt Gabrielson of Apple Valley, Minn. and Kyle Baker of Mason, Mich.

The AARC/RRCA ROADS SCHOLAR® grants are intended to assist top American post-collegiate runners who, while struggling financially, show great promise to develop into accomplished national and world class distance runners. The success of this program was exemplified this summer when Team Running USA's Deena Kastor, an original ROADS SCHOLAR® recipient, won the bronze medal in the Women's Olympic Marathon. This year the AARC and RRCA are pleased to award five scholarships for $5,000 to five promising athletes. Since 1997 the AARC/RRCA ROADS SCHOLAR® program has distributed over $145,000 to emerging American distance runners.

As one of the original ROADS SCHOLAR® grants, Kastor commented, "These athletes are very deserving of such a generous award. Hopefully with this grant these fine competitors will launch themselves onto a world scene and never forget the generosities that got them there. Congratulations to each of you."

RRCA president Bee Andrews noted, "The importance of the ROADS SCHOLAR® program and the value it provides to our rising athletes has never been so evident as now when we have been able to enjoy seeing one of the first ROADS SCHOLAR® recipients - Deena (Drossin) Kastor - medal in the Athens Olympics."

Carl Sniffen, co-chairman of the AARC/RRCA ROADS SCHOLAR® Committee said, "It is a wonderfully rewarding task to serve on the ROADS SCHOLAR® committee while at the same time somewhat bittersweet. On the one hand, we provide talented and deserving emerging elite athletes with needed financial relief. On the other hand, we are constantly reminded of how much more can and should be done to help our developing distance athletes."

Henley Gabeau, co-chair added, "It has been a supreme honor to serve on the RRCA's ROADS SCHOLAR® since its inception, and this year was no exception with its outstanding submissions and the runners that were chosen. If past history proves true, these RRCA ROADS SCHOLAR® athletes will be top finishers on the roads in the years to come."

2004 ROADS SCHOLAR® Recipients

Amy Yoder Begley, fifteen time NCAA All American and the 2001 NCAA 10,000-meter champion while at the University of Arkansas, finished 9th in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials 5000 and 10,000 meters and was runner-up at the 2002 Avon Global Championship 10K. "This ROADS SCHOLAR® grant will allow me to stay and train in Albuquerque. Training at altitude has been a great addition to my training. Albuquerque is a great place to train with endless dirt trails, a mild winter and altitude."

Turena Johnson Lane, a 9-time Division III All-American at Luther College in Iowa, was a 2004 Olympic Trials qualifier for the Marathon and has represented the U.S. on 3 international Ekiden teams. In September of this year she won the USA 20K Championship. "The past recipients of this award are of the highest caliber among American distance runners and I am honored to be among them. My passion and drive for the sport comes from simply discovering how good I can be. This has been my philosophy for as long as I have been a runner and a motivating force in my life. The support of AARC/RRCA will be helpful to me as I continue to pursue my goals."

Kristin Price is a 2004 graduate of North Carolina State where she was a 12-time All-American in cross country and track and the 2002 NCAA 10,000 meter champion. She placed 13th in the 2004 Olympic Trials 10,000 meters and was the second American finisher at the 2004 Peachtree 10K Road Race. "I want to thank RRCA for the grants they have provided. It is this type of financial assistance program that keeps the hopes and dreams alive for the up-and-coming generation of elite American distance runners."

Matt Gabrielson, a graduate of Drake University in Iowa, qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 5000 meters. He placed 6th at the 2004 Payton Jordan U.S. Open 5000 meters in 13:34.61 and set a personal best in the 3000 meters of 7:54.22 at the adidas Oregon Track Classic. He showed his range of ability by winning the 1500 meters in 3:42.01 at the 2004 Boston High Performance Meet #5. In September, the Team USA Minnesota athlete ventured on to the roads, finishing 11th overall and 3rd American at the USA 5K Championship in 14:05.

Kyle Baker currently serves as the assistant track and field coach at his alma mater Michigan State University, where he was a 4-time NCAA All-American. He is returning to top condition following a year of injuries. He showed his potential as a top marathoner with a 2:14:13 debut at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. He also ran a 59:22 20K that year which made him the 6th fastest U.S. 20K runner ever at that time.

ROADS SCHOLAR® committee members in addition to Sniffen and Henley Gabeau (RRCA past president and former RRCA Executive Director) include Don Kardong, former President of the RRCA and 1976 Olympic marathoner; Freddi Carlip, past president of the RRCA; Bill Rodgers, four-time winner of both the Boston and New York City Marathons; Joan Samuelson, 1984 Olympic Marathon gold medalist; Dan Browne, U.S. Olympian at 10,000 meters and marathon and Phil Stewart, Editor and Publisher of Road Race Management and Director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Race.

Runners interested in applying for 2005 ROADS SCHOLAR® grants may contact the AARC (www.runningclubs.org) or RRCA (www.rrca.org) and ask to be included on the mailing list. Applications will be ready for distribution in late 2004.

The American Association of Running Clubs (www.runningclubs.org) is an organization founded in 2002 dedicated to the task of promoting running at the grass roots level as well as providing opportunities to developing athletes. The Road Runners Club of America (www.rrca.org) is an organization of over 600 clubs and 130,000 members that promote grassroots running.