2013 Women's Long Distance Committee Annual Report

WLDR is off to a great start in the new Olympiad.

New championship events were added to our racing circuit in 2013 with the USARC Champion to be determined at the conclusion of our newest event the 12K Championship. Not only were races of different distances added to the USA Running Circuit, but the TUFTS 10K, with whom we have had a long standing relationship hosted a USATF Team 10k Road Championship.

The new sponsor .US, helps close out the year with a blast with our12k National Championships in Alexandria, VA on November 17th. The .US National Road Racing Championship will have $100,000. in prize money on the line for both the men's and women's fields.

This new championship event was created midway through the year In a wonderful partnership with .US and USATF in our ongoing efforts to support our distance runners. Entry into this event requires finishing in the top ten at a US National Championship in 2013 series. For the inaugural year of this three year partnership, some at-large selections were added to the field.

HIGHLIGHTED BELOW ARE THE 2013 CHAMPIONSHIPS TO DATE:

March 9th 15k 1. Janet Bawcom 49:44 2. Alisha Williams 50:01 3. 50:09

April 17th Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 1. Janet Bawcom 53:28 2. Brianne Nelson 54:01 3. Sarah Crouch 54:15

April 23rd Grand Blue Mile 1. 4:42.02 2. 4:43.61 3. Heather Kampf 4:43.69

May 11 Fifth Third River Bank Run 1. Dot McMahan 1:25:52 2. 1:25:54 3. Tera Moody 1:26:12

June 22nd Grandma’s Half 1. Adrianna Nelson 1:11:19 2. Desiree Davilla 1:11:26 3. Kelly Brinkman 1:11:33

July 4th Peachtree 10K Road Race 1. Janet Bawcom 32:45 2. Stephanie Bruce 32:55 3. Maegan Krifchin 33:22 September 2nd Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race 20k 1. Meghan Peyton 1:09:57 2. Mattie Suver 1:10:25 3. Caitlin Comfort 1:10:43

September 22nd CVS Pharmacy Downtown 5k 1. 15:29.6 2. 15:30.8 3. Alexi Pappas 15:34.7

October 6th Medtronic 1. Annie Bersagel 2:30:53 2. Laura Portis 2:33:46 3. Ester Erb 2:34:32

2013 WORLD OUTDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCES 1500 METERS FINAL 2. 4:02.99 Silver medal 10. 4:07.19 5000 METER FINAL 6. Molly Huddle 15:05.73 7. 15:06.10 12. 15:36.58 10000 METER FINAL 8. Shalane Flannagan 31:34.83 12. 32:17.93 14. Amy Hastings 32:51.18 MARATHON 9. 2:36:12 18. Dot McMahan 2:39:52 23. 2:44:03

FUTURE MARATHON TRIALS During the last quarter of 2013, three cities were visited as potential sites for our Olympic Team Trials – Women’s Marathon. Bidders include Cincinnati (The Flying Pig Marathon staff), the Marathon, and the Marathon. Due to the success in 2012 of hosting both the men’s and women’s marathon trials in the same city on the same day, these three bidding groups offer to host the 2016 trials in that new tradition.

This year the WLDR Committee set the qualification standards for the 2016 Marathon Olympic Trials. They will be for the marathon: “A” standard 2:37:00; “B” standard 2:43:00: and ½ marathon time of 1:15:00 for a “B” qualifier. CHIBA EKIDEN WLDR International Competition Chair, Kathy Nary, and her committee put together a strong team for our Chiba Ekiden. Pat Goodwin of Team Minnesota will serve as Team Manager for these athletes. The women who will be representing the USA are:

Kellyn Johnson Neely Spence Katie Kellner (alt) 2014 AND BEYOND WLDR is excited to continue growing and looks to do more to support our US athletes to reach their full potential. The WLDR Executive Committee is always looking for input for ways to help our US athletes achieve their goals. Please feel free to contact Kim Keenan-Kirkpatrick, as the Chair of WLDR, at [email protected] if there are ways we can assist you or answer any questions you may have.