Olympic Trials Hopefuls, Legends to Appear at Austin Marathon

Olympic Trials Hopefuls, Running Legends to Appear at 2007 AT&T Austin Marathon ... Nation's 15th largest marathon lures elite competitors

AUSTIN, Texas - (January 25, 2007) - Among the estimated 5,500 plus runners in this year's AT&T Austin Marathon, 14 U.S. athletes will be competing against a field of professional runners for a finishing time worthy of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. The 2007 AT&T Austin Marathon and accompanying Half Marathon will be held Sunday, February 18.

The U.S. Olympic hopefuls make up approximately one-third of the 50-member elite athlete field, the largest the AT&T Austin Marathon has ever seen. The elite athletes hail from all over the globe with hometowns in Belarus, Kenya, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Russia and Serbia, as well as 30 American runners.

Paul McMullen, a 1996 Olympian at 1500 meters, is attempting to qualify a second time after suffering a severed toe injury in 1997. In 2001, he battled back from the incident to place 10th at the World Championships 1500 meter competition. A feat he accomplished hours after his daughter Olivia was born.

Several running legends will also attend the marathon as guests:
* Craig Virgin - the first and only American male to ever win the IAAF World Cross Country Championship (1980-81)
* Henry Rono - Kenyan superstar who broke four different world records in a span of 81 days in 1978
* Steve Jones - a Welsh athlete who broke the world record in his first competitive marathon
* Patti Catalano Dillon - a pioneer in women's running who has earned several national and world records

In order to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials, men must complete the 26.2-mile race in under 2:22:01, while women must finish under 2:47:01. The qualifying men and women will travel to New York and Boston, respectively, where they will complete a final round of competition before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

source RunningUSA