Press Release - Houston Marathon - 5/10/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              


                           USA Distance Project 
          Announces Chevron Houston Marathon as Silver Sponsor 
 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - (May 10, 2006) - USA Track & Field announced on 
Wednesday that the Chevron Houston Marathon, host of the 2006 USA Men's 
Half-Marathon Championship, has signed on as a Silver Sponsor of the USA 
Distance Project. 

The USA Distance Project, presented by the New York Road Runners, provides 
financial support for USA Distance Centers and distance athletes around the 
country. The Chevron Houston Marathon joins the Medtronic Twin Cities 
Marathon as a Silver Sponsor for the next five years. 

"Even a casual review of weekly race results over the past couple of years 
reveals that the training group concept has been tremendously beneficial 
for U.S. distance runners," said Chevron Houston Marathon Race Director 
Brant Kotch. "The Chevron Houston Marathon is proud to provide monetary 
support to the USA Distance Project for these groups and for U.S. distance 
running in general."

A partnership of the Long Distance Running Division of USA Track & Field 
and major U.S. events and running-related corporations, the USA Distance 
Project is devoted to sustaining the long-term development of elite USA 
distance athletes, enabling them to compete successfully in domestic and 
international competitions and major championship events. USA Distance 
Center programs such as Team Running USA, Big Sur Distance Project, Team 
USA Minnesota, Boulder Performance Training Group and ZAP Fitness have made 
significant progress toward bolstering the strength of U.S. long distance 
running. The USA Distance Project will ensure that they are supported 
through the next quadrennium. 

With the support of partners such as the New York Road Runners, Medtronic 
Twin Cities Marathon and Chevron Houston Marathon, the USA Distance Project 
will provide yearly funding to the existing network of USA Distance Centers 
as well as support athlete and coaching summits leading to major 
international competitions. This partnership will maintain a collective 
commitment to developing athletes thru the next Olympiad and beyond.

For more information on the USA Distance Project, visit: www.USATF.org



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