MICHIGAN RUNNING NEWS - December 28, 2002 - v.2, no.8

Sponsored by:

Belle Isle New Year,s Eve Family Fun Run/Walk - http:// michiganrunner.com/belleisle/

2003 Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon

Dundee Internet Services - http://dundee.net

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__/ HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TRAVERSE CITY

__/ PHIL BEDFORD RAN SOME FAST TIMES IN 2002

__/ WHICH IS THE TOP MICHIGAN RUNNING STORY OF 2002?

__/ NEW YEAR,S AND EARLY JANUARY RACES

Jennie McCafferty-Editor

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__/ HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TRAVERSE CITY

Happy New Year from Traverse City. Art (McCafferty) and I enjoyed a magical pre-dawn Christmas morning run under the lights in Traverse City.

We hope you are finding time to get out in Michigan,s wonderful winter weather or enjoy the weather wherever you might be spending the holidays.

Traverse City holiday lights were beautiful along the waterfront and in the Park Place Hotel where we stayed. Along the way we saw Running Fit's future new location on Front Street along the route of the Cherry Festival race and the Meier Golden Mile. I suspect Running Fit,s new location will prove to be a great gathering place for runners in Traverse City.

We are also excited about the wireless Internet in the lobby and meeting rooms in the Park Place Hotel. Very cool for those of us who spend lots of time on the road.

__/ PHIL BEDFORD RAN SOME FAST TIMES IN 2002

We got a nice letter from Midland,s Phil Bedford with his best times for 2002. Phil is one of Michigan,s top master runners, who runs world- class events such as the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago, and the Utica Boilermaker 15K in Utica New York. Best of Times is one of Michigan Runner magazine,s way of recognizing our elite athletes who compete out-of-state, sometimes missing out on Michigan Runner of the Year awards which are based on Michigan races. Michigan Runner magazine will publish the 2002 best times of Michigan residents in the March/April 2003 issue, volume 25, no. 1. Send in your best times for 5K, 8K, 10K, 15K, 10 mile, 20K, 1/2 marathon, 25K, and marathon to jennie@glsp.com or FAX (734)434-4765. Races can be anywhere, but the race must be certified. See the new search engine for USATF certified courses: http://usatf.org/events/courses/search/ or check with the race director.

__/ WHICH IS THE TOP MICHIGAN RUNNING STORY OF 2002?

In January Michigan Running News will name the top Michigan Running News story of 2002. What do you think the top story is? Let us know. Also, let us know if there is a good story we,ve missed.

Here are some candidates:

* February - Brad Prins steps down as Rockford High School coach.

* April - Pietro,s Run Fasta Eat Pasta holds its last race.

* April - Tim Broe wins USATF 8K Championship.

*June-September - Standard Federal Bank creates new 10K race series.

* June - Boaz Cheboiywo is 10,000 meter NCAA Division I champion, beating 2001 champion Ryan Shay.

* July - Ken Ferguson breaks American high school 400 meter hurdle record.

* August - Alan Webb turns pro, signs with Nike after freshman year at Michigan.

* September - Former Michigander Cindy Barber Keeler qualifies for sixth Olympic Marathon Trials.

* September - Tim Moore is High School Runner of the Year 2001/2002

* September - Dathan Ritzenhein red shirts cross country season.

* October - Kyle Baker (debut), Clint Verran and Ryan Shay (debut) are 2nd, 3rd, and 4th American finishers at the LaSalle Bank Chicago marathon. Alan Culpepper (debut) is first American.

* October - Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon celebrates 25th running.

* November - Eastern Michigan University men win 3rd place in NCAA Division I cross country.

* November - Kyle Baker,s ranks among top American men in 2002 USA Road Racing Circuit.

* November - Michelle Carson (Michigan State/Winipeg, Manitoba) Jason Hartmann (Oregon/Rockford) and Nate Brannen (Michigan/ Cambridge, Ontario) earn all-American honors in NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.

* December - Hansons, Running Shop Olympic Development Team win Cross Country Championships second year in a row.

* December - Ishpeming,s Amber Smith is 5th at Footlocker Cross Country Nationals, earns all-American honors.