Courtesy of Running USA wire.

FLINT, Mich. - (August 15, 2002) - The Crim Festival of Races and the Riverfront Character Inn and Conference Center are pleased to welcome Catherine Ndereba back to Flint. Since we last saw Catherine at the 2001 Crim Festival of Races, she set the World Record at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Her time: 2:18:47.

Raised on a farm in Kenya, Catherine has dominated the long distance running circuit since 1995. In 2001, Catherine competed against the best runners in the world and won 14 of the 16 races she ran in! She has been named Runner's World Road Runner of the Year five times.

Catherine, her husband, Anthony Maina, and their daughter, Jane, will be returning to Flint to defend her Crim Women's Open Title for the sixth time. While she's here, Catherine will be sharing her wisdom and insight with runners and non-runners alike.

Catherine's first speaking engagement will be at the New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 21, 6-8:00 p.m. Catherine will be sharing stories of her experiences with the F.A.C.E.D. Health Team Network, which currently consists of 45 interdenominational and multicultural churches working within the Flint Community. Their mission: Spreading the Good News of Good Health. The general public is invited to share in this exciting and informative evening. New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church is located at 1035 East Carpenter Road, Flint (corner of Saginaw Street and Carpenter Road). Light refreshments will be served.

Catherine's second speaking engagement will be at the Crim Running Clinic at the Riverfront Character Inn during the Crim Sports and Fitness Expo. Scheduled for Friday, August 23 at 3:30 p.m., this FREE clinic will give you an opportunity to meet Ms. Ndereba and learn some of her training tips and race strategies. Roger Samuel, Publisher of The Flint Journal and noted local runner will be hosting the clinic.

And finally, after the race, you'll have the opportunity to meet Catherine and all the Crim elite athletes at the International Institute's International Festival at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24. Join them in the Hall of Nations to watch WFUM's 26th same-day broadcast of the Crim 10 Mile Race. The International Institute is located at 515 Stevens Street, telephone (810) 767-0720.

For more information on the race, check out, www.crim.org/