Photo: Clint Verran (l) and Ryan Shay race during the USATF marathon championships in 2003.

Michigan runners placed 1,3 in the U.S. Marathon Championships last year and as many as three of these ten state-based qualifiers could win berths on the U.S. team at the trials on Saturday, February 7, 2004.

Clint Verran - Age: 28. Current residence: Rochester Hills. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/Eastern Michigan University/Lake Orion High School. Best qualifying time: 2:14:17 (A standard), 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Clint is the only returning state runner from the 2000 Olympic Trials in Pittsburgh, where he finished 11th in 2:20:45. He finished third at the U.S. Marathon Championships in 2003.

Ryan Shay - Age: 24. Current residence: East Jordan. Affiliations: Nike/ Team USA California/Notre Dame/Central Lake High School. Best qualifying time: 2:14:29 (A standard), 2003 U.S. Marathon Championships, Birmingham, Ala. Ryan currently holds both the U.S. Marathon and Half-Marathon Championships. He won the NCAA Division 1 10,00-meter title while a junior at Notre Dame.

Mike Franko - Age: 29. Current residence, Rochester. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/Eastern Michigan/Traverse City High School. Best qualifying time: 2:19:30 (A standard), 2002 Bay Shore Marathon. The Traverse City native was living in Austin, Tex., when he hit the A standard at his home-town race.

Brian Sell - Age: 25. Current residence: Rochester. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/Saint Francis University/Woodbury, Pa. Best qualifying time: 2:19:5 (A standard), 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Brian hit the A standard in his debut marathon and ran a close second to Meb Keflezighi in the 20K National Championchip.

Carl Rundell - Age: 35. Current Residence: Birmingham. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/Vanderbuilt University. Best qualifying time, 2:19:59 (A standard), 2003 U.S. Men's Marathon Championships, Birmingham, Ala. Carl achieved the B standard with a 2:20:05 at the 2002 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Bob Busquaert - Age: 28. Current residence: Romeo. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/University of Alabama, Birmingham/ St. Clair Shores. Best qualifying time: 2:20:20 (B standard), 2003 Grandma's Marathon. Bob, an experienced marathoner, will to his college town for the Trials.

Trent Briney - Age: 25. Current residence: Rochester Hills. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Best qualifying time: 2:21:10 (B standard), 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Trent, a 3:57 miler, qualified for the Trials in his debut marathon.

Paul Aufdemberge - Age: 38. Current residence: Redford. Affiliations: Total Runner/Hillsdale College/Harper Woods Lutheran East High School. Best qualifying time: 2:21:55 (B standard), 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Paul is the only three-time Michigan Runner of the Year (1996, 1999, 2000). This is the first time he's qualified for the Trials.

Ben Rosario - Age: 23. Current residence: Rochester. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project/Truman State University/St. Louis (Mo.) University High School. Best qualifying time: 2:21:58 (B standard), 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Ben won the 2002 Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon in Virginia Beach while still in college.

Terrence Shea - Age 31. Current residence: Rochester Hills. Affiliations: Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. Best qualifying time: 2:21:54 (B standard) 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Terry, the newest member of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, recently relocated to Michigan from Massachusetts.

Several others qualified for the trials, but will not be running Saturday:

Kyle Baker had the fastest qualifying time, but injuries forced his withdrawal from the trials.

Jeff Campbell has withdrawn because of illness.

Nick Cordes has withdrawn because of injury.

Also, two Michigan State Univesity and Hanson Distance Project alums will be running: Jim Jurcevich, now living in Ohio and Chris Wehrman, now a resident of Illinois. For more information see http://birminghamtrials.com.

MR