FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 22, 2009

OTC Elite Prepares For USA Championships At Hayward Field

Eugene, Oregon – After a successful spring of racing and training the Oregon Track Club Elite is looking forward to the beginning of its championship season this week at the USATF Outdoor Championships.  The championships, which are being held at OTC’s home track at Hayward Field, begin on Thursday, June 25^th and continue through the weekend concluding on Sunday, June 28^th.

OTC Elite has qualified nearly its entire roster for the four day event.  OTC Elite participants include entrants in the men’s 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meter steeplechase, as well as the men’s and women’s 5,000 meters.

Men’s 800 Meters:
-Nick Symmonds – 2008 Olympic Trials Champion, 1:44.10 personal best set at the Olympic Trials.  This year Nick won the highly competitive Pre Classic in a seasons best of 1:45.86.
-Brandon Shaw – 2008 Olympic Trials semi-finalist.  Season best of 1:46.45 at the Pre-Pre meet.
Matt Scherer – 2008 Olympic Trials semi-finalist.  Season best of 1:46.53 at the Harry Jerome Classic.
-Kevin Hicks – Season best of 1:46.97 at the Harry Jerome Classic.
-Mark Wieczorek – 2009 USATF Indoor 800 meter runner-up.  Season best of 1:47.11 at the Nike Mile.

Men’s 1,500 Meters:
-Will Leer – Fourth place at 2008 Olympic Trials in the 1,500 meters.  Season best of 3:39.69 at the Adidas Track Classic.
-Stephen Pifer – Season best of 3:40.28 at the Harry Jerome Classic.
-Russell Brown – The USATF Championships will be Russell’s outdoor open debut.  Split 4:05 on OTC Elite’s 4xMile team at the Oregon Twilight.

Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase:
-Ben Bruce – Fastest American in the event this year with lifetime PR of 8:26.08.
-Billy Nelson – 2008 Olympian in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.  Season best of 8:35.90 at the Prefontaine Classic
-Tom Brooks – Season best of 8:41.97 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

Men’s 5,000 Meters:
-Stephen Pifer – Season best of 13:33.69 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
-Ryan Bak – Season best of 13:55.72 at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

Women’s 5,000 Meters:
-Lauren Fleshman – The USATF Championships will be Lauren’s 2009 debut.  In 2008 Lauren joined the prestigious club of American women to break 15:00.00 for 5,000 meters.

For results from the USATF Outdoor Championships visit USATF’s website at:  www.usatf.org and can be viewed live on www.tracktown.net.  Saturday’s events can be seen on ESPN from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., PST, and Sunday on NBC from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.  For more information on the OTC Elite and to follow the rest of the team’s season in Europe visit the team’s website at www.OTCelite.com.

Contact:
Rob Vermillion
[email protected]

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