 |
| Alan Webb (left) ran a 3:50.73 mile in London in 2004. |
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Alan Webb, one of America’s premier middle distance runners and a member of the 2004 United States Olympic team, will come to the Furman University campus Saturday, April 7 to run in the inaugural Furman Invitational Elite Mile sponsored by ASICS.
Webb will be among several top runners, including 2005 University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduate Ryan Kleimenhagen and 2003 NCAA 800 meter champion Sam Burley, who will attempt to break the four-minute mark on a South Carolina track for the first time. The Furman Invitational Elite Mile will begin at 2 p.m. on the Furman track.
“With a career best time of 3:48 in the mile, Webb is an inspiration to runners across the nation,” said Furman’s Mickey McCauley, director of the Elite Mile. “Our aim is to give fans the first sub-four-minute mile run in South Carolina.”
Kleimenhagen has a personal best of 3:59 in the mile, and Burley, a 2003 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, was a five-time NCAA All-American. The race is being sponsored by ASICS, the athletic footwear company.
The Elite Mile is just one of several events that will take place at Furman over the weekend of April 6-7 to support the university’s “Blue Shoes Track Scholarship” program.
On Friday night (April 6), there will be a dinner at the Hyatt Regency featuring 1972 Olympic Gold medalist Dave Wottle as speaker. Prior to that, there will be a lecture on running with Furman Health and Exercise professor Dr. Bill Pierce. Amby Burfoot, editor of Runner’s World and winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, will also participate in the weekend events.
While the lecture is free, tickets for the dinner are $45 if reserved ahead of time and $50 at the door.
On Saturday (April 7) at the Furman track, there will be several mile runs in addition to the Elite Mile. The day will also include a 5K run, as well as the Furman Invitational that will feature both high school and college teams. All of the track events, including the Elite Mile, are free and open to the public.
The weekend events will raise money for the Blue Shoes Track Scholarship program, which provides support for Furman’s men and women distance runners. The scholarship was established last year by 1978 Furman graduate Chris Borch, who named it for the blue ASICS ‘Onitsuka Tiger’ running shoes he and his teammates wore while attending the university.
According to Paladin Club director Ken Pettus, last year’s Blue Shoes event was the single biggest athletic fund-raising event in the university’s history. Currently, the scholarship endowment is $1.2 million.
To reserve tickets for the Blue Shoes dinner, call Furman’s Paladin Club office at 864-294-3565. To learn more about the running events, contact Gene Mullin at 864-294-3459 or gene.mullin@furman.edu
Here is a complete list of events for the weekend.
Friday, April 6
5 p.m. — “Smart Training for the Long Run.” Presentation by Furman Health and Exercise Science professor Bill Pierce. Question-and-answer session will follow with faculty of the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training. Free.
6:30 p.m. — Blue Shoes dinner with Olympic champion Dave Wottle. Wottle will speak on “The Winning Attitude” and reflect on his 1972 Olympic experience. He will also show the original ABC Sports film of his winning 800-meter race narrated by Jim McKay and Marty Liquori. Reserved tickets are $45; $50 at the door. Tickets for high school or college students are $29. Corporate tables for 10 can be purchased for $400.
Saturday, April 7
8 a.m. — Furman Invitational (High School Meet)
9 a.m. — Furman Corporate Shield 5K Run
12:30 p.m. — Blues Shoes Miles (3-4 heats to suit any age and pace)
2 p.m. — Furman Invitational Elite Mile sponsored by ASICS
2:30 p.m. — Furman Invitational (College)
#############
1-31-06
Releases maintained by 
