Masters Ultrarunner Helen Klein Named USATF Athlete of the Week

Decmber 10, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS – Helen Klein has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after breaking the women’s marathon world best for the 80-plus age group Sunday at the 20th California International Marathon.

The 80-year-old, 5-foot-5 and 109-pound Klein finished the course from Folsom to Sacramento in a time of 4 hours, 31 minutes and 32 seconds to shatter the previous record of 5:10:04. The Rancho Cordova, Calif., native has finished 59 marathons and 132 ultramarathons since beginning her career at age 55.

"I feel absolutely wonderful,” Klein said after the race. “I have no problems at all. At 80, it has to be the running."

Elly Rono, a Kenyan who lives in Durham, N.C., won the men’s 26-mile, 385-yard race in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 56 seconds. Russian Tatiana Titova, who lives in Tampa, Fla., won the women’s race in 2 hours 33 minutes and 13 seconds. Rono and Titova each earned $10,000.

Finland's Jussi Utriainen used a late kick to finish second in 2:13:10. U.S. Olympic Trials champion Rod DeHaven of Madison, Wis., caught defending CIM champion Bruce Deacon of Canada in the final few yards to place third in 2:13:19. For the women, Elena Vinitskaia of Belarus finished second in 2:33:40, and Russia's Alena Makolova was third in 2:34:42.

Now in its second year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF Web site. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2002 USATF Athlete of the Week winners: January 3, Jim Garcia; January 8, Mary Louise Michelsohn; January 15, Tamara Diles; January 22, Miguel Pate; January 29, Regina Jacobs; February 5, Jeff Hartwig; February 12, Meb Keflezighi; February 19, Curt Clausen; February 26, Jeff Hartwig; March 5, Nicole Teter; March 12, Jeff Hartwig; March 19, Aretha Hill; March 26, Deena Drossin; April 2, Kim Fitchen; April 9, Deena Drossin; April 16, Khalid Khannouchi; April 23, Kenta Bell; April 30, Suzy Powell; May 7, Deena Drossin; May 14, Savante Stringfellow; May 21, Adam Nelson; May 28, Kevin Toth; June 4, Lashinda Demus; June 11, Anna Norgren Mahon; June 18, Molly Huddle; June 25, Sanya Richards; July 2, Savante Stringfellow; July 9,
Nicole Teter; July 16, Maurice Greene; July 23, Lashinda Demus; July 30, Kerron Clement; August 6, Nate McDowell; August 13, Phil Raschker; August 20, James Carter; August 27, Marion Jones; September 3, Colleen De Reuck; September 10, Suzy Favor Hamilton; September 17, Tim Montgomery; September 24, Marion Jones; October 1, Dan Browne; October 8, Jorge Torres; October 15, Khalid Khannouchi; October 22, Connie Gardner; October 29, Bolota Asmerom; November 5, Marla Runyan; November 12, Ed Gawinski; November 19, Don Sage; November 26, Jorge Torres; December 3, Ari Lambie; December 10, Helen Klein

Contact: Melvin Jackson II
Communications Coordinator
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0478 x322
Melvin.Jackson@usatf.org
http://www.usatf.org

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