Date: 1/8/08 7:29 AM



Note: Linda Somers Smith, 46, of Arroyo Grande, Calif. is hoping to qualify for her 

SIXTH consecutive U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials race, all with the Trials "A" standard, 

an achievement only matched by 1984 Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson. 

The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon on January 13 may be Somers Smith's 

last opportunity.  Last October, she chose to withdraw partway through an unseasonably 

hot LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Somers Smith was a member of the 1996 U.S. women's 

Olympic Marathon team and was the 1993 and 1994 U.S. women's national marathon champion.   

/M.W./



// For Immediate Release //

Contact:  Elite Racing, Inc.



Ian Monahan - 800/311-1255



Professional Field Announced for Fifth Annual P.F. Chang's 

Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Running Down a Dream: 

39 American women from 19 states take a decisive step towards Olympic glory



PHOENIX, (Jan. 8, 2008) - The fifth annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 

Marathon & 1/2 Marathon on Sunday, January 13, 2008 will host an Ethiopian dominated 

professional field and shine the spotlight on 39 American women from 19 states who are 

"Running Down a Dream" as they race for a position at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team 

Trials - Women's Marathon.



Without Terefe Yae, the 2007 men's champion, in this year's field, Ethiopian Dejene 

Yirdawe, 29, who finished third at the 2007 Dublin Marathon in a personal best time 

of 2 hours, 11 minutes, 8 seconds, represents the fastest time in this year's Arizona 

field.



Haron Toroitich of Kenya set the men's course record of 2:10:33 at the inaugural 

P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon in 2004. However, the absence of Kenyan 

representation will be sadly noticed in 2008 after protests and ethnically charged 

riots swept across the East African nation in late December. As a result, many of 

the Kenyan athletes have had to restrict their travel and suspend their training 

in the wake of the violent unrest.



"We send our hopes for a quick cessation to the violence and our prayers for the 

safety of all our friends and their families in Kenya," said Tracy Sundlun, 

Executive Vice President for Elite Racing. "All our Elite Racing events have been 

blessed over the years to have great Kenyan athletes on our start lines. They are 

not only fantastic runners, but very kind and friendly people. We will run on Sunday 

with them in our hearts."



Joining the men from their training grounds in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is 25-year-old 

women's champion Adanech Zekiros who returns to defend her 2007 title against second 

place finisher Salomie Getnet, 20. Zekiros ran uncontested across the finish line in 

2:31:43, nearly missing the course record of 2:31:33 set by Shitaye Gemechu in 2004.



Zekiros and Getnet will push the pace against a large field of American women focused 

on qualifying for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon, scheduled for 

Boston on Sunday April 20, the day before the annual Boston Marathon. As part of this 

special invitational program at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon titled 

'Running Down a Dream', 39 athletes hope to run under the U.S. Olympic Trials "B"

standard time of 2:47:00 to secure a position in Boston.



Some of the American women selected to this year's field include Linda Somers Smith, 

46, of Arroyo Grande, California, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon team, 

and 1994 U.S. national marathon champion.  Linda is gunning for a fifth appearance in 

the Olympic Marathon Trials.



Joining Linda will be 38 year-old Becky Sondag of Casper, Wyoming who missed the 

Olympic Trials "B" standard by just 25 seconds last fall when she finished 12th at 

the Philadelphia Marathon.  In 2000 Becky missed qualifying by only four seconds.



Representing the new generation will be Arizona's Sally Meyerhoff, 24, from Tempe. 

This two-time NCAA All-American at Duke University now coaches cross country and is 

a substitute teacher at her high school alma mater, Mountain Pointe High School. 

Sally will be making her marathon debut in the Valley of the Sun. However, she ran 

1:16:39 at the 2007 AFC Half Marathon in San Diego, good for 5th place, and a time 

that bodes well for her Olympic Trials chances.



"This is likely the last opportunity for these women to qualify for the Trials", said 

Sundlun. "The P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon course has the potential to 

be very fast and the weather should be ideal, and we hope it helps many of these 

athletes get to Boston in April."





Saturn SKY to Pace the Race

The Saturn SKY is the official vehicle of the 2008 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 

Marathon & 1/2 Marathon and will lead the professional athletes as they race for victory. 

The SKY will also be on display at the Health & Fitness Expo at the Phoenix Convention 

Center and at the Finish Line Festival on race day. To discover Saturn, please visit your 

local Saturn retailer or online at www.Saturn.com.



For more information about the fifth anniversary P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 

Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, please visit www.RnRaz.com.



Elite Athlete Press Conference

All athletes will be available for interviews on Friday, Jan. 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the 

Marriott Buttes Resort in Tempe. 2000 Westcourt Way, 85282



2008 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Elite Athlete List

As of January 6, 2008 - Subject to Change



Men's Elite Field

NAME       AGE    COUNTRY    BEST    FACT/COMMENT

1.    Dejene Yirdawe, 29, Ethiopia, 2:11:08, 3rd 2007 Dublin Marathon, 

                                             1st 2007 Nedbank 21k, 4th 2006 Mariolles 20k

2.    Mohammed Awol, 29, Ethiopia, 2:17:00, 1st 2007 Hartford Marathon, 

                                            2nd 2005 Bolder Boulder

3.    Nikolay Kerimov, 40, Russia, 2:11:46, 2nd 2007 Krakov Marathon (Poland), 

                                            3rd 2006 European Police Marathon Championship

4.    Pavel Andreev, 37, Russia, 1st 2007 Russian Half Marathon Championships, 

                                 1st 2005 Dallas White Rock Marathon

5.    Evegeni Bozhko, 32, Ukraine, 2:13:13, 2nd 2006 Dallas Marathon,

                                            1st 2005 Ukraine Half Marathon Championships

6.    Mike Aish, 30, New Zealand, 2:13:00, 8th 2002 Commonwealth Games 10,000m, 

                                           7th 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000m

7.    Krzysztof Baldyga, 36, Poland, 2:16:21, 4x Polish Champion (10k, Half Marathon, 2 XC)

8.    Tekeste Kebede, 27, Ethiopia, 2:11:48, 3rd 2004 & 5th '05 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon San Diego, 

                                             4th 2005 San Blas Half Marathon

9.    Halefom Abebe, 25, Ethiopia, 2:12:52, 1st 2006 Pakistan Marathon,

                                            8th 2007 Dubai Marathon

10.    Abrha Mulu, NA, Ethiopia, NA, 2nd 2007 Addis Ababa Marathon

11.    Desalegn Biru, NA, Ethiopia, 2:12:00, 2nd 2004 Prague Marathon

12.    Abebe Yimer, 25, Etiopía, 2:13:52, 2nd 2006 Freescale Austin Marathon

13.    Chokri Dhaouadi, 35, Tunesia, 2:16:20    2nd 05 Union Tribune Race For Literacy 8k

14.    Assefa Mezgebu, 30, Etiopía, 2:15:47, NA



Women's Elite Field

NAME    AGE    COUNTRY    BEST    FACT/COMMENT

1.    Irina Pudovkina, 25, Romania, 2:36:14, 1st 2007 Russian Marathon Championships, 

                                             3rd 2007 Country Music Marathon

2.    Salomie Getnet, 20, Ethiopia, 2:34:43, 2nd 2007 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 

                                             4th 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

3.    Adanech Zekiros, 25, Ethiopia, 2:27:38, 1st 2007 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona, 

                                              1st 2005 Reims Marathon

4.    Asnakech Mengistu, NA, Ethiopia, NA, 5th 2007 Nagano Marathon,

                                           3rd 2006 Madrid Half Marathon

5.    Kristen Henehan, 28, Silver Spring, MD, 2:51:09, 1996 High School XC Champion, 

                                                       College All Amercian 3000m, 

                                                       1st 2007 Marine Corp Marathon

6.    Lisa Thomas, 32, Alexandria, VA, 2:51:40,  2nd 2007 Marine Corp Marathon, 

                                                35th 2005 Hawaii Ironman World Championships

7.    Alicia Pease, 24, Silver Spring, MD, 2:56:56, 6th 2007 Marine Corp Marathon

8.    Kelly Devine, 23, Arlington, VA, 2:55:29, 35th 2006 NYC Marathon,

                                                 2nd 2007 Tampa Marathon

9.    Trish Steidl, 30, Shoreline,WA, 2:48:17, 1st 2006 Seafair Marathon,

                                               1st 2006 Seattle Marathon

10.    Linda Somers Smith, 46, Arroyo Grande, CA, 2:30:06, 1996 U.S.Olympic Marathon Team, 

                                                           1994 National Marathon Champion

11.    Heather McWhirtier, 29, Colorado Springs, CO, 2:54:00, 4th 2007 Pikes Peak Marathon, 

                                                              9th 2002 Honolulu Marathon

12.    Sally Meyerhoff, 24, Tempe, AZ, NA, 2x NCAA DI T & F All American,

                                           5th 2007 AFC Half Marathon

13.    Shaluinn Fullove, 30, Palo Alto, CA, 2:51:06, 3rd  2007 San Francisco Half Marathon

14.    Rachel Rich, NA, NA, 2:47:56, 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Women's Marathon Qualifier

15.    Michele Suszek, 25, Aurora, CO, 2:55:00, 1st 2006 New Mexico Marathon, 

                                                8th 2007 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona

16.    Aimee Phillippi-Taylor, 29, Spring Grove, PA, 2:53:59, 4th 2005 Richmond Marathon

17.    Susan Loken, 43, Phoenix, AZ, 2:41:31, 1st 2005, 2006 & 2007 More Marathon, 

                                              3x USA Women's Masters Champion

18.    Karla Sokolovic, 36, Phoenix, AZ, 2:53:00, 10th 2006 St. George Marathon, 

                                                   1st 2006 Fontana Days Run Half Marathon

19.    Christine Clifton, 35, Long Branch, NJ, 2:32:45, 1st 2003 US 25k Championships, 

                                                        2nd 2003 U.S. Half Marathon Championships

20.    Ashley Anklam, 22, Minneapolis, MN, 2:58:00, 1st 2007 Gopher to Badger Half Marathon, 

                                                   13th 2007 Twin Cities Marathon

21.    Allison Kerr, 31, Vacaville, CA, 2:52:00, 1st 2007 Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon, 

                                                 1st 2007 Clarksburg Country Run 30k

22.    Sara Gigliotti, 33, San Francisco, CA, 2:56:19

23.    Michaela Thompson, 28, Greenwich, RI, 2:53:34, 1st 2007 Sugarloaf Marathon

24.    Christine Glockenmeier, 40, Basking Ridge, NJ, 2:47:52, 1st 2006 Long Island Marathon, 

                                                              16th 2005 Boston Marathon

25.    Melinda Courage, 33, West Des Moines, IA, 2:48:10, 1st 2007 Dam to Dam 5k, 

                                                          9th 2007 Grandma's Marathon, 

                                                          2nd 2006 IMT Des Moines Marathon

26.    Jessica Langford, 36, Rockford, IL, 2:51:33, 1st 2004 Nike Women's Marathon, 

                                                    1st 2006 & '07 10 mile USATF Road Championship

27.    Mary Coordt, 37, Elk Grove, CA, 2:48:00, 2nd 2007 Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon, 

                                                1st 1997 &  '05 Napa Valley Marathon, 

                                                2nd 2006 Monterey Bay Half Marathon

28.    Jennifer Hanley-Pinto, 30, Jacksonville, FL, 2:58:18, 2nd 2005 Jacksonville Marathon, 

                                                             1st 2006 U.S. Half Marathon

29.    Laura Stanley, 23, Durham, NC, Debut, 6th 2007 Shamrock Sportsfest Half Marathon, 

                                             2006 Atlantic Coast Conference Indoor 5K Champion

30.    Kathryn Kasischke, San Diego, CA, 2:47:36, 3rd 2007 Camp Pendelton Duathlon, 

                                                  3rd 2007 Carlsbad Half Marathon, 

                                                  2000 & '04 Olympic Trials

31.    Laura Turner, 26, Tacoma, WA, 8x All American XC, Indoor & Outdoor Track at Brigham Young University

32.    Kara Haas, Chelmsford, MA, 2:55:22, Saint Anselm Collage Athletic Hall of Fame,  

                                           92 DII Collegiate XC All American

33.    Flora Lee, 28, Emeryville, CA, 2:59:36, 1st 2007 Run Wild 10k,

                                               7th 2007 Nike Women's Half Marathon

34.    Abi Watras,NA, Madison, WI, 2:58, 1st 2006 Big Lake Half Marathon

35.    Becky Sondag, 38, Casper, WY, 2:47:25, 11th 2007 Philadelphia Marathon

36.    Joyce Bourassa, 39, Lakeville, MN, 2:50:39, 2007 & '06 Minnesota Runner of the Year

37.    Emily Bates, San Francisco, CA, N/A, 2:49:00, 4th 2007 Hobble Creek Half Marathon, 

                                                     1st 2007 Big Lake Half Marathon

38.    Dee Giles, 29, Austin, TX, 3:09, 3rd 2007 Austin Marathon, 

                                        1st 2007 Southwest Key "Go For The Gold" 10k

39.    Caroline Szuch, 35, Evergreen, CO, 3:08, 2nd 2005 Mohican 52 Miler, 

                                                3rd 2005 Rucky Chucky Roundabout 50k

40.    Betsey Keever, 33, San Francisco, CA, 2:47:39, 2nd 2007 San Francisco Half Marathon, 

                                                      1st 2007 John Mathis Invitational 5000m

41.    Amy Farell, 30, Saranac, NY, 2:47:56, 2nd 2001 & 3rd 2002 Eagleman Triathlon, 

                                             5th 2002 Lake Placid Ironman

42.    Kimberly Hager, The Woodlands, TX, 37, 2:47:30, 1st 2007 Koala Center Luke's Houston Half Marathon, 

                                                       2nd 2005 Buffalo Springs Half Ironman

43.    Lindsay Goulet, 29, Arlington, VA, 2:51:16, 16th 2007 Philadelphia Marathon

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