EVENT NEWS ROUND-UP
By David Monti
(c) 2011 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved (Used by permission)

Here is the latest news related to distance running events tracked by Race Results Weekly:

KIPLAGAT CHOOSES AMSTERDAM MARATHON:
Four-time world champion Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands has decided to run in Amsterdam for her fall marathon, she announced yesterday through her website.  The race takes place on Sunday, October 16.  "Lornah says she is really excited to go back to Amsterdam, especially to run for her own people and having in mind that she improved in 1999 in this race, when she won, her PB with eight minutes," wrote her husband, Pieter Langerhorst, in an e-mail to Race Results Weekly.  "She brought it down from 2:33 to 2:25.  Her main goal is to qualify for the Olympics so she need to run sub 2:27:24 (the minimum time set by the Dutch federation." Kiplagat, 37, had hoped to make that standard at last April's Virgin London Marathon, but fell slightly short, running 2:27:57 for 18th place.  Kiplagat will prepare for the race in Switzerland, instead of at her High Altitude Training Center in Iten, where she usually trains.  "Reason is that the HATC is fully booked and there would be too many distractions for her," explained Langerhorst.

B.A.A. HALF-MARATHON REACHES 7000-ENTRANT LIMIT IN LESS THAN FOUR HOURS:
The Boston Athletic Association reported today that the B.A.A. Half-Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 9, in Boston, had reached its 7000 runner limit in under four hours (3:50 to be exact).  Entry had only begun this morning.  "We've witnessed a quick sell out of our B.A.A. Half-Marathon in recent years, and we're pleased that so many runners continue to challenge themselves through participation in B.A.A. events," said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk through a prepared statement.  "The B.A.A. Half Marathon is popular among runners both because of the scenic course along the Emerald Necklace park system in Boston and Brookline and the opportunity to participate in a B.A.A. event during the Fall season."

TOP ITALIAN ATHLETES JOIN GIRO DI CASTELBUONO:
Some of Italy's best distance runners will join the male winners of the Boston, London and New York City Marathons at the Giro Podistico Internazionale Di Castelbuono on July 26, organizers reported today.  Ruggero Pertile, the 2010 Turin Marathon champion, is the top Italian athlete entered, and he will use the 10 km race as a tune-up for the IAAF World Championships Marathon in Daegu.  "It is always beautiful to run in Castelbuono," Pertile said through a media release.  The other Italians entered in the invitation-only event are Giovanni Ruggiero, Stefano La Rosa, Ahmed El Mazoury, Denis Curzi, Stefano Scaini and Yuri Floriani.  Geoffrey Mutai, who won the Boston Marathon; Emmanuel Mutai, the London champion; and Gebre Gebremariam, the New York City champion headline the event.  USA half-marathon record holder Ryan Hall is also running for the first time.

LAGO MAGGIORE MARATHON JOINS AIMS:
The inaugural Lago Maggiore Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, October 16, in Northern Italy, has joined the AIMS family of "International Marathons."  Race organizer, Sport PRO-MOTION, said they recently obtained that distinction from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.  "We are honored that the Lago Maggiore Marathon has also entered the AIMS association after following the Lago Maggiore Half-Marathon in 2008," commented Paolo Ottone, PRO-MOTION's president.  "This confirms the international appreciation towards our competitions."  The race will begin in Arona then pass through Dormelletto, Meina, Lesa, Belgirate, Stresa, Baveno and finally Verbania.  Ottone said the course would be certified by the Italian athletics federation, FIDAL.  More information is available here.

ATHLETES CONTINUE TO QUALIFY FOR USA OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS:
So far 129 men and 166 women have qualified to participate in the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon scheduled for Saturday, January 14, in Houston, Texas.  The number of male qualifiers is down 28% from the 179 qualifiers for the 2008 Trials which were held in New York City in November, 2007.  That's not surprising because the minimum time standard at the marathon distance to qualify was tightened from 2:22 to 2:19 (men can still qualify with a 65:00 half-marathon or a 28:30 10,000m).  All male qualifiers are considered "A" qualifiers meaning that they will have their travel and lodging paid by the race organizers, the Houston Marathon Committee.  The number of women who have qualified is down only 8% from the 2008 figure of 181.  Women can qualify under either the "A" standard of 2:39, or the "B" standard of 2:46 for the marathon, 75:00 for the half-marathon or 33:00 for 10,000m (only "A" qualifiers have their travel and lodging paid).  The total number of male and female qualifiers will likely rise after the key fall half-marathons are completed.  The qualifying window for both men and women close on Dec. 14, 2011.

BEACH TO BEACON 10-K POLISHES ITS GREEN CREDENTIALS:
The TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10-K is going greener.  Organizers of the August 6, race in Cape Elizabeth, Me., said that they will be improving on their 2010 recycling and composting programs, part of a comprehensive effort to reduce their environmental impact.  Race organizers have set a goal to exceed last year's impressive greening effort, which boasted a 58 percent "diversion rate" –-recycling plus compost-– of all waste generated, reducing landfill waste to 0.7 pounds per runner.  "We believe strongly in our obligation to Maine and to the local community of Cape Elizabeth to reduce our environmental impact," said Joan Samuelson, the Maine native and Olympic gold medalist who founded the race.  "We have a top notch program in place, thanks in large part to our green corporate sponsor, Fairchild Semiconductor, and are confident we can continue to lead the way in showcasing efforts that can be made at running events and in people’s daily lives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."  The race's environmental efforts include recycling and composting from start to finish, collecting and recycling plastic bottles, using eco-friendly portable toilets, eliminating paper registration, offering shared rides to the race, and other initiatives.

ARMORY SETS 2011/2012 INDOOR TRACK SEASON:
The most active indoor track in the United States, the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory in New York City, has set their 2011/2012 event schedule.  "We have an Armory all-time high 105 dates filled, including some exceptional new events," said Armory Foundation president Dr. Norb Sander through a news release.  Key events will include the New Balance Indoor Nationals, the USA high school indoor championships; the New Balance Games; the New Balance Collegiate Invitational; The Big East Indoor Championships; and the revamped Millrose Games which take place on Saturday, February 11.  Reserved Millrose Games tickets will go on sale the week after Labor Day at the Armory track and field office. For further ticket information on the 2011-12 season contact the Armory at (212) 923-1803, extension 10 or 37.