Coach Centrowitz Also to Lead Newly Redesigned and Expanded Pacers Training Program.

Pacers Running Stores announces the naming of running coach and legend Matt Centrowitz as head coach of the Pacers Racing Team. Coach Centrowitz will manage the area's most prestigious and recognized post-collegiate elite racing team and will focus on developing local runners and attracting national running talent.

The Pacers Racing Team, sponsored by Brooks Sports, Inc., is an elite development program supported by Pacers Running Stores, a family-owned and operated regional running specialty outlet in Washington DC. The hiring of Coach Centrowitz will enhance Pacers Racing Team's dominance as Washington DC's premier elite squad and will allow the program to garner national recognition and support for development initiatives.

Pacers Racing Team members have enjoyed several notable successes, including: first American at Cherry Blossom, ING Philadelphia Distance Run, and the George Washington Parkway Classic (2008: Steve Crane), top finishes at Marine Corps Marathon (1st place 2007: Kristen Henehan; 2nd place 2008: Lindsay Goulet Wilkins), U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers (2008: Kristen Henehan, Lisa Thomas, Michael Wardian; 2004: Heather Hanscom, Erik Kean, Edmund Burke, Michael Wardian), and numerous team titles at such prestigious races as the Boston Marathon, Army 10 Miler, Cherry Blossom, and Marine Corps Marathon.

"We are beyond thrilled to have Coach Centrowitz join the Pacers Racing Team," stated Pacers General Manager and Owner, Chris Farley. "Pacers Running Stores is committed to the development of American distance running and we believe our team will grow stronger and attract additional national caliber athletes under the auspices of one of America's most renowned and decorated running talents."

Coach Centrowitz has coached for more than 20 years, the last ten as head coach of the American University cross country and track programs. He was named Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year in 2005 and is a nine-time Patriot League Coach of the Year. In addition to his many collegiate coaching accolades, including multiple athlete all-American honors, numerous Patriot League titles, and various appearances at NCAA championships, Coach Centrowitz has proven himself a top coach of post-collegiate runners, including the development of three Olympians, nine sub- four minute milers, and innumerable national rankings, Olympic and World trials qualifiers, and personal records.

Under the direction and expertise of Coach Centrowitz, Pacers Running Stores is also redesigning and expanding its training programs through the Pacers Running Club, formerly known as the Miles Ahead program. These training programs are designed to attract all levels of fitness enthusiasts with a focus on helping runners achieve their personal training goals. The Pacers training programs will be initially administered by a team of five experienced assistant coaches with additional assistants and training sites to be rolled out throughout the coming months. The spring training season will begin February 1, 2009 with a kick off meet and greet with Coach Centrowitz on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Pacers Arlington (3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, VA). A detailed description of 2009 spring training programs will be released on January 16 and can be accessed on www.runpacers.com.

About Matt Centrowitz

As a high school standout at Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan, Matt Centrowitz set long-standing state records in the mile (4:02:07), two mile (8:56), and the 5000 meters (14:17) and was ranked as the number one high school miler in the country in 1973.

In college, he set a then-school record of 3:36.7 for 1500 meters, breaking the previous school record held by teammate Steve Prefontaine and qualifying for the 1976 Olympics in the process. Later, Centrowitz would help the University of Oregon to an NCAA Cross Country Championship in 1977.

As a post-collegiate, Centrowitz went on to great success in the 5000 meters, qualifying for the 1980 Olympic team in the event and winning four consecutive national titles from 1979- 82. In the 1982 Prefontaine Classic, Centrowitz out-dueled former teammate Alberto Salazar over the final 800 meters of the 5000 meter race to set the American record of 13:12.91, then the sixth-fastest time in the world. Centrowitz also held bests of 3:54 in the mile and 46:38 for 10 miles.

Centrowitz was inducted in the New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame in 1997 and the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 2000. At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Centrowitz and his 1980 Olympic teammates were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Achievement, the highest civilian award which may be bestowed by the United States Congress.

About Pacers Running Stores
Founded in 1991, Pacers Running Stores is a running institution in the Washington DC area and has evolved into the premier running specialty outlet in the Mid-Atlantic. Pacers Running Stores is a family-owned and operated running and walking specialty retailer with locations in Alexandria, Virginia, Arlington, Virginia, Fairfax, Virginia, and Silver Spring, Maryland. Committed to our community, Pacers Running Stores-- through the efforts of our staff, customers, and partners--has raised more than $500,000 for local, regional, and national charities since the purchase of the retail operation by the Farley family in 2003.

Pacers Running Stores has received numerous accolades, including being named a Top 50 Running Store in America, the 2007 national Independent Running Retailer Association's Community Service Store of the Year, an American Red Cross Good Neighbor Award, the Arlington County Chamber of Commerce Best New Business Award, and various other proclamations and commendations.

Inquiries regarding the Pacers Racing Team and training programs should be directed to Kathy Dalby.