Sylvia Mosqueda of Los Angeles placed third among women in 53:17 at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile on April 7, 2002

July 13th 8K run takes place in Kingsport, Tennessee
For further information, see the race website http://www.crazy8s.org

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - (June 27, 2002) - The guard is changing slightly at Crazy 8's. Last year's elite field for the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run was loaded with former champs and other superstars making serious noise on the road race circuit. The results proved it as 4 of the top 5, and 7 of the top 15 times were run in 2001 through the late night streets of Kingsport on the candle-lit, figure-8 course. Alene Emere of Ethiopia and Enock Mitei of Kenya finished just a tick of the clock slow of Peter Githuka's world record, set here in 1996. They also just missed pocketing the Regional Eye Center $10,008 Bonus. Emere and Mitei were the fastest, but Kenyans Shadrack Kosgei and David Makori were only a few blinks behind, finishing 3rd and 4th while carving their marks on the Crazy 8's all-time list in the 4th and 5th slots.

Even though none of the above athletes, including Githuka, will return to run this year on July 13, race director Hank Brown is still enthusiastic about who is coming.

"We tried to get those guys back, but unfortunately they were unable to return," says Brown. "But we're getting some runners who are pretty hot right now. Remember when Peter Githuka came in 1996, not many people had heard of him."

Elly Rono of Kenya is one of those hot runners. He has already broken the tape at two marathons this year - the Mercedes Marathon and Grandma's Marathon. His Grandma's victory occurred just last weekend in a very impressive time of 2:10:57, which just happens to be his personal best. In addition to Mercedes and Grandma's, his marathon resume sparkles with victories at Flying Pig (Cincinnati), Columbus, Cal International, Ocean State and Pittsburgh. Rono's local sponsor will be Dr. Jon Mather.

"Yeah, we're pretty jazzed about Grandma's," said his agent Missy Foy, herself a national class distance runner. "It was really a breakthrough race for him. He'll take a week off now and rest for Crazy 8's. He'll be ready to run a fast race."

Fellow countryman Patrick Nthiwa is also ready to run fast at Crazy 8's. He was in Kingsport last year and finished a very impressive 10th in a little over 23 minutes. He is hoping to do better this year. He's run 13:30 for a 5K and 28:10 for a 10K. Nthiwa in 10th and previous commitment John Itati in 6th are the lone returnees from last year's top 10. Bechtel Engineering will sponsor Nthiwa while in Kingsport.

American Sylvia Mosqueda from Los Angeles will be making her first appearance at Crazy 8's. She is a fierce competitor who fears no one and is not afraid to push the pace. She has run as fast as 15:30 for a 5K and 31:54 for a 10K. Her 8K best is 25:35, which just happens to be faster than the Crazy 8's course record (25:40, Margaret Okayo, 1999). As far back as 1988, she won the NCAA 10,000m. She recently finished 3rd at the USA 5K Championship/Freihofer's Run for Women. Fleming's Tune-up will be Mosqueda's local sponsor.

"I've been after Sylvia to come to Crazy 8's for years," said Brown. "We finally worked it out this year. I have a lot of respect for Sylvia and the way she races. She doesn't back down to anybody. If she's in the race at the end, look out."

Edna Kiplagat from Kenya will also visit Kingsport for Crazy 8's. She is another young Kenyan protege on her way up the distance running ladder. Kiplagat made a name for herself on several Kenyan junior teams. She finished 4th in 1996 and 1997 in the Junior World Cross Country Championships at the 4K distance. She finished 2nd in 1996 and 3rd in 1998 at the Junior World Track & Field Championships at 3000m.

In 1999 and 2000 she took time off to concentrate on school and didn't race much. She's back now and running some smart times, like 8:50 for 3000 meters and 32:14 for 10K. Martin Dentistry will be her local sponsor.

"I better start practicing how to pronounce these names," said assistant race director Tandy Fleming, heir apparent to Brown in 2003. "From looking at these credentials, it looks like any of them could win the race."

The Crazy 8's evening starts with the Holston Medical Group Little 8's Youth Runs at 6:28 pm as the Navy Seals Leap Frog parachute team descends onto the field before the first race. At 8:58pm the walkers will walk with heart in the Cardiovascular Associates 3K Heart Walk on a new course. Finally, the crazy evening caps at 9:58 pm as runners take it to the streets for the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8's 8K Run. For more information, go to the race website: http://www.crazy8s.org

"I think the people of Kingsport will see another exciting race," says Brown. "The names are a little different, but you know, that keeps it interesting. And you never know when one of these guys or gals will have one of those magical nights."

Just like Peter.