University of Georgia Athletics
Steffens Prepares For USA Women's 8K Championships
September 25, 2008 | Cross Country
ATHENS, Ga. --- Jill Steffens will be competing in Saturday’s USA Women’s 8K Championships in Akron, Ohio, after the former Lady Bulldog All-American captured the USA Women’s 20K National Championship title earlier this month.
Steffens, who won 2007 Southeastern Conference crowns in both the 5000-meter run and the 10,000, will be racing a talented field including two-time USA 10K champion Katie McGregor, two-time Olympian and 2008 20K runner-up Elva Dryer and two-time USA 8K champion Amy Rudolph.
Steffens, who trains in Athens, won the USA Women’s 20K title after clocking a 1:08.48 in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 1. The race marked Steffens’ first race over 10K and one of her first competitive races since competing in the 10,000 at the 2008 Olympic Trials. She narrowly topped Dryer (1:08.54) to claim her first title at the distance.
Sponsored by the Akron Community Foundation, the championship will start at 7:30 a.m. EDT and will feature a total of $23,500 in prize money with $7,500 going to the champion.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall.
ALSO OF NOTE: 2008 Olympic heptathlon silver medalist Hyleas Fountain, who was a standout for the Georgia women in 2003 and 2004, won the heptathlon at the Decastar Meeting in Talence, France, earlier this month. Fountain scored 6,473 points to beat Kelly Sotherton (6,439) after trailing Sotherton following the first day of action.
In addition, Ian Burrell, a three-time All-American who completed his career with the Bulldogs in 2008, finished fifth at the USA 5K Championships in Providence, Rhode Island, earlier this week. Burrell finished in 14:11 and earned $1000 during one of his first professional races.
Steffens, who won 2007 Southeastern Conference crowns in both the 5000-meter run and the 10,000, will be racing a talented field including two-time USA 10K champion Katie McGregor, two-time Olympian and 2008 20K runner-up Elva Dryer and two-time USA 8K champion Amy Rudolph.
Steffens, who trains in Athens, won the USA Women’s 20K title after clocking a 1:08.48 in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 1. The race marked Steffens’ first race over 10K and one of her first competitive races since competing in the 10,000 at the 2008 Olympic Trials. She narrowly topped Dryer (1:08.54) to claim her first title at the distance.
Sponsored by the Akron Community Foundation, the championship will start at 7:30 a.m. EDT and will feature a total of $23,500 in prize money with $7,500 going to the champion.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall.
ALSO OF NOTE: 2008 Olympic heptathlon silver medalist Hyleas Fountain, who was a standout for the Georgia women in 2003 and 2004, won the heptathlon at the Decastar Meeting in Talence, France, earlier this month. Fountain scored 6,473 points to beat Kelly Sotherton (6,439) after trailing Sotherton following the first day of action.
In addition, Ian Burrell, a three-time All-American who completed his career with the Bulldogs in 2008, finished fifth at the USA 5K Championships in Providence, Rhode Island, earlier this week. Burrell finished in 14:11 and earned $1000 during one of his first professional races.
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