March 24, 2004
BOSTON, March 24, 2004 – On Sunday, April 18, young runners from around the world will have the opportunity to run the world-famous Heartbreak Hill in Newton at the 12th annual Newton Heartbreak Hill International Youth Race sponsored by New Balance.
Designed to encourage and promote friendship as well as a healthy life style for young people around the world, runners from every New England state plus New York, New Jersey, Florida, Arizona and California have participated as have runners from Canada, Germany, Japan, England, Argentina and Russia. Over the race's 12-year history, more than 11,000 young athletes have completed the one-mile course.
Adult runners are also invited to participate. Wheelchair athletes can participate independently or can be assisted, while a Family Walk is planned as the final event of the day.
Team New Balance athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter will give the keynote address at the pre-race Pizza/Pasta event at Newton City Hall on Saturday, April 17, for registered runners, their families and friends.
"New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. has been the lead corporate shoe sponsor since the inception of this race," says Linda Plaut of the Newton Pride Committee. "Their support has enabled this race to grow into a premier international event for young people."
The first, second and third place race winners will receive a trophy. All runners will receive a commemorative medallion, tee shirt, a Certificate of Merit and a seedling tree for planting at home. The race course features include finish line digital display clock timing, professional medical staff and water stations.
All youth runners will also be entered into a drawing for a free trip to the 2004 LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon courtesy of New Balance. The winner will receive three roundtrip airline tickets, accommodations for two nights in the Chicago Hilton & Towers, a meal allowance and an entry to that event's youth race.
Runners are asked to bring food or toiletry items with them on Saturday or Sunday which will be contributed to the Newton Food Pantry as part of the Newton SERVES 2004 Food Drive Project.
Applications are available on line at www.ci.newton.ma.us/parks, or at Newton City Hall and the Newton Free Library or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelop to: Race: 70 Crescent Street, Newton, MA 02466. Registration fee for ages 9 – 18 is $6.00 in advance, $8.00 after April 9. For 19 and over the fee is $10.00 in advance, $12.00 day of race. For more information, contact the Newton Pride Committee at 617-527-8283.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative width-sized performance footwear and athletic apparel for women, men, and children. The range of product categories includes running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, adventure, and kids. Dunham joined the New Balance family in Fall 1998. Dunham is an outdoor performance brand known for its technologies, innovations and development of footwear that is lightweight, comfortable and inspired by the world outside. New Balance acquired the rights to the PF Flyers brand in February 2000. First introduced in 1937 by the B.F. Goodrich Company, PF Flyers was re-launched in Spring 2003 as an authentic brand of active casual footwear. Aravon® comfort performance brand footwear debuted in January 2004 as an unsurpassed blend of fit, comfort, support and style. New Balance employs more than 2,600 people around the globe, and in 2003 reported worldwide sales of $1.3 billion. For more information please visit http://www.newbalance.com.
