FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympians headline Speed Factory Athletics 800 at the Festival of Miles

Three top Canadians will battle some of America’s best on May 30th

St. Louis (May 8, 2013) – The Big River Festival of Miles presented by Under Armour (the sixth stop on the 2013 Bring Back the Mile Tour) has released the field for the 2013 Speed Factory Athletics Women’s 800. Scheduled to compete are 2012 Canadian Olympians Melissa Bishop and Jessica Smith as well as Division II National Champion Helen Crofts, also from Canada. They will battle defending champion, 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials finalist and meet record-holder Heather Kampf as well as Trials semifinalists Shannon Leinert and Lea Wallace.

Speed Factory Athletics coach and founder Richard Anderson said he’s excited to be sponsoring this particular event.

“I look forward to this event every year for two reasons: It is the only professional track and field stop in Missouri, and I believe in the mission of the event. I sponsor the women’s 800 because I know I’m taking part in helping develop athlete’s careers, albeit in a small, but I think important way.” Anderson said. “I truly believe if you’re a lifelong participant and fan of track and field like myself, and you have the financial means, you should step out of the margins and show how you feel about the sport with your checkbook.”

The women will be going after a prize purse of up to $4,000 with the winner looking at as much as $3,000 if she can run under 2:00 and capture the Zamboost $1,000 Sub 2 Bonus. She would also be eligible for an extra $1,000 if she wins the XS Energy Battle of the Sexes Bonus. That will go to the winner of the 800 or the winner of the Saint Louis Track Club Men’s Mile, depending on whose time is superior according to the IAAF scoring charts.

The meet record of 2:03.09 will be in serious jeopardy and the Zamboost Sub 2 Bonus is a very realistic possibility with Bishop and Smith both having personal bests under two minutes and Kampf having run 2:00.71. Wallace and the hometown favorite Leinert (Columbia, Mo.) have both run 2:01. Wallace, in particular, is having a great spring and recently was a part of the American record-setting 4×800 relay at the famed Penn Relays in April. Also scheduled to compete are Lyndsay Harper and Ashley Miller who’ve both run 2:03 for 800 meters.

The Festival of Miles Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the sport of track and field and give back to athletes in need. Each year all proceeds from ticket sales go to an athlete in need. For more information, visit https://stlfestivalofmiles.com.

Members of the media interested in learning more about the Festival of Miles are encouraged to contact Ben Rosario at ben.s.rosario@gmail.com or call 314.494.9725.

* Editors Note: Melissa Bishop has pulled out and will not be competing

Speed Factory Athletics Women’s 800

Jessica Smith, Canada- Valley Royal TC,  (1:59, 2012 Olympic Semifinalist)

Heather Kampf, Asics- Team USA Minnesota, (2:00, 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Finalist, Defending Champ)

Shannon Leinert, Big River Running Company, (2:01, Eureka HS and University of Missouri grad)

Lea Wallace, Nike- Bay Area Track Club, (2:00, American Record- 4×800 relay)

Helen Crofts, Canada- Simon Fraser University, (2:02, Div. II National Champ)

Ashley Miller, Asics, (2:03, 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Semifinalist)

Lyndsay Harper, Bay Area Track Club, (2:03, NCAA All American)

Nevada Morrison, Speed Factory Athletics, (Pace)

Ericka Charles, Speed Factory Athletics, (Pace)

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