Contact:
Ben Rosario
Media Coordinator
Hansons-Brooks Distance Project
Phone: (248) 651-5189
Email: xcrunnin@hotmail.com
Website: www.hansons-running.com

September 19, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hansons-Brooks Distance Project launches women's program

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (Sept. 19, 2003)- The world of post-collegiate distance running for women just got a little bigger. The Michigan-based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project has added a women's program to their already successful men's program and things are off to a flying start.

Brothers Keith and Kevin Hanson started The Distance Project in 1999 with hopes that they could train American distance runners to once again be competitive at the international level. It was only by chance that the program began as men only.

Kevin Hanson said the idea for a women's team started the same time as the idea for the men.

"It was not a men or women issue," Hanson said. "It was simply that when we started the program we had males that we knew of that fit the bill."

Hanson said that things progressed quickly on the men's side and before he and his brother knew it they were buying a second house to accomodate all the men joining The Distance Project. Free housing, along with free health insurance and a steady job are some of the main advantages the Hansons offer their athletes.

"The problem came in that we couldn't afford the women," Hanson said. "We never wanted to treat the women like second-class citizens so we didn't want to do it any different than we did the men's."

Then this summer the Hanson brothers joined forces with Brooks, an innovative running shoe company, and the dream of a women's program became a reality.

"Brooks stepped forward and provided the funding to allow us to do it at the same level and we're very thankful to Brooks for that," Hanson said.

The brothers acted fast and bought a three-bedroom home for the women's team. They have already begun the additions that will soon turn it into a six-bedroom home. Home is really the key word as part of the Hansons mission is creating an environment for the long run. Three athletes have already moved to Michigan to join The Distance Project with two more expected in the coming weeks. The Hanson brothers want to create a permanent training ground for all these women.

Leigh Daniel, 25, of Lubbock, Texas, Monica Hostetler, 27, of LaGrange, Ind. and Jackie Rzepecki, 24, of Buffalo, N.Y. are already off and running as the charter members of The Distance Project's women's team.

Daniel brings with her an impressive list of accomplishments including two NCAA Division I Track titles in 1999 and 2000 and a World University Games win in 1999. Daniel said she has struggled with injuries the past two years, but is now healthy and excited about joining The Distance Project.

"This program offers so much financially as far as the housing and insurance and coaching," Daniel said. "It's like you can't beat it so why wouldn't you come?"

Hostetler, a member of two U.S. world championship teams in the half-marathon, has already qualified for the upcoming Olympic Trials Marathon. Hostetler said she had been waiting for The Distance Project to add a women's team.

"I had seen the Hansons guys program at a lot of races and I was always keeping an eye on them waiting for them to get a girls program," Hostetler said. "As soon as I heard that they had gotten the funding I emailed them right away."

Rzepecki said she heard about the program from Mike Franko, a member of the men's team. A University of Houston graduate, Rzepecki was a NCAA Division I national qualifier in the steeplechase while in college. Like Daniel, Rzepecki said she has been injured but is on the mend.

"Having these girls to run with just takes the focus off the injury and it's more of just running," Rzepecki said.

All three women said their ultimate goal is to make an Olympic team. They will get their chance soon as 2004 is an Olympic year with the Games scheduled to be held in Athens, Greece in August.