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Three Athens Olympians Commit to Run
2005 Ras na hEireann
26 January 2005
Dunleer, County Louth. – 2002 Ras na hEireann winner and British
Olympian Matt O'Dowd will be running in this year's Ras na hEireann.
O' Dowd will be joined by Polish Olympian Michael Bartozak and New
Zealand's latest sensation Kim Smith in this year's Ras na hEireann
to be held in Termonfechin, County Louth on February 27th.
Teams from England, Wales, Scotland,
South Africa, USA, and Russia have also declared participation. Last
year the Ras na hEireann and the Armagh Roadrace teamed up resources
for "International Week", a tradition between the two events that
dates back to the nineteen seventies. International Week will kick
off on February 24th in Armagh city where O'Dowd and Bartozak will
first meet. Kim Smith will join O'Dowd and Bartozak in Termonfechin
on Feb 27th when she will make her debut in Ireland in the 35th Ras
na hEireann.
Matt O'Dowd has achieved great success in recent years. He was the
British AAA 10,000M champion in 2004 and ran for Britain in the
Olympic Marathon. O'Dowd has run 13:30 for 5K. Micheal Bartozak also
ran the Marathon in Athens and won the Armagh Roadrace in 2002.
Bartozak is a four-minute miler and it was his speed at the finish
last year that produce his victory in Armagh.
The biggest star for this year's Ras is Kim Smith of New Zealand.
Smith is under the guidance of Ray Treacy who coached Smith to her
greatest victory last year in the US when she won the NCAA cross
country title for Providence College where she will graduate this
summer. Smith went on to represent New Zealand in Athens. Smith also
produced times of 8:49 for 3K and 15:09 for 5K in 2004.
www.rasnaheireann.com
www.armaghroadrace.com
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