For more information, contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FAVORITE WINS PAPA JOHN'S 10 MILER USA MEN'S TEN MILE CHAMPIONSHIP

Abdi Abdirahman sets Championship record

Louisville, KY (April 9, 2005) - Abdi Abdirahman set a US Championship record with a time of 47:27 to win the 2005 Papa John's 10 Miler, host of the USA Men's Ten Mile Championship. Abdirahman was the favorite in an impressive field of 30 elite athletes that competed in the Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. Abdirahman collected the $10,000 first prize.

Abdi Abdirahman, born in Somalia and now a US citizen, is a seasoned veteran and a member of the 2004 US Olympic team in the 10,000 meters in Athens. A naturally gifted distance runner, Abdi finished second at the USA Men's 8 km Championships in New York City on March 26, and sixth at this year's USA 15 km Championships in Jacksonville on March 12.

Finishing second in the Papa John's 10 Miler USA Men's Ten Mile Championship was Brian Sell of Rochester, MI with a time of 47:37. Sell runs off with the $5,000 second prize. 2003 Winner and 2004 Runner up Chris Graff of Boston finished third with a time of 48:09 and won $2,500. Listed below are the Top 15 finishers. Bio's and pictures are available at www.papajohns.com/louisville/eliteathletes.htm.

In the Papa John's 10 Miler Men's Division, James Mutuse won in a time of 49:47. Mutuse also won the Rodes City Run two weeks ago. Second was Nic Crider of Louisville in a time of 50:40. Third Place went to Jeff Scott of Bowling Green, KY in 51:42.

In the Women's Division, Rodes City Run winner Bonita Paul won the Papa John's 10 Miler in 57:59. Second Place went to Susie Bush of Lexington, KY with a time of 58:05. Louisvillian Amy Doolittle-Crider placed third with a time of 59:24.Chad Johnson won the Wheelchair division of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running sponsored by Novo Nordisk. All runners in the 2005 Papa John's 10-miler will be able to get their time and final placement on the race website at www.papajohns10miler.com on Sunday, April 10, 2005.

“We're very pleased to have hosted the US 10 Mile Championships, and to have a record performance. Abdirahman put on a spectacular race,” said Chris Sternberg, Race Director. “The 5,000 participants in today's race saw a great performance and exceeded our expectation of a record showing.” In its five-year history, the race has consistently ranked in the Top 10 for ten-mile competitions (per Running USA's road race rankings).

“However, the real winners are this community and the WHAS Crusade for Children,” said Sternberg. “We hope that the Louisville Triple Crown of Running will be able to donate $40,000 to the Crusade from the proceeds of the three races.”

This is the third year the Papa John's 10 Miler has hosted the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship event. In its support of U.S. distance running and the Championship, the 2005 Papa John's 10 Miler awarded more than $26,000 in prize money to the top 15 U.S. male athletes.

The Papa John's 10 Miler/USA Men's Ten Mile Championship is part of the 2005 USA Running Circuit, a USA Track & Field road racing series featuring USA Championships from 5K to the marathon. The 2004 USARC offered a record of $818,700 in guaranteed prize money.

Sponsors of the 2005 Papa John's 10 Miler/USA Men's Ten Mile Championship include adidas America, PowerAde, Fleet Feet Sports, Panera Bread, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Heine Brothers Coffee, Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport - the Official Hotel, WSFR 107.7, YMCA of Greater Louisville, Thrifty Car Rental and Sales, Waste Management, Jewish Hospital Health Network/Frazier Rehab Institute, Zip Express, Louisville Water Company and WHAS-11 TV. Net race proceeds benefit the WHAS Crusade for Children.

PAPA JOHN'S 10 MILER/ US 10 MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS
TOP 15 RESULTS

PLACE RUNNER HOMETOWN
1 Abdi Abdirahman
2 Brian Sell Rochester, MI
3 Chris Graff Boston, MA
4 Matt Lane Palo Alto, CA
5 Matt Downin Gray, TN
6 Mike Donnelly Beaverton, OR
7 Karl Savage Philadelphia, PA
8 Dave Davis Portland, OR
9 Pete Julian Boulder, CO
10 Nick Rogers Eugene, OR
11 Scott Strand Hoover, AL
12 Clint Verran Rochester Hills, MI
13 Mark Stallings Atglen, PA
14 Kyle O'Brien Rochester, MI
15 Matthew Folk Canfield, OH

*****papajohns10miler.com******