Posted: August 17, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Costello, Becque Win LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic

Half-marathon hosts event field of 12,000 runners in downtown Chicago From Marianne Caponi CHICAGO - (August 12, 2007) - After an early morning rain, cloud cover and lower than expected temperatures provided the perfect backdrop for two Chicagoans to win the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic half-marathon as Greg Costello, 26, and Claudia Becque, 31, were the champions on Sunday in Grant Park. The 31st annual LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic sounded its start horn at 6:30am as 12,000 registered runners took a city tour through the Loop and along the shore of Lake Michigan. Among the field were several thousand individuals training for the pinnacle of the Chicago running season, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Costello was the first to cross the finish line, breaking the tape in 1 hour, 9 minutes, 54 seconds. Becque led the women's field to finish the 13.1 mile course in 1:21:20. Eastman Tiu, 34, of Park Ridge, Ill., won the wheelchair division as he followed Costello to the finish line in 1:10:17. All three champion performances were impressive considering the heat and humidity that challenged the runners. The LaSalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic is the oldest running road race held in Chicago and the second of three races hosted by LaSalle Bank. The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle, a 29-year-old tradition, kicks off the local running season with 30,000 registrants each spring and The 30th Anniversary LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will welcome 45,000 runners on Sunday, October 7, 2007. Complete race results are available at: ChicagoDistanceClassic.com. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest