INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field on Tuesday announced the USA Running Circuit (USARC) schedule for 2007. The thirteenth edition for the men and twelfth for the women, the 2007 USARC has nine events for men and seven events for women.

The USA Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series, features USA Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners, including Olympians Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi, Marla Runyan and Anthony Famiglietti.

"We are extremely proud of the quality of events that will be hosting USA Championships in 2007," said Fred Finke, USATF Long Distance Running Chair. "Thanks to growing relationships with several major events, our athletes will have the opportunity to compete at some of the most prestigious events in the sport."

In addition to competing for a total prize purse of $632,600, U.S. athletes will have the opportunity to qualify for various Team USA events, including the IAAF World Championships Marathon, the IAAF World Road Running Championships and the Chiba International Ekiden.

The 2007 USARC kicks off at the USA Half-Marathon Championships hosted by the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon on January 14.

2007 USA Running Circuit Schedule

Men
1) USA Half-Marathon Championships, Houston, Tex., $25,700, Jan. 14

2) USA 15km Championships, Jacksonville, Fla., $23,500, March 10

3) USA Men's 8 km Championship, New York, N.Y., $30,000, March 17

4) USA 25km Championships, Grand Rapids, Mich., $10,600, May 12

5) USA Men's 10km Championship, Atlanta, Ga., $30,000, July 4

6) USA 20km Championships, New Haven, Conn., $15,000, Sept. 3

7) USA 5km Championships, Providence, R.I., $15,000, Sept. 16

8) USA Men's 10 Mile Championship, Minneapolis, Minn., $25,000, Oct. 7

9) U.S Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon, New York, N.Y., $250,000 Nov. 3

Subtotal $424,800

USARC Grand Prix $12,500

Total $437,300

Women
1) USA Half-Marathon Championships, Houston, Tex., $25,700, Jan. 14

2) USA 15km Championships, Jacksonville, Fla., $23,500, March 10

3) USA Women's Marathon Championship, Boston, Mass., $70,000, April 16

4) USA 25km Championships, Grand Rapids, Mich., $10,600, May 12

5) USA 20km Championships, New Haven, Conn., $15,000, Sept. 3

6) USA 5km Championships, Providence, R.I., $15,000, Sept. 16

7) USA Women's 10km Championships, Boston, Mass., $23,000, Oct. 8

Subtotal $182,800

USARC Grand Prix $12,500

Total $195,300

USARC Grand Prix Champions (1995-2006)
1995 Keith Brantly not contested
1996 Mark Coogan - Anne Marie Lauck
1997 John Sence - Kim Jones
1998 Rod DeHaven - Shelly Steely
1999 Todd Williams - Libbie Hickman
2000 Rod DeHaven - Libbie Hickman
2001 Dan Browne/Scott Larson - Milena Glusac
2002 Dan Browne - Colleen De Reuck
2003 Ryan Shay - Colleen De Reuck
2004 Ryan Shay - Colleen De Reuck
2005 Abdi Abdirahman - Nicole Aish
2006 Mbarak Hussein - Marla Runyan

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6000, $4000, and $2500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled.

The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.

For more information on the 2007 USARC visit www.usatf.org