Javelin Throw Added as First-Ever Field Event at 2003 New Balance Maine Distance Festival

- Fox Sports Network to Telecast Meet -

BOSTON, MA July 2, 2003 - Top Americans, international stars and high school standouts will compete in the New Balance Maine Distance Festival to be held at the Whittier Fields at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Saturday, July 5, from 5:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

New to the meet this year is the javelin throw, the first-ever field event at the festival. Scott Russell (Canada), the 2002 NCAA Champion while at Kansas, is one of the best throwers in the world today. He will attempt a feat no thrower has ever eclipsed in North America, the 90 meter mark (over 290 feet). Challenging him will be Olympic Trials competitors Scott Warren and Rich DeStefano.

"We are very excited to add the javelin throw to the meet this year," says Katie O'Brien, Marketing Promotions Associate, New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. "We wanted to do something special to mark the 10th anniversary of the New Balance Maine Distance Festival, something the fans have never seen before at the meet."

In its 10th year, the New Balance Maine Distance Festival will also feature a Kids Day festival starting at 3:00 p.m. More than 100 five through twelve-year-olds will participate in various track and field events such as the long jump, hurtles, 100 meter dash and softball throw. In addition, there will be several Special Olympic races in the 50m dash, 400m dash and 1500m race.

The 2003 New Balance Maine Distance Festival will be telecast nationally on Fox Sports Network on July 16 at 3:00 p.m. and on July 22 at 11:00 a.m. The broadcast will feature the event's elite races in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m distances, the men's 3000m steeplechase and the javelin throw.

For more information about the New Balance Maine Distance Festival, part of the CanAm High Performance Distance Circuit, please visit :
MDF

Proceeds from the Festival will go to Special Olympics Maine.

New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., headquartered in Boston, MA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative width-sized footwear and athletic apparel for women, men, and children.
The range of product categories includes running, walking, cross training, basketball, tennis, adventure sports, and kids. Hiking and work boots, sandals, boat shoes, and rugged casuals are also available through the company's DunhamAE division. Dunham joined the New Balance family in Fall 1998. New Balance acquired the rights to the PF Flyers brand in February 2000. An active casual, lifestyle brand, PF Flyers became available to consumers in February 2003. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. employs more than 2,400 people around the globe, and in 2002 reported worldwide sales of $1.3 billion. For more information please visit: New Balance