BOSTON, MASS. - Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of the City of Boston, and the Boston Athletic Association have announced that Boston and the B.A.A. will bid to host the US Marathon Trials in 2008.

Representatives of USA Track & Field's long distance running committee are currently working to determine and finalize bid criteria, and a selection committee from USA Track & Field will determine which city and event will host the Trials.

"It would be an honor to host the 2008 U.S. Marathon Trials in Boston, home to the oldest and one of the most prestigious annual marathons in the world," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

The B.A.A. will bid to host both the men's and women's races, which have always been held in separate locations. The Trials races have traditionally featured America's best distance runners, and the events are open only to US citizens.

Boston has served as the site for the men's US Marathon selection race on multiple occasions, including in 1908 (the first time) and as recently as 1960. The women's marathon Trials, which were run for the first time in 1984, have never been held in Boston.

The 2004 men's team trials race (86 starters) was in Birmingham, Alabama on February 7; the 2004 women's team trials race was in St. Louis, Missouri on April 3. In Athens this past summer, US team members won silver in the men's marathon (Meb Keflezighi; 2:11:29) and bronze medal (Deena Kastor; 2:27:20) in the women's marathon.

For its bid, Boston and the B.A.A. will design a new, flat, fast, multiple loop course, which would likely finish on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay. Also, the B.A.A. will propose that the Marathon Trials be held on Saturday, April 19 or Sunday, April 20, 2008, prior to the 112th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21. The route for the Trials would not be that of the Boston Marathon, but the City and B.A.A. anticipate using some of the infrastructure in place for the annual Patriots' Day road race.

The top three male and female finishers at the Trials races will qualify to represent the USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, provided they also meet the Olympic qualifying standard.

It is anticipated that USA Track & Field's bid package will be made available to all interested cities in January 2005 with a decision later in the year.

Media, for further information... at Boston Athletic Association: Jack Fleming at (617-236-1652, ext. 2627) or mobile (617-694-8218).at the City of Boston: Seth Gitell, press secretary for Mayor Thomas M. Menino (617-635-4461)