Bix 7 to Host US Championship

QUAD-CITY TIMES BIX 7 TO HOST USA 7-MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom

(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

(Used with Permission)



(05-Mar) -- On Saturday, July 26, the 40th running of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 in Davenport, Iowa, will play host to the USA National

 7-Mile Championships as part of the USA Running Circuit. The event, which saw more than 10,600 finishers last year, will have a 

special patriotic theme, celebrating active duty and veterans of the United States military.



"We're pleased to again host the USA 7-Mile Championships," said race director Ed Froehlich in a prepared statement.



The Bix 7 has hosted these championships three times before, most recently in 2010. Race organizers look at the event --which is 

contested on an out-and-back course-- as one that is "a development effort for athletes in training on road courses as they work 

toward opportunities to represent the country at World and Olympic competition through USA Track & Field."



Among the top Americans in 2013 were Meb Keflezighi, third overall in 32:39, and Desiree (Davila) Linden, tenth in 38:35.  The last 

time the Quad-City Times Bix 7 hosted the USA national championship, Ryan Hall and Iowa native Lisa (Koll) Uhl were crowned winners.



Other past champions include Keflezighi, Khalid Khannouchi, Bill Rodgers, Molly Huddle, and Joan Benoit Samuelson.



As part of the race's 40th anniversary and hosting of a USATF Championship event, beneficiary programs have been established to 

celebrate patriotism.



According to a media release, the Bix 7 will offer free entry to any active duty military member, and every paid entrant will have the

 chance to assist veterans by adding a $2.00 donation to Genesis Health System Hospice‰Ûªs local chapter of the We Honor Veterans 

Program.



"The recognition of our service men and women that have and continue to make it possible for us to celebrate traditions like the Bix 7

 since 1975 is one that our sponsors, volunteers and participants are thrilled to be involved with," said Froehlich.



Course records for the Quad-City Times Bix 7 stand at 31:52 for men (John Korir of Kenya, 1998) and 35:24 for women 

(Susan Chepkemei, also of Kenya, in 2004). Last year's champions were former Iona Gaels standout Leonard Korir of Kenya (32:15) 

and Ethiopia's Sule Utura (36:34).