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Marathon c RYAN WHSON Sports Editor The official course for the Feb. 11 Women's National Marathon Championship race and the Feb. 10,1996, USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials has been solidified by the Carolina Marathon Association. Historic neighborhoods, shopping avenues, Fort Jackson and the USC campus will highlight the course. The proposed course inlcudes many features that have made the Carolina Marathon a runners' favorite for the past 18 years, association President Russ Pate said. ~i ne cnanges in elevation will test the best of runners but punish none," Pate said. "It is truly a fair course, and it will ultimately identify the best three women to represent the U. S. on a similar course in Atlanta." The Carolina Marathon Association has worked with the Women's Long Distance Running Committee of the USA Track & Field Association to put together a race course that works. Here is a brief description. Starting line. Runners will begin at Main and Gervais streets in front of the State House. The beginning offers an impressive backdrop and is convenient for spectators, media and VIPs. The course heads north on Main and circles downtown before passing back by the State House and going west. Miles 2-6. Runners head across the Congaree River into West Columbia and Cayce. The elevation drop in the area is 150 feet. Miles 7-10. Crossing back over the river, runners approach two small hills and pass through the USC campus and Five Points. Next, they run through the residential neighborhoods of Shandon and Heathwood, known for shady trees, older hoipes and quiet streets. Mile 11. In this stretch, runners head through the Lake Katherine neighborhood down a significant hill, which drops 150 feet on the way to Fort Jackson. Miles 12-19. Once at the base, the runners will cover the gently rolling terrain of one of America's largest and most famous Army training facilities. One two-mile stretch has a 170-foot elevation increase, but several long, fast downhill portions come between miles 13 and 20. Runners traditionally love passing through the base and can expect a lai^ge turnout of soldiers cheering in support. Miles 20-23. After Fort Jackson, run^^FT 1 j m\ : I :oiirse solidi West jjjj Columbia Meeting St. fplp i _ Abbott Dr. j|g|f Cayce jj| jffc Lexington WMIIfcJ P WOMEN'S USi _ _ OLYMPH Mara February 10,1 ners begin to turn back toward downtown, going down suburban Forest Drive and then Trenholm Road. They pass Brennan Elementary School at mile 21 and Dreher High School at mile 23 ?a 120-foot elevation increase. Mile 24. Runners head down Devine Street, generally a fast section with a one-mile staightaway that drops a few feet at mile 24. Miles 25 to finish. Runners make a final climb of 80 feet in the first portion of mile 25 as they pass through the USC &&v&3^^BLiBtt-4i*''>' < ' ?m5* ' %s a . %x>>&&$SSw 8* ? * ? r: I fled for Woi Rffipivn .!.]. k FHrtTTiHiIHiH (3HB&, . The Propose Laurel Course total: Columbia. B .? (A CB C .< 3E ? X o c coin q. q> T"^ 11 ir i I -1 use k a Blossom St. S> O) I 3 X > t Richland County rtv && j. t h om mTRIALS campus again and go back into the city. The last stretch culminates in a sevenblock straightaway on Main Street ending at the NationsBank Plaza. The 18-story NationsBank Plaza is an excellent place to finish, Pate said. The top floor's corporate boardroom can be used by VIPs and race officials, and two other partially occupied floors can be set aside for other related functions. The building's grounds can be used for staging, tents and spectator viewing. h/oLoJy Aa.5 9 *VsOK? O ''''' ^J nen's Champ id Carolina Marathon National Chamf s 26 miles. The course stretches thro elow in black is the course. imbia S. \ x-oi w /> ft The proposed course for the) Olympic Trials, both in Colum in elevation. Elevation chant 500 I? 400" 1 300"i8^4a 200- \_/"vN_/ 100-W&i n : . " : - \J ' ' 0 5 mmm Aui I<IOK'{ Ao.V< A.K / o{ {km, d wi<A < A? co.5A n ^OU Jft/< LwyiK^ C OUC U5?I (txibools, yOU (( L4 aLU io *hjc yr*.oA vo.CO.Kok A.< SO Spri^y Lr**.l *.?<*. wk*r* you <ft.K j>i<k v Jtrttious Souv*Kir$ Co ikis bc^by ktr*. 4 rionship, 01 Dionship ughout i Forest Acres Forest Dr. :/ # ' : ^ Jackson Blvd! Women's National Marathon1 bia, is a challenging course t ^es in the proposed course iliiite 1111: y - , I 10 15 miles ? H pgpp|)|| *** I 1 1\ ympic Trials *y Fort \ Jackson \ RYAN SIMS Gamecock Graphic Championship and Women's >ecause of constant changes are shown below. yVS* 20 25 RYAN SIMS Gamecock Graphics I: : : : i I \ I