RUSSELL NAMED NEW CEO OF ASICS LA MARATHON
By David Monti
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(21-Jun) -- Tracey Russell has left her position as the executive director of the Atlanta Track Club (ATC) to become the new chief executive officer of the Asics LA Marathon, ATC and LA Marathon officials announced separately today.

"Tracey is a true leader in the road racing industry, and has delivered incredible results her entire career," said Howard Sunkin, LA Marathon board member through a statement.  "Our Stadium to the Sea course is one of the most iconic and beautiful in the world and we're ready to take the ASICS LA Marathon to a new level that attracts more international runners and race partners. Tracey is the right person at the right time to make that happen."

Russell, a former competitive swimmer, had led the Atlanta Track Club for six years after working in Richmond, Va., promoting and organizing events for the Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers for 12 years.  During her tenure at the ATC, Russell doubled annual sponsorship revenue and increased the membership of the ATC to 19,000 members, marathon officials said.  Officials there had nothing but praise for Russell.

"For the past six years, we have had the honor to call Tracey Russell the executive director of the Atlanta Track Club," said ATC board chairman Charles Crawford, through a statement.  "She has done a wonderful job at building a strong organization with an amazing and talented staff. Tracey has continued the Atlanta Track Club's history of supporting the Atlanta community while building respect across the nation."

The Asics LA Marathon, held on the third weekend of March, recorded 23,006 finishers.  That puts it on a par in size with the Boston and Honolulu Marathons, but about half the size of the ING New York City Marathon, which is the world's largest.  The race was taken over by the McCourt Group in 2009, and organizers moved the date to May with disastrous results: the number of finishers fell by 18%.  Organizers moved the date in 2010 to the third weekend of March and introduced a new point-to-point course which was again modified for the 2011 edition.

Nick Curl would continue as Los Angeles race director, officials said, reporting to Russell.

ENDS