Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Miami Herald - December 10, 2004
Jim Varsallone, jvarsallone@herald.com
Under a joint agreement between the Miami Runners Club and Baltimore-based Active Survivors Network, athletes recovering or recovered from catastrophic illnesses or serious diseases will compete in their own divisions.
"We are extremely pleased and thankful to the Miami Runners Club -- one of the most prestigious competitive running groups in the country -- will include survivor divisions for survivor athletes," said Jay McCutcheon, founder of Active Survivors Network and a stroke survivor, in a news release. "This gives athletes two more events and will add significantly to the competitive opportunities for all survivor athletes throughout the USA and Canada."
The Miami Runners Club becomes the first independent running club in the United States to include survivor divisions, the news release said.
"We are pleased that survivor athletes will become part of our regular race schedule," said Pat Neyra, the club's executive director. "Anything our organization can do to encourage competitive running -- especially among those are recovering from illness -- is something we want to be involved in."
The first MRC opportunity for survivor athletes is the Miami Half Marathon at 7 a.m. Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The event includes 13.1-mile and 3.1-mile runs.
The Palmetto Bay 15K on Feb. 19 also will include a survivor category.
To qualify as a survivor athlete, a competitor must be diagnosed with a serious illness or have been living with ailments such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, serious lung disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and serious accident survivors.
In addition, survivor athletes must provide documentation from their physicians before they are cleared to compete.
Interest in survivor athletic competition has grown since the first Survivor Harbor 7 running event in Baltimore last summer.
A leukemia survivor, John Supsic, won the men's open and survivor divisions in a seven-mile event, setting a course record of 35 minutes 2 seconds. The women's survivor division was won by Karen Smyers, a two-time world triathlon champion who is recovering from thyroid cancer.
Information on Active Survivors Network, including eligibility for competition, is at www.activesurvivor.org. Information on Miami Runners Club events and activities is at www.miamirunnersclub.com. Call 305-227-1500 and visit www.splitsecondtiming.com.
PADDLEBALL
Tournament directors Scott Hirsch and Wally Schmidt host the W.O.R. One-Wall National Paddleball Doubles Championship at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the historic outdoor paddleball courts on Garfield Street in Hollywood. The event benefits the Salvation Army Hurricane Relief Fund.
Divisions are men's pro, men's A/B, men's C/D, masters 45-and-older, women's A/B, women's C/D, mixed doubles, juniors under-18, juniors under-12.
The public is invited. Garfield Street courts are located at Garfield Street and the Broadwalk off A1A in Hollywood. Call Hirsch at 954-202-6000.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
The Florida Beach Volleyball Tour presents the Holiday Tournament, Saturday and Sunday behind the Yankee Clipper on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Visit www.flbeachvolleyball.com or call 954-316-6642.
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