************************** A D V E R T I S E M E N T ************************

Hey! Check out the holiday sale at The Human Race Sports! We have everything for the runner and triathlete! Now through Christmas, receive a free gift (valued at $39.00) just for shopping with us! Open Friday! See in-store displays for details.

The Human Race Sports, Inc. 15148 S. LaGrange Road Orland Park, IL 60462 708-349-4724 www.humanracesports.com

*****************************************************************************

Welcome to the Chicago Athlete Express. Happy Thanksgiving!

*****************************************************************************

THE SCOOP

Jenny Spangler's chances of going to the Olympics got a whole lot better on Tuesday. That's because the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) relaxed the women's Olympic "A" standard from 2:32 to 2:37. Spangler, of Gurnee, posted a 2:32:39 at The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13, setting a U.S. masters mark. But at the time, she was 39 seconds over the "A" standard. It's complicated, but Jenny's chances of getting to Athens weren't too good. Now, if she places in the top three at the U.S. Women's Trials on April 4 in St. Louis, she'll qualify for the Games. Before, even if she had made the top three, someone behind her who had run the "A" standard prior to the Trials would have been bumped ahead of her for a trip to Athens. For the record, the new Women's standards are 2:37 ("A") and 2:42 ("B" up from 2:40). The new Men's standards are 2:15 ("A" up from 2:12) and 2:18 ("B" up from 2:14). They're still fast!

**********************************************************************************

THE NCAA REPORT

Elmhurst's Don Sage was Stanford's sixth man but placed an incredible 13th on Monday at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship in Cedar Falls- Waterloo, IA. Stanford crushed the field, scoring an amazing 24 points to easily trounce runner-up Wisconsin (174) and third-place Northern Arizona (190). Sage ran a 29:45 on the 10K course, finishing 31 seconds behind overall champion Dathan Ritzenheim (29:14) of Colorado. Stanford also won the women's title, 120 to 128 over BrighamYoung. Individual winner was North Carolina's Shalane Flanagan, who completed the 6K course in 19:30.

In the Division III meet at Hanover, IN, North Central's men placed third. In the women's race, Kathleen Brice of Elmhurst College was third individual in 21:23. For complete results of both meets, please go to: www.chicagoaa.com/results/searchable.html

What about the Division II meet in Cary, NC? The Chicago area was not a factor as Adams State won both the men's and women's titles.

*****************************************************************************

THE NEWS

The ABD Cycle Club has announced its 2004 Indoor Time Trial Series. New this year is a race at the Subaru Chicago Bike Show on March 27. Here's the story: www.chicagoaa.com/news/abdseries04.html

They rode and even ran in the rain and mud on Sunday, but the Save the 'Drome Cross Madness event was a big success as $8,000 was added to the fund for the restoration of the Ed Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook. Here's the report: www.chicagoaa.com/news/cyclocrossNov03savefinal.html

The Ray Williams Lincolnwood Turkey Trot on Sunday kicked off the turkey trot season in the Chicago area. Check out our photo gallery at: www.chicagoaa.com/features/lincolnwood03photos.html

For weekend results from all over the Midwest, click on: www.chicagoaa.com/results/searchable.html

Speaking of turkey trots, there's a flock of 'em on Thursday morning. The biggest are Vertel's in Lincoln Park, Dan Gibbon's in Elmhurst, Noon Lions in Naperville and Edison Park on Chicago's northwest side. Click here for the full menu: www.chicagoaa.com/calendar/smu.html

The top high school boys and girls from all over the Midwest converge on the cross- Country course at Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha County on Saturday for the Foot Locker Regional. The top eight boys/girls will advance to nationals next month Visit: www.runningnetwork.com/news/footlocker03races.html

*****************************************************************************

THE OPEN HOUSE

Get A Grip Cycles, 4359 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 29. CompuTrainers will be the main attraction. For complete information, call the store at 773-427-4747.

*****************************************************************************

THE TRIATHLON TV BEAT

You can feast on Outoor Life Network triathlon coverage this Friday and Saturday. OLN will show Ironman Wisconsin on Friday from 11 a.m. to noon, and Ironman Canada on Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. Times are Central.

*****************************************************************************

THE CLOSER If you're running in a turkey trot on Thursday, don't forget those cans of food.