Field Includes Past Champions Chasing Four-Peats, Olympians and 20,000 Runners.

CHICAGO, IL - The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle, the world's largest 8K race (4.97 miles), is set to take place Sunday, March 28 in Grant Park. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of this event that traditionally kicks off Chicago's running season. More than 20,000 runners are expected to witness two possible four-peat champions and a group of former and future Olympians.

Ten-time Australian champion and two-time Olympian Shaun Creighton is making the trek from Australia to Chicago in order to defend the Men's title and take another stride towards history with a four-peat effort. For the past three years, Creighton, 36, has made Chicago a special place in March. "Shaun has been phenomenal for our race and Chicago's reputation as a great city for runners," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "This race could be extremely special for us with the possibility of crowning two four-time champions and our 25th Anniversary celebration happening in the same year."

Three-time champion and Indiana-born Collette Liss, 31, is attempting to become the first four-time female champion. Liss won the 1999, 2000 and 2003 races. Course record holder (with a time of 25:25) Kathy Butler, 30, showed good form in her recent victory at The Reebok UK Intercounties held in Nottingham, England on March 6. Butler interrupted Liss' consecutive titles with her only LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle championship in 2001.

Local running star from Lake Villa, Ill. and 1996 Olympic Marathon Trials winner, Jenny Spangler, 40, will use The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle as her final tune-up for this year's Olympic Trials being held the following weekend in St. Louis (Saturday, April 3). "We are thrilled to have Jenny join us this year because her return to competitive racing is an inspiration to all of us in the Chicago area, " added Pinkowski. "This is a great opportunity for all her fans to see her before she goes to the Trials and hopefully on to her second appearance at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens."

Coming off break-through performances at the U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials, Hansons-Brooks Olympic Distance Project team members Trent Briney, 25, and Clint Verran, 28, look to upset Creighton in his quest for the four-peat. Brian Sell, 24, (also with the Hansons-Brooks team) fell short of stealing the Olympic Marathon Trials held in Birmingham, Ala. earlier this year, will attempt to change the finishing order of the race from a year ago when he finished second to Creighton.

Race packet pick-up and race-weekend registration takes place at the Health & Fitness Expo in the lower level Northwest exhibition halls of the Hilton Chicago located at 720 S. Michigan Ave. on Friday, March 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the Health & Fitness Expo is free. There is no race-day packet pick-up or registration for the 8K race or the 5K walk.

For the second consecutive year, The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K Post-Race party will take place under a tent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Grant Park (on the east side of Columbus Drive on Balbo). Poi Dog Pondering, who adopted Chicago as its home town in 1992, will rock the crowd during the Post-Race party. The Post-Race party is open for all registered participants and one guest per registered race participant.

For more information on The LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K visit www.shamrockshuffle.com or call 312-904- 9814.