SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - (January 31, 2008) - Team Running USA, the professional training group based in Mammoth Lakes and San Diego, Calif., has added five new members to its roster which includes established distance running stars: 2004 Olympic Marathon medalists Meb Keflezighi (silver) and Deena Kastor (bronze), two-time Olympian Jen Rhines and 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion Ryan Hall.

"We welcome these five accomplished athletes to the Team Running USA program. Their drive and desire compliment our training group's mission: to be the best in the world, and we look forward to their success in 2008 and beyond," said Basil Honikman, CEO of Running USA.

The following athletes are the newest additions to Team Running USA:

* Kassi Andersen, 24, Provo, UT - 2003 NCAA steeplechase champion and 2003 & 2004 USA Outdoor Championships steeplechase runner-up; 8-time All-American at BYU; sponsored by Nike

* Dan Browne, 32, Portland, OR - 2004 Olympian at 10,000 meters and the marathon; 16-time USA champion including two national titles in 2007 (5K and 20K); graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; sponsored by Nike

* Julia Lucas, 23, Charlotte, NC - 4th 2007 NCAA 5000m Championship and 5th 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships; 3-time All-American at North Carolina State; sponsored by Reebok

* Sara Slattery, 26, Ahwatukee, AZ - 2007 Pan Am Games 10,000 meter champion (32:54.41, event record); 2006 Bolder Boulder 10K champion (led the USA to team title); 2005 NCAA 10,000m and 2003 NCAA 3000m indoor champion and 10-time All-American at Colorado; sponsored by adidas; married to Steve Slattery; maiden name Gorton.

* Steve Slattery, 27, Flanders, NJ - fastest U.S. steeplechaser in 2007 with his 8:15.69 personal record at Brussels; 2003 USA 3000m steeplechase champion; two-time World Outdoor Championships team member (2003 & 2005); 3-time steeplechase All-American at Colorado; sponsored by Nike; married to Sara Slattery

The above join teammates Sara Hall (ASICS), Deena Kastor (ASICS), Kate O'Neill (Nike), Jen Rhines (adidas), Ian Dobson (adidas), Ryan Hall (ASICS), Meb Keflezighi (Nike) and Mike McKeeman.