FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PENN STATE SETS THE TABLE FOR SPRINTER'S FEAST IN SECOND COLLEGIATE EVENT Allentown, PA (March 8-9, 2003) - Penn State Cycling is the host of the second 2003 Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) event to be held March 8-9 in Allentown and Reading, PA. Saturday's events include a points race at the Rodale fitness park and a free track racing clinic to be held at the world-famous Lehigh Valley Velodrome. Sunday's circuit race is on the challenging Pagoda road course in mountainous Reading. Saturday's Rodale Points Race is a classic ECCC event, held since 1996 on the fast, completely closed course across the street from the velodrome at Trexlertown. Every five laps, competitors will sprint for 5, 3, 2, and 1 points as they race around the course. At the end of the event, the rider with the most points on the lead lap takes the victory. Penn State's own Bobby Lea and Columbia's Waclaw Godycki demonstrated that it is indeed possible to lap the field at the season opener on March 1 at Rutgers. Lea himself and Yale rider Marissa Kellogg will be closely marked by their rivals as they wear the Verge ECCC Leaders Jerseys. Also on Saturday is a track clinic hosted at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. Jake Burns, marketing director for the track and a PSU alumnus, assembled a star-studded cast to assist with the instruction for collegiate riders to take to the track. Each collegiate rider simply needs to sign a release form and they will be given a track bike and instruction on how to ride and race on the track. Speaking at the ECCC Conference Meeting in November, Mr. Burns stated, "We are excited about developing collegiate riders for the track, as this is where Olympic dreams begin." Sunday's Pagoda road race course is infamous within the rank and file of the ECCC. The challenging three-mile circuit features a 1.25 mile climb past the historic Reading Pagoda with dramatic views of the entire Lehigh valley. Riders will complete five to 12 laps of the hilly route depending on skill level and experience. Penn State Cycling is headed by coach Jim Young. Mr. Young is the founder of collegiate cycling, and is responsible for developing numerous national champions and international competitors. The coach can always be found supporting his riders and working with his Nittany Lions to get them to the top of the ECCC and nationals standings, and this weekend will be no exception for the host coach. The Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) includes colleges in Delaware, New England, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. As they compete from early March through April, ECCC teams vie for the top of the season-long team points standings, Collegiate Nationals qualification team spots, and the Ivy League trophy. The inexpensive races feature team-oriented bicycle racing for all abilities with team pride, glory, and honor as the only prize list. The full 2003 ECCC schedule and results can be found at www.eccc-info.com. -END- CONTACT INFORMATION Mark Abramson ECCC Conference Director (617) 718-1742 mark@eccc-info.com