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B.A.A.'s Bottorf Begins Pro Career At AJC Peachtree Road Race - RRW

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B.A.A.'S BOTTORFF BEGINS PRO CAREER AT AJC PEACHTREE ROAD RACE
By Chris Lotsbom, @ChrisLotsbom
(c) 2014 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

ATLANTA, GA (03-Jul) -- When Juliet Bottorff toes the line here for the 45th annual Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race on Friday, she'll be closing the books on her collegiate career and starting anew. Sporting the Boston Athletic Association's fabled unicorn on her adidas vest, Bottorff will begin a new chapter, one she hopes will be long and prosperous as a professional athlete on the B.A.A.'s new High Performance team.

"I'm definitely excited. Very, very excited," said Bottorff, speaking via telephone to Race Results Weekly while driving to Atlanta from Durham, N.C. "It's the start of something new and I can't wait for it to begin."

On Wednesday, the Boston Athletic Association announced that Bottorff, along with former collegiate standouts Emily Lipari (Villanova) and Elaina Balouris (William & Mary), have joined the B.A.A.'s High Performance team, coached by Terrence Mahon.

"The objective of the B.A.A.’s high performance group of athletes is to support American runners on their way towards making international teams and to compete at the Olympic and world championship level," said Mahon in a media release. "Each of these talented women is capable of transitioning from a decorated U.S. collegiate career to a successful professional career, and we look forward to providing them with a complete infrastructure with which to meet this goal."

For Bottorff, the decision to join the B.A.A. and move east to Boston came natural. Although she took time to look at various post-collegiate training options, she found herself favoring the B.A.A.

"Honestly, I think I kind of knew I was going to the B.A.A. for a while," said Bottorff, 23. "It just kept coming back to the B.A.A. I feel like that's when you really know that it's the right option for you. I'm really excited for it."

Bottorff chose the B.A.A. for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the idea of being part of a team in its beginning stages was appealing. The B.A.A. High Performance team was founded just last year, and only includes a handful of athletes. Second, she was fond of Mahon's coaching style, one that has led athletes like Jen Rhines (Mahon's wife), Morgan Uceny, and Ryan Hall to past Olympic Games. Add in the fact that she enjoys the East Coast and the storied history of the B.A.A., and it was a done deal.

"I was a huge fan of Terrence as a coach," said Bottorff. "Kevin [Jermyn], my Duke coach, spoke really highly of him and they are pretty similar coaching-wise also so I figured it would be a pretty easy transition. Obviously I loved working with Kevin, so I figure someone with the same coaching philosophy is a good thing. I was just really impressed with everything they had to offer."

She continued: "Our group, we kind of get to make a name for ourselves off of a clean slate, which is just kind of fun. We don't really have to be compared to anything. We get to make a name for ourselves. I'm really looking forward to it."

It is that no-pressure attitude that Bottorff is taking into tomorrow's race here in the Peach State, which also serves as the USA 10-K Championships. Having never run a competitive road race before, Bottorff plans to race smart, gaining valuable experience along the way.

"I'm definitely just excited. I don't think there is any pressure on me," she said. "Kevin, Terrence, and everyone has been really really great about it and no one's putting any pressure on me. It's a fun way to wear the uniform for the first time. It's a really great opportunity, a 10-K in hot weather. I love those two things."

Coming off a very busy NCAA track season, Bottorff will test the waters on the road hoping her built-up strength carries her through the line. At Duke, Bottorff won the 2011 NCAA title at 10,000m on the track; in the last month she has finished third at the NCAA 10,000m Championships (32:40.61), fifth at the NCAA 5000m Championships (15:55.94, a personal best), and fourth at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships 10,000m just last week (32:37.46).

Here, Bottorff is up against 2012 Olympians Desiree Linden and Amy Hastings, as well as Sara Hall, Rachel Ward, Kellyn Johnson, and Mattie Suver, among others. Also in the field is fellow B.A.A. High Performance team member Jen Rhines, a three-time Olympian who is racing her first race as a masters athlete. Rhines turned 40 on July 1.

"I think it's so awesome having her on the team," Bottorff said, eager to learn from the seasoned veteran. "As we're learning for the first time, we have this expert. It's almost not fair!"

Bottorff is hesitant to predict what will happen on Friday. Her main goal is to gain experience, have fun, and enjoy wearing the B.A.A. kit for the first time.

"I really don't want to give myself expectations as I really don't know what to expect," she said. "I don't want to limit myself but at the same time I don't want to put any pressure on myself because there are a lot of unknowns."


ENDS



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