Marc Davis Visits Buffalo This Weekend!

U.S. Olympic Hero Will Appear at the Buffalo Mile

BUFFALO - (5-JUN-2001) - He has been called the "flamboyant Bad Boy of track and field" perhaps becasue of his many tattoos, but runners know him best for his courage and competitive flair on the track. Marc Davis, a 1996 Olympic finalist in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, will be on hand Saturday morning to encourage the runners in the Buffalo Mile races at the Erie Basin Marina.

Davis says he's retired from professional running, but quickly adds that "I'm not retired from running!".

It's not known if he plans on actually running in one of the many heats of the Buffalo Mile, but Hamburg's Sue Devlin, who spoke with Marc by phone notes that "He's bringing his sneakers along, just in case".

In his competitive prime Davis ran a spectacular 3:54 mile in France as recently as 1997. He also won the prestigious Waikiki Mile. Among his many accomplishments are national titles in the 5000 (1998) and steeplechase (1993). He was a two-time NCAA champion in the steeple and 5000 while running for Arizona. As a high school runner he won the Kinney High School Cross Country Championships, besting the likes of Bob Kennedy and Todd Williams.

The Buffalo Mile is a Buffalo News Runner of the Year event and will start at 9:00AM Saturday (June 9) at the Erie basin Marina.

If the local runners hosting Davis get their wish, and if he has time, Marc Davis may also pay a visit to the Evan Glover Memorial Tunnel Run 2-Mile race in Blasdell Saturday evening at 6:00 PM.

Also tentatively planned is an all-comers Sunday morning run with Marc Davis at Chestnut Ridge Park at 8:00AM.