FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Sept. 27, 2011 - North Central College men's cross country and track & field alumnus Patrick Rizzo '05 has been selected to represent Team USA next month in the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Rizzo is one of two U.S. men selected to compete in the marathon in the Games, which take place Oct. 14-30. The men's marathon will be contested on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 a.m.

“It's a tremendous honor to be chosen for the Pan Am Games,” Rizzo said. “I could never pass up an opportunity to represent my country.”

Rizzo earned four NCAA Division III All-America certificates in track & field and three in cross country during his time at North Central, winning a total of four College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) individual championships. He was the champion of the 2010 Rock N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon and finished in 10th place (the second Americanfinisher ) at the 2009 Chicago Marathon in a personal best time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 48 seconds. Rizzo was the 15th finisher (the third American) at the Boston Marathon that same year.

Rizzo has also qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in January in Houston. The top three finishers in at the Trials will represent the USA at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He is a native of Schaumburg, Ill., and currently lives and trains in Boulder, Colo.

For more information on this year's Pan American Games, visit www.guadalajara2011.org.mx.