Posted: January 20, 2005

Athletics: Minnesota Athletes Awarded MEADP Grants

Also Post Top Performances January 15-16 Weekend

MINNEAPOLIS - (Jan. 17, 2005) - Five Team USA Minnesota distance runners were awarded grants from the Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program (MEADP). The checks, which ranged from $500 to $2,000, were presented at the Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA) Annual Party in Minneapolis on Jan. 15. Those receiving grants included Olympian Carrie Tollefson, Katie McGregor, Kristen Nicolini, Luke Watson and Chad Johnson. MEADP was created in 1998 and is funded by Grandma's Marathon, the Twin Cities Marathon, Austin-Jarrow Sports and the MDRA to provide financial assistance to Minnesota distance runners who have completed their academic running career. Grants are awarded annually to assist qualified runners in reaching their fullest potential.

In addition, Team USA Minnesota athletes ran well during a first full weekend of competition in 2005 with Katie McGregor and Jenelle Deatherage winning their events and Matt Gabrielson and Jason Lehmkuhle finishing second and third respectively at the USA Men's Half-Marathon Championship. Dana Coons finished second American in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Results for Team USA Minnesota Women
Katie McGregor won the Bermuda International 10K on Jan. 15 in a time of 34:24; she had finished first among female participants at the 2003 event as well. McGregor, the next day, ran the hot and windy Bermuda Half Marathon, placing first in 1:19:43. She collected $2,000 for her wins in both races.

At the Minnesota Open also on Jan. 15, Jenelle Deatherage won the 800m in 2:13.15 and the mile in a time of 4:45.74, which was a national qualifier for the U.S. Indoor Championships on Feb. 25-27.

Team USA Minnesota's Dana Coons finished second American and seventh overall in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon on Jan. 16. Her time of 1:15:00 was a personal best at the distance. The first American female (Colleen De Reuck) in the race was fifth overall in a time of 1:14:05.

Results for Team USA Minnesota Men
At the USA Men's Half-Marathon Championship in Houston on Jan. 16, Matt Gabrielson was national runner-up in 1:04:06 and Jason Lehmkuhle placed third in 1:04:08. The two were also third and fourth overall and followed the U.S. champion (Dan Browne) who finished in 1:03:56 and was second overall.

The half-marathon was Gabrielson's debut at the distance and was his first national road race over seven miles; he previously was third at the USA Men's 5K Championship in 2004 and was third at the USA Men's 10K Championship in 2003. Lehmkuhle's previous best time in the half was 1:05:31, which he set a year ago at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Phoenix. The two Team USA Minnesota runners were also teammates at Drake University. Gabrielson won $6,000 for his efforts and Lehmkuhle was awarded $3,500 at the Houston race.

About Team USA Minnesota
Team USA Minnesota is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Formed in 2001, the purpose of the training center is to improve post-collegiate American distance running and to develop Olympians. The athletes are coached by Dennis Barker, head cross country and track coach at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. The nonprofit training center is operated by a group of volunteers and supported by local organizations and individuals. Team USA Minnesota's major sponsor is Life Time Fitness (www.lifetimefitness.com) and its silver sponsor is the Twin Cities Marathon. For more information, visit the web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.

For more information, contact: Contact: Pat Goodwin, (952) 924-1081; pfgoodwin@teamusaminnesota.org.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.