Posted: January 9, 2006

Athletics: Annie Bersagel, 8-Time All-American and Wake Forest Record Holder, Joins Team USA Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS - (Jan. 5, 2006) - Team USA Minnesota has selected Annie Bersagel to join the post-collegiate distance training center based in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Bersagel graduated from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in December 2005 where she was an eight-time All-American - three times in cross country, two in indoor track and three times in outdoor track. She is also the school record holder in the 3000 (9:20), 5000 (15:56) and 10,000 (33:02) meters.

At the NCAA Cross Country Championships last November, Bersagel finished 17th individually. In 2002, she led her team to the University's best ever finish of 9th place at the NCAA Championships and to its first ever Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and Southeast Regional Championship.

In track and field, Bersagel earned her All-American status in the 10,000m in 2003-05, and for indoor in the 5000m in 2003 and 2005. She was the conference champion in the indoor 5000m in 2005 and for the outdoor 10,000m in 2004-05. The five-time Academic All-American, who majored in economics and political science, set her personal best of 33:02 in the 10,000 in the spring of 2005.

"Annie is a strong addition to Team USA Minnesota," said coach Dennis Barker. "She developed into one of the top collegian distance runners in the nation at Wake Forest and shows great promise for a post-collegiate career in distance running. She has begun training with our team here in the Twin Cities and will run at the USA 8K Cross Country Championships in February."

In high school, Bersagel earned 10 varsity letters in cross country, track and nordic skiing. She attended Apple Valley High School in Minnesota her freshman year and graduated from Greeley Central High School in Colorado. She was the Colorado State Champion in the 1600 meters and runner-up in the 3200, and led her high school cross country team to the 2000 State Championship where she was runner-up individually.

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 and its silver sponsor is the Twin Cities Marathon. For more information, visit the website at: TeamUSAMinnesota.org.

Source: Pat Goodwin

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
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Ryan@RunningUSA.org
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