Minneapolis/St. Paul - July 14, 2010 - Team USA Minnesota will receive a 2010 Excellence Challenge Grant from USA Track & Field based on the team's proposal to support the advancement of long distance running.  The award, in the amount of $50,000, will go toward the development of a web site and a three or four day professional distance running camp in Minneapolis.

"In an effort to attract promising collegiate distance runners to the sport once they graduate, we proposed developing a web site that would contain comprehensive information about becoming a professional distance runner," said Pat Goodwin, Team USA Minnesota president and founder.  "We also plan to hold a running camp that would be open to qualified athletes who have the potential to transition from being a collegiate distance runner to a professional runner."

The launch date for the web site is targeted for January 2011 and the first camp will be held in the summer of 2011.  Team USA Minnesota athletes and board members will develop and manage the project.

"The goal of both the web site and the camp is to give collegiate runners a good overview of what it takes as well as what is involved to become a professional in the sport," said Goodwin.  "This is an effort to help strengthen and increase the number of talented distance runners and help the U.S. continue its re-emergence toward competitive excellence in the sport.  We are excited to be a recipient of an inaugural Challenge Grant and appreciate the confidence that USATF has in our innovative idea."

European Track Circuit

At the International Meeting in Brasschaat, Belgium, on July 11, Gabriele Anderson posted a personal best in the 1500 meters of 4:12.06 (previous best was 4:13.45) and finished fifth in the race.  Also racing at Brasschaat was Meghan Armstrong who posted a time of 16:13.52 to place eighth in the 5000 meters.

Heather Dorniden ran the 800 meters at the International Athletics Meeting in Liege, Belgium, on July 13, in a season best time of 2:01.75 to place sixth.  The time was just over her personal best of 2:01.05.  Next up for Dorniden is a track meet in Lignano, Italy, where she will again race the 800 meters.

The three had previously raced at the Leon Buyle Memorial meet in Oordegem-Ledge, Belgium, on July 3.  "Thanks to a grant from the USATF Foundation, our athletes were able to travel with other up-and-coming U.S. runners and get their first overseas experience racing on the track," said Team USA Minnesota coach Dennis Barker, who led the group to Europe.  "It was a great oppportunity and will definitely help them with future international travel and racing."

About Team USA Minnesota

Team USA Minnesota is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Formed in 2001, the purpose of the training center is to improve the competitivveness of 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.  Team USA Minnesota's major sponsor is Life Time Fitness (www.lifetimefitness.com) and its silver sponsor is Twin Cities In Motion (www.mtcmarathon.org).  It is also supported by the New York Road Runners and the USA Distance Project along with a grant from Running USA.  For more information, visit the team's web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.

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Contact:

Pat Goodwin

952-924-1081

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