Minneapolis/St. Paul - July 24, 2010 - Team USA Minnesota's Antonio Vega finished fourth at the USA 7 Mile Championships held in Davenport, Iowa, today.  His time of 33:08 (winning time was 32:55) bettered his time in 2009 when he ran 33:35 to cross the line in fifth place.  With Vega's finish in today's championship, he regained his standing at the top of the 2010 USA Running Circuit (USARC).

The USARC, a USA Track & Field road series formed in 1995, features USA Championships from one mile up through the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners.  Vega won the USA Half Marathon Championships in January and was third at the USA 15k Championships in March.  Next up on the circuit for Vega will be the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship on Aug. 28.  His Team USA Minnesota teammate, Katie McGregor, leads the USA Running Circuit standings for women.

At the 7 Mile Championships, held in conjunction with the Quad City Times Bix 7, a thunderstorm rolled through the area just as the race was starting so runners ran in rain and high humidity for much of the race although temperatures stayed in the 70s.  "I thought it was a great day out there," Vega said in an interview after the race.  "I thought the rain was the best conditions we could have had."

Vega said he held steady through the first mile in the lead pack and then begain to push the pace.  He contended for the lead up to the turnaround at three miles and then led through mile five.  At one point he had as much as a 100 meter lead.  "You need to run gutsy every now and then," he said.  "It was such a good field at this race with some strong 10k runners.  All I know is every mile over 10k benefits me so I just need to go out for the win and hold on."

Heart of Summer 10k

Michelle Frey finished second at the Boston Scientific Heart of Summer 10k held Saturday morning at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.  Her time of 35:05 was a personal best for the distance.

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 competitiveness 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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