Minneapolis/St. Paul - Feb. 1, 2011 - Team USA Minnesota's Heather Kampf (formerly Dorniden) will open her 2011 season by competing in the women's 800 meters at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on Feb. 5.  The 16th annual meet, which had been known as the Boston Indoor Games, is part of USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series.

The women's 800 meters will be contested at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern) at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletics Center at Roxbury Community College.  Kampf has a best in the 800 of 2:01.05.  During her indoor track season, she will seek a qualifier in either the 800m or the mile in order to compete at the USA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque on Feb. 26-27.

USA Half Marathon Championships - Results

Katie McGregor was fourth in the women's field, with Jason Lehmkuhle finishing fifth and Josh Moen 13th in the men's field at the USA Half Marathon Championships held in Houston on Saturday, Jan. 29.  McGregor's time was 1:12:13, Lehmkuhle crossed the line in 1:02:49, and Moen finished in 1:05:05.

The half marathon championships course provided a preview for next year's U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for both men and women, an event that will be held on Jan. 14, 2012.  The half marathon course included three hairpin turns during a 8-mile loop which will become seven turnarounds or switchbacks when the trials marathon is contested.

"It is hard to be disappointed with a fourth place finish at this time of year even though I would have liked to have gotten into the top three," said McGregor.  "Overall, it was great that I came down here to check out the course they will have for the marathon trials.  I haven't raced since running the marathon in New York last November (when she finished second at the USA Women's Marathon Championships), so it was nice to see how things are going with my training."

Lehmkuhle, who is preparing to run the London Marathon in April, said it was "a good race" for him.  "I think it was really important to see this course before next year's marathon trials," he said.  "I came away knowing what I need to work on.  The switchbacks definitely affect your rhythm."

This is the fourth time that Lehmkuhle has finished in the top five at the USA Half Marathon Championships (second in 2009, third in 2005, fifth in 2007 and 2011).  "I guess you could say I'm a pretty consistent runner who has made a good living being second to fifth at U.S. Championships," said Lehmkuhle, who was fifth at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men's Marathon Trials.  "One of these times I would like to come in and steal a first place finish."

Next up for Lehmkuhle will be the Ohme 30k in Japan on Feb. 20.

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.  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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