Minneapolis/St. Paul - Nov 30, 2011 - Four Team USA Minnesota distance runners - Jason Lehmkuhle, Matt Gabrielson, Katie McGregor and Meghan Peyton - will compete at the Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon on Dec. 4.  The half marathon begins at 5:30 p.m.

The half marathon is a companion race to the Las Vegas Marathon, which starts at 4:05 p.m., with both events attracting a combined 44,000 entrants.  The flat course will include the neon lights of the famous Las Vegas Strip.

All four Team USA Minnesota runners are preparing for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials that will be held in Houston on Jan. 14.  Lehmkuhle, who was fifth at the men's marathon trials for the 2008 Olympics, has a half marathon best of 1:02:32.  Earlier this fall, he placed second at the USA 20k Championships in New Haven, won the Ohme 30k in Japan last February, and posted 2:13:40 at the London Marathon in April.

Gabrielson has run 1:03:43 in the half marathon distance.  During 2011, he set a personal best in the marathon of 2:13:28 at Grandma's Marathon and was fifth at the USA 25k Championships last May.  Most recently he was fourth at the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day.

McGregor has a best in the half marathon of 1:12:01.  This year she finished second in the USA Running Circuit, won the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in June, was fourth at the USA Half Marathon Championships and at the USA 10 Mile Championships, and second at the USA Women's 10k Championship.

Peyton's half marathon best is 1:13:43 which qualified her for the trials in January where she will make her marathon debut.  Her competitions this fall have included seventh at the USA 20k Championships, fifth at the USA 5k Championships, sixth at the USA 10 Mile Championships and fifth at the NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5k.  She also was second at the Manchester Road Race.

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.tcmevents.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.

**************

Contact:

Pat Goodwin

952-924-1081

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it