Minneapolis/St. Paul - May 13, 2010 - Seven Team USA Minnesota distance runners will be on hand to assist with the fourth annual Medtronic TC Kids Marathon Cross Country Fun Run on Saturday morning, May 15.  More than 1,000 kids from Twin Cities area schools, YMCA/YWCA's and Bolder Options are expected to participate in the half mile, 1 mile and 2 mile runs held at Como Park in St. Paul.

The festivities begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. at the Como Park Picnic Pavilion followed by the half mile run starting at 9:15.  The cross country fun run is hosted and organized by Twin Cities In Motion.  The Team USA Minnesota athletes will lead warm-ups, assist with the various runs, and sign autographs.  The seven include:

. Katie McGregor - six-time national champion (25k twice, 10k twice, 15k and 10,000 meters), six-time World Cross Country qualifier, three-time World Outdoor Track qualifier in the 10,000m, and three-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the 10,000.

. Emily Brown - national champion in the 2009 USA Cross Country 8k Championships, three-time World Cross Country qualifier and member of the 2010 bronze medal women's team, 2008 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 5000m and steeplechase.

. Antonio Vega - national champion in the 2010 USA Half Marathon Championships, third place at the 2010 USA 15k Championships, and 12th place in 2:13:47 at the 2010 Boston Marathon.

. Jason Lehmkuhle - fifth place finisher at the 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic Marathon Trials, sixth place at the 2009 USA Men's Marathon Championships, ninth place at the 2010 Boston Marathon in 2:12:24, World Cross Country qualifier, three-time World Half Marathon qualifier, and U.S. team for the World Outdoor Marathon.

. Matt Gabrielson - second at the 2008 USA Men's Marathon Championships held at Twin Cities, member of the U.S. marathon team at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships, three-time World Cross Country qualifier, eighth place finisher in the 5000m at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

. Michelle Frey - two-time top four finisher at the USA 25k Championships, qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials, third place at the 2007 USA Half Marathon Championships, fourth place at the 2006 USA Women's Marathon Championships at Twin Cities.

. Meghan Armstrong - member of the 2009 Chiba Ekiden U.S. team, first place finisher at the 2010 Miami Half Marathon, 13th at the 2010 USA Cross Country Championships, fifth at the 2009 USA 1 Mile Championships.

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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