TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

USA Half-Marathon Titles
Up for Grabs in Houston

Posted January 13th, 2008 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

With deep fields but no clear favorites, Sunday’s USA Half-Marathon Championships hosted by the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon look to be wide open races. Most athletes are only in the base phase of their training cycles, either recovering from, or in the early stages of preparing for, important marathons. Expectations amongst the top entrants are modest, despite the $12,000 winner’s purse.

“I was in the same boat last year at this time,” said defending women’s champion Elva Dryer in a telephone interview last night from Houston. Prior to last year’s championship, Dryer was just restarting her training after running the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October.

This year, she’s had even less recovery time after placing sixth at the ING New York City Marathon last November. However, Houston offers her a good chance to see where her training stands for April’s USA Olympic Team Trials - Women’s Marathon in Boston. A two-time Olympian at 10,000m, Dryer has an excellent shot of qualifying for her first Olympic marathon.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Twin Cities Marathon increases partnership with Team USA Minnesota

Posted April 19th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7 in Minneapolis, announced that they had expanded their partnership with Team USA Minnesota, an Olympic develop training group which is also based in Minneapolis.

Organizers of the event reported that it had increased its financial support for the training group, coached by Dennis Barker, who is also the head cross country and track coach at nearby Augsburg College. In return Team USA Minnesota athletes would increase their involvement in Medtronic TCM events, including the marathon, USA 10 Mile Championships, the TC 5-K and the Medtronic TC 1 Mile.

Members of Team USA Minnesota, which include Katie McGregor, Carrie Tollefson, Jason Lehmkuhle, Matt Gabrielson, Sara Wells and others, would also participate in the Target Pharmacy Health & Fitness Expo panel discussion during the TCM weekend, Oct. 5-7.

Specific terms of the increased financial support were not disclosed. Team USA Minnesota also receives financial support from Life Time Fitness, its principal sponsor, and and the New York Road Runners, through the USA Distance Project.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink