Minneapolis/St. Paul – Sept. 17, 2019 – Team USA Minnesota has added two collegiate standouts to its team of distance runners – Annie Frisbiewho ran at Iowa State University in Ames, and Colin Abert who made his mark at The Pennsylvania State University in State College. The athletes competed respectively in Big 12 and Big Ten cross country, indoor and outdoor track as well as in NCAA Championship events.
“We’re very excited to add these two promising young athletes to the team,” said Chris Lundstrom, Team USA Minnesota coach. “Annie will focus on the 10,000m for 2020, but has the ability to run well from 5000m and up. She will also gain experience running some longer distances on the roads this fall and winter.
“Colin will focus on the 1500m but will also race above and below that distance. We believe he has excellent potential at the 5000m as well. Both will complement our current group with their unique strengths, and both bring an abundance of positive energy to the team.”
Frisbie is from River Falls, Wisconsin, where she won the Wisconsin D1 (large schools) State Cross Country individual title as a prep her senior year and was third at the D1 Wisconsin State Track meet in the 1600. She also took fourth at the Nike Heartland Cross Country Midwest Regional and was seventh at the Footlocker Midwest Regional.
At Iowa State, her best times were 9:23 in the 3000m, 15:53 in the 5000m, and 32:58 in the 10,000m along with a 6k cross country time of 20:15. The All-American for the Cyclones competed in the NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships as well as at the NCAA West Region Preliminary Rounds in the 10,000m. Frisbie majored in graphic design.
Abert competed for Easton High School in Pennsylvania where he finished second at the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) State Cross Country Championships and second in the 3200 at the State Track Championships his senior year.
The Nittany Lion mid-distance runner posted collegiate marks of 3:42 in the 1500m, 3:59 in the mile, and 8:05 in the 3000m. He was also a leader on Penn State’s cross country team and an NCAA Cross Country Championships qualifier. Abert majored in agribusiness management with a minor in entrepreneurship.
The two distance runners join a roster of 10 athletes who compete in the 1500 meters/mile up through the marathon - on the track, roads and in cross country. The focus for all 12 on the team – seven women and five men - are the upcoming 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials. The Marathon Trials will be held in Atlanta on Feb. 29 and the Track Trials will be held in Eugene June 19-28.
About Team USA Minnesota
Team USA Minnesota is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Founded in 2001, the purpose of the training group is to improve the competitiveness of post-collegiate American distance runners and to develop Olympians. The athletes are coached by Chris Lundstrom. Team USA Minnesota’s sponsors include Twin Cities Orthopedics, Twin Cities In Motion, and the Houston Marathon Foundation. for more information visit www.teamusaminnesota.org.
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Contact:
Pat Goodwin
952-454-8876
pfgoodwin@teamusaminnesota.org