Minneapolis/St. Paul – Feb. 5, 2019 – Team USA Minnesota’s Joel Reichow and Breanna Sieracki have been selected to the U.S. team that will compete at the NACAC Cross Country Championships which will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 16. The two obtained their spots by running in the USATF Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee on Feb. 2. The U.S. squads will have six men and six women in the senior 10k races at NACAC.
The two distance runners ran well-executed 10k races in Tallahassee. Reichow started out in 21st place in the men’s field and moved up to 14th at the finish line, while Sieracki was in 37th place in the women’s field at the 2 mile mark and worked her way up to 19th.
“Both Joel and Breanna ran smart, strong races, and were rewarded with breakthrough performances,” said Team USA Minnesota coach Chris Lundstrom. “Looking at the depth of both fields going in, we knew it was going to be very competitive. I’m proud of them and we’re excited that they have a chance to represent the U.S.”
NYRR Millrose Games – Feb. 9
Heather Kampf will compete in the NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory Track & Field Center in New York City on Feb. 9. She will run in the 3000 meter race which is scheduled to be contested at 4:36 p.m. (Eastern). Kampf has a best of 8:51.27 in the 3000m and most recently posted 8:56.87 in the distance on Jan. 26 at the Dr. Sander Invitational where she finished second.
The Millrose Games are the world’s longest running and most prestigious indoor track and field competition, with the 2019 meet marking its 112th year. The Games will be broadcast from 4:30-6 p.m. on NBC, from 4-6 p.m. on NBC Sports Gold (all times Eastern), and on the www.usatf.tv webcast.
USATF Minnesota Life Time Contribution Award
Team USA Minnesota founder Patricia Goodwin received USA Track & Field Minnesota’s Life Time Contribution Award at the organization’s annual awards banquet on Feb. 2. Goodwin founded the Team USA Minnesota elite distance running training group in 2001. Over the years, the group has developed an Olympian, 24 National Champions in events ranging from the 1500 meters to the marathon, and placed 30 athletes on U.S. World teams.
In addition to Team USA Minnesota, Goodwin was on the Twin Cities Marathon Board for 18 years and was its president in 1992-93; she was on the USATF Minnesota Board from 1995-98 as LDR chair; and wrote a weekly running column for the Minneapolis Star Tribune from 1996-99. In 2011, she was instrumental in developing the RunPro Camp for distance runners, which is now operated by RRCA (Road Runners Club of America), and to date has completed 44 marathons along with numerous other races.
“It’s such an honor to receive this award,” said Goodwin, who is a long-time public relations consultant and also taught at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. “It’s been a privilege to be able to run and to be involved in the Minnesota running community. I’m especially proud of Team USA Minnesota and being part of the resurgence and continued development of American distance running these past 18 years.”
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 running 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 the team’s web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.
*****************
Contact:
Pat Goodwin
952-454-8876
pfgoodwin@teamusaminnesota.org