Team USA Minnesota Trio to Start Euro Tour

We don't think they're going to print black tee-shirts with a list of the cities down the back, but Team USA Minnesota distance runners Matt Gabrielson, Andrew Carlson, and Jenelle Deatherage will be touring Europe for the rest of July.

The trio, which last competed at the USA Outdoor Championships in June, is looking to obtain qualifying marks for the 2008 Olympic Trials.

All of Gabrielson's and Carlson's meets will occur in Belgium. Gabrielson's first event is the Kortrijk Guldensporenmeeting on July 13 where he will run the 1500 meters. Both he and Carlson will travel to the Gent Feestenmeeting on July 15 where Gabrielson will compete in the 1500 and Carlson will race 3000 meters. The two will also be at the Brasschaat Internationale Meeting on July 21 and then conclude their series at the always-fast Heusden meet on July 28 running the 5000 meters at both events.

Deatherage will start her European campaign on July 15 at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield, England, where she will run the 3000 meters. She expects to compete in her specialty, the 1500 meters, at other meets still being scheduled. She has a best in the 1500 of 4:07.87.

"What I want to accomplish at these four meets in Belgium is pretty simple - PRs at 1500 and 5000," Gabrielson, who has a best in the 1500 of 3:42.01 and in the 5000 of 13:34.61, said in a Team USA Minnesota media release.

"I have two chances in each event to get a personal best so I'm just going to get after it. For 5000 especially, running under the Olympic Trials standard of 13:33 would be ideal. That would also get me the PR I'm looking for. The 1500s are just a nice set-up for the two 5k's. Everything has fallen into place for this trip. Now I just have to go and run fast, stay relaxed out there and just be as competitive as I can on the day."

Team USA sweeps the Minnesota Mile ... Right here at home, Team USA Minnesota athletes swept the top places in both women's and men's competition at the Grandma's Minnesota Mile in St. Paul on Thursday. Deatherage won the women's division of teammate Katie McGregor 4:46 to 4;49. In men's competition, Team USA Minnesota's Brad Lowery edged teammate Ryan Kleimenhagen 4:10 to 4:11.