Rue, Lundstrom Named USATF-Minnesota Athletes of the Month

Gopher pole vaulter Alicia Rue and Team USA Minnesota marathoner Chris Lundstrom were named USATF Minnesota Athletes of the Month for August.

Rue earned the award for winning the Pan American Junior Games pole vault last month as a member of the USA team. The University of Minnesota sophomore-to-be cleared a PR 13-9 1/4 for the victory. Rue finished second in the USA Junior meet in Indianapolis in June to earn the trip to São Paulo, Brazil for Pan Am Juniors.

Men’s honoree Chris Lundstrom was recognized for his 6th place finish in the Pan Am Games marathon. The Northfield High School grad clocked 2:18:05 over the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil course. Lundstrom, who is a member of Team USA Minnesota, is now pointing for the Olympic Marathon Trials to be held November 3 in New York City.

USA Track & Field Minnesota selects Athletes of the Month to honor excellence in track and field and its related sports in Minnesota.

USATF - Minnesota Athletes of the Month for July, which I just now see we forgot to note on DtB at the time, were USA Outdoor Champions Jim Dilling of Minnesota State Mankato and Shani Marks, the former Apple Valley and U of M star. Dilling was a surprise winner in the high jump; Marks defended her triple jump title.

(Disclosure: Pete Miller and I serve, along with Kevin Moorhead, on the USATF-Minnesota Athlete of the Month committee.)