Goucher to Prep for Worlds in Chicago

Kara Goucher will compete in the inaugural Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon next month as part of her preparation for the IAAF World Championships Marathon in Berlin 21 days later.

Race officials announced today, HERE, that the Duluth native, who last month won a the USA Outdoor 5000m title, will compete in their August 2 event.

Goucher (pictured) is undefeated in two half marathon races. She has a PR of 1:06:57 from her 2007 victory over Paula Radcliffe at Britain's Great North Run.

Also ... Team USA Minnesota runners Emily Brown and Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle are making road racing plans. Brown will make her half marathon debut on August 16 in the NYC Half Marathon.

Brown will face a loaded field that will include Deena Kastor, Catherine Ndereba, and Lornah Kiplagat, according to THIS Running USA Wire report.

Nicolini Lehmkuhle, it was noted in THIS recent Team USA Minnesota media release, will make here marathon debut this fall. Her husband Jason Lehmkuhle is also planning a fall marathon.

Photo by Becky Miller.