Twin Cities to Host 2011, 2012 USA 10 Miles

On the heels of yesterday's news that title sponsor Medtronic had renewed its partnership with Twin Cities In Motion for at least three more years (see our previous post for details), the organizers of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon broke some additional news today.

Twin Cities In Motion and USA Track and Field announced that the Medtronic TC 10 Mile will host the USA Men's and Women's 10 Mile Championships in 2011 and 2012.

The Medtronic TC 10 Mile has hosted USA 10 Mile Championships since 2007, alternating annually between the men's and women's championships. In 2011 and 2012, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile will host both genders concurrently.

”We have a rich history of hosting championships, dating all the way back to the days of The Athletic Congress,” Virginia Brophy Achman, Executive Director of Twin Cities In Motion,said in a media release. “Today, we support post collegiate athletes in many ways and want to provide additional opportunities for our professional athletes to compete and earn a living. It is an honor to host the USA Men’s and Women’s 10 Mile Championships.”

USA Track and Field officials are pleased to renew their relationship with the race as well.

“USA Track & Field is fortunate to have a partner in Twin Cities In Motion”, Jim Estes, USA Track & Field Associate Director of Long Distance Running and Marketing, said. “Their support of our championship events and our athlete development initiatives has been a vital component to professional long distance athletes and been a great compliment to our mission to develop athletes who can compete at the highest levels.”

Abdi Abdirahman has won both USA Men's 10 Mile Championships contested at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. Two year's ago, Duluth native Kara Goucher won the first USA Women's 10 Mile Championship hosted by the race.

Tomorrow morning, local favorite Katie McGregor, a five-time Medtronic TC 10 Mile champion, will attempt to win the 2010 USA 10 Mile Championship at the TC 10 Mile. She expects strong competition from three-time Olympian Jen Rhines, former Colorado University star Renee Metivier-Baillie, and Chaska native Stephanie Herbst-Lucke.