Minnesotans Eying USA Half Marathon

It looks like there will again be a large and important Minnesota presence at the USA Half Marathon Championships hosted later this month by the organizers of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Six Minnesota men, including defending USA Half Marathon champion Antonio Vega are signed up for the event, according to USA Track and Field's "Status of Entries" web-page for the event, HERE.

Surprisingly, no elite Minnesota women are currently listed in the entry rolls.

Preparing to join Vega on the starting line are Team USA Minnesota teammates Jason Lehmkuhle, the runner-up at the 2008 USA Half Marathon, and Matt Gabrielson, Olympic Trials marathoner Donovan Fellows, former St. John's University All-American Chris Erichsen, and recent Bethel Univeristy alum and All-American Dan Greeno.

Other notables in the race include 2010 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon champ Sergio Reyes and former Team USA Minnesota athlete Patrick Smyth, who finished second to Vega last year.

Result of last year's USA Half Marathon can be found HERE. This year's race is scheduled for Saturday, January 29.

In 2012, Houston will host the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for men and women.