Minneapolis/St. Paul – Jan. 21, 2019 – All four Team USA Minnesota distance runners competing in Houston on Jan. 20 met their race goals for that day in either the Chevron Houston Marathon or the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. In addition, the athletes improved upon or obtained qualifying spots for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials which will be held in Atlanta on Feb. 29, 2020.
Leading the way, 2017 Roads Scholar Tyler Jermann finished ninth in the Chevron Houston Marathon with a time of 2:13:29, which was a personal best by over 3 minutes (previous best was 2:16:39). He was also the first American in the men's field. This was the third time he has raced the marathon in Houston. His new time gives him the 'A' qualifying standard of under 2:15 for the 2020 marathon trials.
In the women's race, 2015 Roads Scholar Katy Jermann finished ninth in her debut marathon and also obtained the 'A' qualifying standard for the trials which is under 2:37. Her time was 2:33:41 and she was the second American in the women's field.
Also making his debut in the marathon was 2014 RunPro Camp attendee Danny Docherty who finished in 2:18:27. He needed to get under 2:19 to obtain the 'B' standard qualifying time for the marathon trials.
Joining Docherty in getting the 'B' standard was 2017 RunPro Camp attendee Kevin Lewis who competed in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. He finished in a new personal best of 1:03:55 (previous was 1:05:02), which was under the 1:04 standard for men to qualify in the half marathon for the marathon trials.
Team USA Minnesota is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Founded in 2001, the purpose of the training group is to improve the competitiveness of post-collegiate American distance running and to develop Olympians. The athletes are coached by Chris Lundstrom. Team USA Minnesota's sponsors include Twin Cities Orthopedics, Twin Cities In Motion and the Houston Marathon Foundation. For more information, visit the team's web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.