Posted: May 29, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Carrie Tollefson to Hold First Youth Running Camp in St. Paul, June 28 - July 1

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL - (May 23, 2007) - Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 Olympian and member of Team USA Minnesota since 2001, will hold her first "Carrie Tollefson Training Camp" this summer. Designed for boys and girls in grades 7-12 who run distances from the 800 meters up through cross country, the performance-driven camp will be held at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul from June 28 to July 1. The camp is filling up fast with some 100 runners expected to attend. With a theme of "Get After It," the camp will focus on running, training, stretching, nutrition, life skills, weight training, goal setting and other activities. Speakers and camp leaders will include Team USA Minnesota coach Dennis Barker, who is also the head cross country and track coach at Augsburg College, and Team USA Minnesota teammates Katie McGregor (a four-time national champion), Jenelle Deatherage, Matt Gabrielson, Jason Lehmkuhle, Ryan Kleimenhagen, Brad Lowery, Chris Lundstrom and Andrew Carlson. In addition to Tollefson, the camp will feature 2004 Olympian Tim Broe, who has a personal best of 13:12.76 in the 5000 meters and is a nine-time national champion (roads, track and cross country). Broe is a native of Peoria, Ill., and is a former high school classmate of Deatherage's. "It has always been a dream of mine to get a camp going here in Minnesota where it all began for me," said Tollefson. "The support that this state has given me over the years has been incredible. I want to give back to the next generation and show them that they too can believe in their dreams. With the all-star staff that we have, it will be easy for the campers to ask anyone of us how to run, lift, eat, stretch, visualize or simply 'Get After It'. I hope kids will realize this would be a great motivator to get their training going to start preparing for their cross country season." A native of Dawson, Minn., Tollefson won 13 state high school championships, including five consecutive individual cross country state championships, which is still a national record. The Villanova grad also won five NCAA individual titles and a team cross country crown. Since turning pro, she has been a three-time national champion - in the 1500 meters, 3000 meters and 4K cross country - and an Olympian at the 1500 meters competing in Athens. On July 1, the last day of camp, the parents and coaches of the athletes are invited to join in for an afternoon ice cream social, meet the staff and hear Tollefson speak. Adidas will be providing the campers with gear. For more information about the camp, go to CarrieTollefson.com. The deadline for registration is June 14. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest