Posted: October 19, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Minnesota Olympic Hopefuls Receive MEADP Grants

State's top marathoners to compete in U.S. Olympic Trials on November 3 DULUTH, Minn. - (October 15, 2007) - Several Minnesota marathon runners will be heading to New York City next month with a goal of earning a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. To acknowledge their accomplishment and to help offset expenses, the Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program (MEADP) has awarded $300 to each of the athletes. Donovan Fellows (Woodbury), Matt Gabrielson (Minneapolis), Pete Gilman (Rochester), Jason Lehmkuhle (Minneapolis), Chris Lundstrom (Minneapolis) and Zachary Schendel (Minneapolis) have all qualified to compete in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials scheduled for Saturday, November 3. These six Minnesotans will be among the field of the nation's best male marathoners taking to the streets of New York City and Central Park with the hopes of representing the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Games. The top three finishers will make the U.S. Olympic team. MEADP will also make contributions to Minnesotans who qualify for other 2008 Olympic Trials long-distance events ranging from 5K to the marathon, including the 2008 U.S. Olympic Women's Marathon Trials which will be held next April in Boston. In 1998, the Minnesota distance running community created MEADP to provide financial assistance to elite Minnesota distance runners who have completed their academic running careers. The program provides grants to assist qualified runners in reaching their full athletic potential. The program is funded through contributions from Austin-Jarrow Sports, Grandma's Marathon-Duluth, Inc., Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA) and Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. In addition, MEADP is now accepting applications for 2008 grants. MEADP will provide grants in amounts up to $2000 per recipient to promising male and female Minnesota elite distance runners. Applications and more information can be obtained at GrandmasMarathon.com or call Neil Franz at (320) 253-7130. 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