FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Lehmkuhle is 9th, Antonio Vega Places 12th in Personal Bests at
Boston Marathon on April 19
Minneapolis/St. Paul - April 19, 2010 - Team USA Minnesota's Jason
Lehmkuhle finished in ninth place and Antonio Vega was 12th at
the Boston Marathon today, with both running personal best times.
Lehmkuhle crossed the finish line in 2:12:24 (his previous best was
2:12:54) and Vega's time was 2:13:47 (previous was 2:15:45). The two were
also the third and fourth Americans in the race, respectively.
Also competing at Boston on a day with sunny skies, cool temperatures in
the 50s and a slight breeze, was Michelle Frey who finished 23rd in
the women's race with a time of 2:42:38.
The 114th Boston marked Lehmkuhle's second appearance at the storied event,
having first run the race from Hopkinton to Boston in 2007 when it was held
in freezing rain and steady 15-to-20 mph winds. During that race Lehmkuhle
cramped up in his legs, tried to drop out at the 24-mile mark and then did
a walk/jog to the finish line for a disappointing time of 2:38:05. Since
that time, he placed fifth at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in what
was his personal best of 2:12:54, and then 10th at last fall's ING New York
City Marathon.
"You couldn't have asked for much more in terms of the weather for today's
race," said Lehmkuhle. "My last experience in Boston was totally different
so this day was a pleasant departure from that experience. Overall, I am
really pleased with my race and how I managed my energy. I felt I was also
significantly better prepared than my last go around here in 2007 because
we made it a real priority to do a lot of training on hills that closely
simulate Boston.
"Antonio and I ran together in lock step through 22 or 23 miles. It
definitely helped to have him there. We also were running with a small
handful of guys which was good because it keeps you engaged, particularly
during the last 10k where it gets really difficult. This time I had no
cramps or injury issues out on the course. I won't tell you that I ran
springy the last couple of miles but I certainly felt like I was out there
competing the whole way through the line.
"The only thing I would do over again was to go out a little slower than we
did. I should know better having been here before but the downhills at the
start are deceptive. The hills make 4:50 pace feel like 5:10." The two
teammates went through the half marathon point in 1:04:54. Lehmkuhle
averaged 5:03 per mile in the race and Vega ended up with 5:06 per mile due
to a slowdown over the last 5k.
Lehmkuhle said he plans to take a couple of weeks off from running to let
himself fully recover. "Then Dennis (Barker) and I will map out a plan for
the rest of the year, which will definitely include a fall marathon," he
said.
Vega, who was running just his third marathon and first appearance at
Boston, posted almost 2 minutes better in the 26.2-mile distance than he
did at last fall's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.
"The race went out pretty fast in the beginning and we were just trying to
put the brakes on," said Vega. "Early on it was hard to hold back and I
was getting antsy to pick it up. I'm glad Jason was there with me because
his experience definitely helped me keep on pace. We worked off one
another. The downhills were a lot more difficult than I anticipated. By
10 miles in, my legs were hurting a bit already. I need to be able to hold
it together a little bit longer and get through that last 5k. I was
definitely pretty tired by the end.
"But I'm happy with my race because I got a PR out of it. The crowds were
just incredible with wall-to-wall people after the half way point. I
enjoyed myself out there and I'm looking forward to my next marathon. I
certainly plan to give the distance another shot in the fall."
About Team USA Minnesota
Team USA Minnesota is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Formed in 2001, the purpose of the training center is to improve the
competitiveness of post-collegiate American distance running and to develop
Olympians. The athletes are coached by Dennis Barker, head cross country
and track coach at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Team USA Minnesota's
major sponsor is Life Time Fitness (www.lifetimefitness.com) and its silver
sponsor is Twin Cities In Motion (www.mtcmarathon.org). It is also
supported by the New York Road Runners and the USA Distance Project along
with a grant from Running USA. For more information, visit the team's web
site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.
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