FOUR U.S. OLYMPIANS HEADLINE MEDTRONIC TC 10 MILE
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission.

(25-Sep) -- Organizers of the Medtronic TC 10 Mile announced earlier today that four Olympians will compete on the roads from Minneapolis to St. Paul come Sunday, October 7, when the event hosts the USA 10 Mile National Championships. Kara Goucher, Abdi Abdirahman, Janet Bawcom, and Julie Culley, all of whom competed for the United States at the Olympic Games in London this past summer, will toe the line battling not only for their respective national titles, but also for a $10,000 "Equalizer Bonus" to the first person across the finish line.

“We’re elated that four athletes who represented the USA in London are coming to the Twin Cities to compete for USA titles with us,” said Virginia Brophy Achman, executive eirector of Twin Cities In Motion, in a statement. “They, Mo Trafeh and the rest of the field are going to produce an exciting race and some well-earned national titles.”

Goucher and Abdirahman, event record holders on both the women's and men's sides, return to the race, which is celebrating its 14th edition. Goucher, who grew up in Duluth, Minn., won the 2008 edition in a course record of 53:16, while Abdirahman earned the 2009 title by running 46:35. Most recently, the 34-year-old Goucher placed 11th in the Olympic Marathon, timing 2:26:07. Abdirahman, 35, looks to bounce back from a disappointing London experience, as the four-time Olympian was forced to drop out of the Olympic Marathon due to a knee injury.

Bawcom, the race's defending champion, returns after setting a personal best of 54:15 to win last year's race. In 2011, Bawcom defeated fellow Olympian Culley, who finished runner-up in a time of 54:28. Both, along with Abdirahman, are using the race to prepare for November's ING New York City Marathon.

Similar to last year, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile will again feature a $10,000 bonus to the first athlete across the finish line. The women's elite field will be given a seven-minute head-start. There is a total prize purse of $74,500: the top American male and female each will earn a $12,000 first place check.

PHOTO: Kara Goucher running the 2011 Dodge Latin Music Miami Beach Half-Marathon (photo courtesy of Competitor Group Inc.)

ENDS