Monday, March 07, 2011

George Washington University Standout Megan Hogan Joins Team USA Minnesota

Minneapolis/St. Paul – March 7, 2011 – Two-time All American Megan Hogan, a collegiate standout at George Washington University who finished eighth at the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships, has joined Team USA Minnesota. Hogan’s credentials also include a best of 32:34.95 in the 10,000 meters and a sixth place finish in the event at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Hogan, a native of Ballston Spa, New York, was a high school basketball and soccer star at Saratoga Catholic. She took her basketball skills to Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass., where she played on the varsity squad her freshman and sophomore years. She began running during her sophomore year and transferred to George Washington University for her junior year to run cross country (the school does not have a women’s track team).

During her collegiate running career at George Washington, she was the two-time Atlantic 10 Cross Country champion (2009 and 2010) and a two-time qualifier at the NCAA Cross Country Championships including her eighth place performance last fall. In addition to her 10,000 meter best of 32:34.95, she has posted 16:09.54 in the 5000m.

Hogan received the 2010 Atlantic 10 women’s cross country Performer of the Year Award as well as the Atlantic 10 Student Athlete of the Year Award. She was also recognized as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of GW athletics.

“Megan has a very unique running background,” said Team USA Minnesota Coach Dennis Barker. “Brian Beil did a great job coaching her at George Washington so she has a good foundation to build on. She also has the personal qualities necessary to be a top runner. She has been running such a short time that her best running is definitely ahead of her.”

Hogan will make her professional road running debut at the USA 15k Championships in Jacksonville on March 12. She will then turn her focus to the outdoor track season where she will compete in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters.

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. For more information, visit the team’s web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.

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Contact:
Pat Goodwin
952-924-1081
pfgoodwin@teamusaminnesota.org

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