Jason Lehmkuhle is 9th, Antonio Vega Places 12th in Personal Bests at Boston Marathon
Team USA Minnesota Press Release
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."
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