USA Track & Field on Friday announced that the Twin Cities Marathon (TCM) has signed on as a charter member of the Team USA Distance Project. The TCM, which this weekend plays host to the USA Marathon Championships, has signed as a Silver Level member for the next five years.

As a Silver Level member, the Twin Cities Marathon will provide financial support for the Team USA Distance Project and Team USA training centers around the country.

"We are excited that Twin Cities has stepped up to get this very important ball rolling," said USA Track & Field President Bill Roe. "As more events around the country realize the importance of developing new American long distance running stars, we know that Twin Cities will be the first among many. This funding will help us broaden our development program reaching from the 5,000 meters to the marathon."

A partnership of the Long Distance Running Division of USA Track & Field and major U.S. events and running related corporations, the Team USA Distance Project is devoted to sustaining the long-term development of elite USA distance athletes, enabling them to compete successfully in domestic and international competitions and major championship events. Team USA Distance Center programs such as the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, Team Running USA California, the Big Sur Distance Project and Team USA Minnesota have made significant progress toward bolstering the strength of U.S. long distance running. The newly expanded program will ensure that they are supported through the next quadrennium.

With the new support of partners such as TCM, the Team USA Distance Project will provide yearly funding to the existing network of Team USA Distance Centers as well as support athlete and coaching summits leading to major international competitions. This partnership will maintain a collective commitment to developing athletes through the next Olympiad and beyond.

The current Team USA Distance Centers that will benefit from this support are Team USA Minnesota, The Hansons - Brooks Distance Project, The Big-Sur Distance Project, Team Running USA Californiaand ZAP Fitness. Additional centersmay be named at a later time.

Information on the Team USA Distance Project will be available at www.usatf.org.