Holy Angels Names New Cross Country Coach

Editor's Note: The following is an Academy of Holy Angels press release.

The has named Antonio Vega as its head coach for cross country running for 2012-13.

Vega comes to Holy Angels with impressive running credentials:

• He is a professional runner with Team USA Minnesota.
• At the University of Minnesota, he was an All-American in cross country and competed in three NCAA Cross Country Championships. He was a four-time All Midwest Region runner, and was the Midwest Regional cross country champion in 2005. In 2006, he was named the Midwest Runner of the Year.
• He finished eighth in the 2009 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon with a time of 2:15:45.
• He was named a national champion in the 2010 USA Half Marathon Championship with a time of 1:01:54.
• He finished this year’s Boston Marathon with a personal best time of 2:13:47.

Vega holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology exercise science from the University of Minnesota. He coached cross-country running as an assistant coach at Burnsville High School from 2007 to 2011. He coaches runners of all ages for Zoom Performance where he also serves as a motivational speaker, develops individual fitness plans, and presents monthly nutrition seminars.

“We are very excited to have Antonio as our new head coach.  He has a great record of personal achievement in the field of running, has a proven background of coaching runners of all ages and abilities, and is a great motivator who will fit in well with the values of AHA,” said AHA Activities Director Michael Kautzman.

Joining Vega are returning Assistant Coach Thomas Datwyler and new assistant coaches Emily Dapper from AHA’s Admissions Department and AHA science teacher Malia Lahr.