Stueve leads FF marathoners
Published Monday, June 23, 2008
Daily Journal
DULUTH — Seven Fergus Falls runners competed in three divisions of the 32nd annual Grandma’s Marathon Saturday.
Danny Stueve set the best pace by a Fergus Falls runner in the full marathon with a 3:19.53. Stueve finished 356th overall in a field of 6,874 finishers.
Other Fergus Falls marathon finishers were Sara Kipp, who placed 2,126th with a time of 4:08.05; Daryl Kipp, who ran a 4:17.38 for 2,665th and Mark Becker, who finished 2,933rd with a 4:22.25.
Fergus Falls’ Megan Johnson and Carol Rengel competed in the Garry Bjorklund half marathon. Johnson placed 209th in the field of 5,407 finishers with a 1:30.46. Rengel was 4,016th with a 2:24.40.
Fergus Falls’ Niki Welde was 164th overall but fourth in her division with a 25.41 in the William Irwin 5K run.
Henning had five half-marathoners and two athletes who ran the full 26.2 mile course from Two Harbors to Duluth.
Henning’s top half marathon time was a 707th place time of 1:45.22 turned in by Merrin Polzine. The top Henning marathon time was Nick Ellenson’s 748th place time of 3:35.58.
Kenya’s Lamech Mokono made his Grandma’s Marathon debut a successful one today, claiming the men’s championship in the 32nd annual race. Mokono ran a personal best two hours, 13 minutes and 39 seconds, holding off a late surge from fellow Kenyan David Tuwei who finished just five seconds later in 2:13:44.
In the women’s division, Mary Akor, of Hawthorne, Calif., successfully defended her crown from a year ago. Akor, 31, cruised to victory in 2:38:50, nearly three minutes ahead of Kenya’s Margaret Toroitich.
A record number of 9,888 people registered for the 2008 Grandma’s Marathon and of those, 7,103 runners started the race and 6,759 finished.
The 32nd annual Grandma's Marathon had entrants from 44 countries, all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
In the 18th annual Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, Mathew Chesang, of Olathe, Kan., ran the second fastest time in event history, winning with a time of 1:04:48.
Liza Hunter-Galvan, a New Zealander residing in Helotes, Texas, claimed the women’s title in 1:13:29, also a personal half-marathon best.
A record number of 6,619 people registered for the 2008 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon with 5,485 runners starting the race and 5,409 finishing.
(Grandma’s Marathon Results)
Fergus Falls: Danny Stueve (356, 3:19.53), Sara Kipp (2,126, 4:08.05), Daryl Kipp (2,665, 4:17.38), Mark Becker (2.933, 4:22.25); Perham: Sam Huber (3.077, 4:25.35), Parker Carignan (3,078, 4:24.36)
Henning: Nick Ellenson (748, 3:35.58), Ben Geyer (2,772, 4:19.54); New York Mills: Jason Bjerketvedt (5,638, 5:18.18); Ashby: Blaine Hansel (5,956, 5:28.57)
(Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon)
Fergus Falls: Megan Johnson (209, 1:30.46), Carol Rengel (4.016), 2:24.40); Pelican Rapids: Paul Tabbut (5,278, 2:57.20); Elbow Lake: Dan Denardo (368, 1:37.25), Christine Van Kempen (2.560, 2:07.56), Perham: Dan Burchin (1,131, 1:52.15); Henning: Merrin Polzine (707, 1:45.22), Steve Misegades (1,212, 1:53.30), Mark Ellenson (1,851, 2:00.27), Jodi Misegades (1,982, 2:01.55), Mary Ellenson (5,092, 2:48.09)
(William Irvin 5k Run)
Fergus Falls: Niki Welde (164, 25.41)
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