Fargo Marathon draws many local runners

Loeffler and Rovang both shine

Published Sunday, May 18, 2008

FARGO, N.D. — Former Fergus Falls runner Eric Loeffler placed fourth in the Fargo Marathon Saturday under a beautiful spring sky.

Loeffler, who ran for the Maroon and Gold during his prep days, posted a 2:35.08.

Loeffler was the first Fargo runner to cover the 26.2 mile course through the streets of Fargo and Moorhead. Grand Forks’ Eric Sondag won the race with a course record 2:30.34.

Joel Rovang, a former Dalton resident, was the first Moorhead runner across the line in a time of 2:54.40. Rovang was 15th overall.Joel Rovang, a former Dalton resident, was the first Moorhead runner across the line in a time of 2:54.40.

Fergus Falls’ Steve Otto placed 266th to lead 12 Fergus marathoners across the finish line. Otto ran a time of 3:44.32.

Andrea McGehee of Lee’s Summit, Mo. won the women’s marathon with a 3:08.41. Alexandria’s Sarah Bitzan was fourth with a 3:17.44. Frazee’s Traci Humann was 20th with a 3:35.31.

Other Fergus marathoners were Robin Andrews (561st, 4:09.41, Jim Andrews (639th, 4:15.17), Mark Kitzman (643rd, 3:04.39), Wes Borowski (713th, 4:20.21), Benton Bakke (887th, 3:22.36), Wade Swenson (896th, 4:36.07), Janet Schneeberger (921st, 4:38.11), Sara Kipp (922nd, 4:38.11), Beth Moir (983rd, 4:43.41), Mark Becker (1,061st, 4:49.50) and Mark Becker (1,331st, 5:41.50)..

Six Olivers from Pelican Rapids ran the marathon paced by Andy Oliver who ran 289th with a time of 3:49.15). Finishing behind him were Grace Oliver (826th, 4:29.55), Joy Oliver (826th (4:29.55), Joy Oliver (291st, 4:43.58), Robert Oliver (1,022, 4:46.32), Katy Oliver (1,303rd, 5:32.41) and Susy Oliver (1,313rd, 5:34.37).

Dalton’s John Hansel placed 884th in the marathon with a time of 4:35.10.

A field of 29 Fergus Falls runners competed in the half marathon and 21 Fergus runners competed in the 5K.

Danny Stueve led the Fergus half marathoners with a 29th place finish of 1:25.20. Jared Ronningen was 39th with a 1:26.57. Rounding out the Top Five half marathoners from Fergus was Mike Breen (101st, 1:33.24), Joe Wood (244th, 1:41.18) and Dean Pawlowski (360th, 1:45.39). The top Fergus female finisher in the half marathon was Elisabeth Bauge (565th, 1:50.28).

John Peter led Pelican Rapids’ 10 half marathoners with a time of 1:26.26. Pelican’s top female half marathoner was Kelcey Lass who placed 2.807th time a 2:28.19.

Brent Hanson led Perham’s nine half marathoners with time of 1:42.43 for 279th place. Deanna Kovash was Perham’s top female half marathoner with a 1.276th place time of 2:02.06.

Kimberlee Olsen of Fergus Falls took 12th in a field of 5.148 in the women’s 5K with a time of 22:38. Olson was 108th overall. Derek Kramer was the top male 5K finisher from Fergus Falls with a 30th place time of 25:58.

The Fargo Marathon had 9,997 runners register for either the marathon, the half marathon or the 5K races. There were also 285 relay teams.