32nd Grandma's Marathon
June 19, 2008 at 2:25AM
When: Saturday, from Two Harbors to Duluth. Marathon begins at 7:30 a.m. The Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon begins at 6:30 a.m.
Participants: Grandma's Marathon has a record 9,888 entries, making it the 12th-largest marathon in the U.S.. The half-marathon has 6,619 entries and Friday night's William Irvin 5K has 1,341.
Last year's champions: Wesly Ngetich, who won last year in 2:15:55 and also was the 2005 champion, was struck in the chest and killed by a poisoned arrow in January in Kenya during a dispute between ethnic groups. Last year's female champion was Mary Akor of Hawthorne, Calif., in 2:35:40.
Prize money: $100,000. Winners get $10,000, with time bonuses of up to $10,000.
Men's favorites: Bib No. 1 will not be issued in Ngetich's memory. 2. Feyisa Tusse, Ethiopia, best time 2:11:39; 3. Benson Cheruiyot, Kenya, 2:14:03; 4. James Karanja, Kenya, 2:13:53; 5. Stephen Muturi, Kenya, 2:19:46; 6. Lamech Mokono, Kenya, 2:15:29; 7. Allen Wagner, San Diego, 2:18:25; 8. Jynocel Basweti, Kenya, 2:14:02.
Women's favorites: Bib F1. Akor, 2:33:50; F2. Margaret Toroitich, Kenya, 2:31:23; F3. Anna Kibor, Kenya, 2:29:23.
Marathon course records: Dick Beardsley, 2:09:37 (1981); Fira Sultanova, 2:27:05 (women, 2003).
Did you know? Three men -- Joe Johnson of Menominee, Mich; John Naslund of Bloomington; and Jim Nowak of Reedsburg, Wis. -- have completed all 31 Grandma's Marathon and are entered again Saturday.
about the writer
Ikola passed away Monday evening, according to Edina High School officials. In 33 years, he led the program to eight state championships and 19 state tournament appearances.
