32nd Grandma's Marathon

June 19, 2008 at 2:25AM

32ND GRANDMA'S MARATHON

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.

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