Happy victors, one death in Bjorklund half-marathon

DULUTH - Caroline Rotich came to Duluth looking to win the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon after coming up short in two previous tries. Stephen Muange came for the first time, only three months after moving from Kenya to train in New Mexico.

They both leave happy after their victories in Saturday's race. Muange finished the half-marathon in 1 hour, 4 minutes 24 seconds, just five seconds shy of the course record. Rotich won the women's division in 1:12:40, earning her first victory in the race after finishing third in 2009 and second in 2008.

Muange started behind the lead pack and moved up to join it about 6 miles into the race. He ran with that group of five through downtown Duluth, then strode to the front with about 100 meters to go. He finished three seconds ahead of Bado Worku of Ethiopia, with fellow Ethiopian Derese Deniboba Rashaw third in 1:04:55. The top American finisher was Stephen Haas of Johnson City, Tenn., who was fifth in 1:05:22.

A light headwind didn't bother Muange, 28. "The weather was nice, with no humidity," he said. "I liked the course. I ran very well."

Rotich, of Kenya, led the women's field throughout the 13.1-mile distance. Alemtsehay Misganaw of Ethiopia finished second in 1:14:46, with Wendi Ray of Sister Bay, Wis., third in 1:14:55.

"I pushed hard from the start," said Rotich, 26. "It makes me very happy to win, and it will help me train hard for my coming races."

Rotich is part of a group of Kenyan runners who have established a training base in Santa Fe. Muange lives in Farmington, 144 miles to the northwest. They said the high altitude and abundant trails make the area an ideal training ground. Both will take home a winner's purse of $2,500.

Dr. Ben Nelson, medical director for the marathon and half-marathon, said 230 people were treated at the finish line medical tent. That was a low number, Nelson said, and he credited the nearly ideal weather. Most were treated for dehydration, muscle cramps and fatigue.

All but 46 of the 5,900 runners who started the half-marathon completed the race. In the marathon, 5,786 runners started and 5,631 finished.

Best of Minnesota Minnesotans fared well in the women's division of Saturday's half-marathon, with five placing among the top 10. Jennifer Houck of Duluth was fourth in 1:15:48, followed by Michelle Frey of Minneapolis (fifth, 1:17:10), Jenna Boren of St. Paul (sixth, 1:18:14), Kim Magee of Bloomington (seventh, 1:19:20) and Susanna Emond of Minneapolis (eighth, 1:20:30).

The fastest Minnesotans in the marathon were Bret Fransen of Edgerton, 21st overall in 2:27:07, and Jenelle Deatherage of St. Louis Park, who placed 16th in the women's field in 2:49:25. The top Minnesota man in the half-marathon was Justin Grunewald of Merrifield, who finished eighth in 1:06:33.

Jason Sendzik of Elk River, who was profiled in Friday's Star Tribune, completed the marathon in 4:26:52. Sendzik was running his first marathon since losing 145 pounds.