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Lead Stories: Sunday, September 7, 2008

Event News From Albany, Minneapolis, New York & Pittsburgh

Posted May 21st, 2008 at 12:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Road Racing

Here’s the latest news from several prominent road running events in the United States:

ALBANY, N.Y.: Five women are preparing to run in their 30th consecutive FREIHOFERS’S RUN FOR WOMEN on Saturday, May 31. Dubbed the “Fab Five” by race organizers, Linda Campbell, Denise Herman, Cynthia Kelly, Bernadette La Manna and Ellen Picotte have not missed a Freihofer’s Run for Women since its inception in 1979. “It’s an amazing accomplishment when you think about it,” said elite athlete coordinator John Tope. “These women have been able to race each year despite whatever life has thrown at them - the good and the bad. I’m sure they have some interesting experiences that could have derailed the streak.” More info at http://www.freihofersrun.com.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.: The MEDTRONIC TWIN CITIES MARATHON, set for Sunday, October 5, has reached its entry limit of 11,000 runners. Amazingly, the race filled in just one month despite the entry cap being raised by 500 runners to help meet demand. “Runners looking for a great fall race come to the Twin Cities for the terrific community support, the beautiful fall weather and for a top-quality marathon experience,” said executive director Virginia Brophy Achman. An additonal 150 entries are available for runners wishing to raise money for certain charities. More info at http://www.mtcmarathon.org/index.cfm?
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Medtronic TC 1 Mile Adds Big Prize Money Purse

Posted March 7th, 2008 at 12:15 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Milers have a new earnings opportunity for 2008 thanks to the generosity of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

The Medtronic TC 1 Mile, scheduled for May 8, along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, is offering a $25,000 prize money purse, making it the second richest road mile in the United States behind the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City. In addition, the race is offering a very tempting $10,000 bonus to the male and female winners should they achieve fast times.
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Video: Marathoner Recovering
After Near Death Collapse
at Twin Cities Marathon

Posted October 11th, 2007 at 8:44 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: News & Results, Marathons

A Medtronic Twin Cities marathoner is recovering in intensive care after collapsing and nearly dying during Sunday’s race in Minneapolis, MN.

In the following video, CBS4 Wisconsin’s Esme Murphy reports on the runner’s current condition, how she is thankfully and lucky to be alive, and more:

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Ukrainian Mykola Antonenko Dominates 26th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

Posted October 8th, 2007 at 8:10 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons

After leading the pack from the start, Mykola Antonenko increased the overall pack pace by mile two. Ed Eyestone called the race for the elite men in the lead vehicle ahead of the pack. According to Eyestone, Augustus Kavutu Mbusya put on the heat between miles 5 and 6, but Antonenko broke away at mile 7. By the half-marathon mark, race officials say he maintained at least a minute lead ahead of the rest of the pack, finishing with a time of 2:13:54.

Antonenko said he was happy with his race, but didn’t achieve his goal today. “Psychologically it’s hard to do your goal time by yourself. If I had a group of people pulling me, I could have reached my 2:11 goal,” he said.

“It was a gutsy, courageous effort on his part to go for it on day that was a bit warm,” said Eyestone. Joseph Mutinda finished second with a time of 2:20:12 and Mbusya was third with a time of 2:21:13.

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Past Champions Headline Twin Cities Marathon; Prize purse exceeds $300k

Posted September 19th, 2007 at 8:02 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Past Twin Cities Marathon champions Augustus Kavutu, Kim Pawelek, Irina Bogacheva, women’s course record holder Zina Semenova and two-time defending USA Masters champion Susan Loken are set to return to compete for more than $300,000 in prize money at the 26th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, October 7, 2007.
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Twin Cities Marathon increases partnership with Team USA Minnesota

Posted April 19th, 2007 at 10:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7 in Minneapolis, announced that they had expanded their partnership with Team USA Minnesota, an Olympic develop training group which is also based in Minneapolis.

Organizers of the event reported that it had increased its financial support for the training group, coached by Dennis Barker, who is also the head cross country and track coach at nearby Augsburg College. In return Team USA Minnesota athletes would increase their involvement in Medtronic TCM events, including the marathon, USA 10 Mile Championships, the TC 5-K and the Medtronic TC 1 Mile.

Members of Team USA Minnesota, which include Katie McGregor, Carrie Tollefson, Jason Lehmkuhle, Matt Gabrielson, Sara Wells and others, would also participate in the Target Pharmacy Health & Fitness Expo panel discussion during the TCM weekend, Oct. 5-7.

Specific terms of the increased financial support were not disclosed. Team USA Minnesota also receives financial support from Life Time Fitness, its principal sponsor, and and the New York Road Runners, through the USA Distance Project.
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Hussein, Runyan Win USA Marathon Championship at Twin Cities Marathon

Posted October 2nd, 2006 at 4:12 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Last year’s men’s champion, Mbarak Hussein, and two-time Olympian, Marla Runyan won, won the men’s and women’s field, respectively, this past weekend at the The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twin cities marathon was also the host of this year’s USA Marathon Championships, the sixth time that it has done so.

Hussein, with a time of 2:13:52, successful defended his overall and master’s titles. On the women’s side, Marla Runya won in a time of 2:32.15 - almost two minutes faster than the next best finisher. Both winners were awarded $39,000 in prize money.

Believe it or not, Runyan gave birth to a baby girl just 13 months ago! Read the rest of this entry »

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