RNF Women Pull Away; Men Tied Up Again

The Run N Fun women's team opened a six point lead over rivals GEAR Running Store after USATF- Minnesota posted the official update of its Team Circuit standings this weekend.

The RNF squad of Erin Ward, Melissa Burkart, Bonnie Sons, Jessica Young, and Heidi Keller-Miler edged the TC Running Company team 1:29:56 to 1:30:20 to win the women's open division at Brain Kraft Memorial 5K. GEAR was third in 1:33:38.

The win gives RNF 42 points at the half-way point of the eight-race team series. GEAR has tallied 36 points. The Prairie Striders are third with 24. The six-point lead RNF has opened is significant as the next two races in the series -- Grandma's Marathon and the Rice Street Mile -- offer fewer total points than the USATF- Minnesota Championship events that have so far made up the circuit. RNF is likely to enter the final two championship events of the circuit -- MDRA Minnesota 15K and the City of Lakes 25 km -- with a lead.

Despite its impressive showing at Kraft, TC Running Company is a distant fifth in the season-long scoring, with 11 points, but powered by Desiree Budd and Jenna Boren, the squad seems likely to be a force in the future.

The men's open division of the Team Circuit has returned to what seems to be its natural state -- a tie between leaders GEAR and RNF. Run N Fun tied the standings back up with its win at Kraft. Minnesota Runner-of-the-Year standings' leader Jeremy Polson led the squad with his 14:43 victory in the race. Eric Loeffler, Ben Kampf, Kelly Mortenson, and Ed Whetham scored for the team that edged GEAR 1:15:41 to 1:16:24.

RNF and GEAR are tied at the top of circuit with 74 points. The rejuvenated Lundgren Ford squad is third with 60 points.

Standings for all division of the Team Circuit can be found HERE.