Round-Up: TCM, Ngetich, Award Winners

As the indoor season has heated up, we've noticed that the DtB news desk has some older items piling up. In an effort to catch up a bit, here are some various and sundry news bites we didn't want readers to miss ...

TCM News ... Twin Cities Marathon is keeping itself in the news in various ways. The Running USA Youth Committee and YouthRunner.com just announced that TCM's Medtronic TC Kids Marathon was named a finalist for the organization's Youth Program of the Year Award. The Medtronic TC Kids Marathon is a community-wide effort to inspire healthy lifestyles among children in grades K-6. Details on the program are available HERE.

Additionally, TCM announced that it distributed nearly $155,000 in charitable contributions in 2007. The organization also recently promoted Brain Mastel to Race Director.

Wesly Ngetich ... The Duluth News-Tribune recently picked up a story from the East African Standard which included additional information on the two-time Grandma's Marathon champion's death. Ngetich was apparently attempting to mediate a peace between rival communities when he was shot and killed by an arrow.

As violence continues in Kenya, St. Paul-based running journalist Jim Ferstle told DtB that his contacts in Kenya suggest the Kenya Red Cross Society is a good route to get aid to people in need in the country, for those so inclined.

Award Winners ... On a happier note, we wanted to make sure we noted some recent award-winning Minnesota athletes. Jordan Carlson of Rosemount High School and Laura Hughes of Mankato West were named the Minnesota Gatorade Cross Country Players of the Year. Carlson was the MSHSL boys' Class AA runner-up in 2007; Hughes was the girls' Class AA champion.

Minnesota native Scott Jurek was named Ultrarunner magazine's Runner of the Year for 2007. Jurek, a seven-time winner of the Western States 100, won the magazine's award for the fourth time in five years. His 2007 wins at the Hardrock 100 Mile and Spartathlon 246K were ranked as the #1 and #2 Performances of the Year for 2007 by Ultrarunner.