Carlson 4th at Great Ireland Run

Last week, after his PR 28:25 at the Stanford, 10,000 meters, Andrew Carlson joked about racing against former world record-holder Paul Tergat at the Great Ireland Run.

A web-site headline had billed the former Golden Gopher as a challenger to the Kenyan great at the race, and Carlson (pictured) thought that was kind of funny. (You can find the interview video HERE.)

Turns out the joke was on him.

As the leaders reached the homestretch of the 10K event yesterday, which drew some 10,000 runners to Dublin, there was Carlson, part of a four-man pack -- Tergat included -- kicking for the victory.

Portugal's Rui Pedro Silva won the race in 28:45. Tergat was second in 28:46; Carlson was 4th, a second behind Ireland's Martin Fagan, in 28:48.

There's a brief re-cap of the race and top results HERE.

Other Minnesotans on the Roads ... It was a busy Sunday for the state's elite long distance runners. At the Carlsbad 5000 in California, Team USA Minnesota's Katie McGregor finished 4th in the women's race with a 15:58 clocking for 5K. In men's competition, teammate Matt Gabrielson was 13th in 14:35.

Carlsbad results are HERE.

Competing at the Cherry Blossom 10M in Washington, DC, Team USA Minnesota's Jason Lehmkuhle was 15th overall -- but the #2 American -- in 48:04. Teammate Michelle Lilienthal was 21st in 57:25.

Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle did not compete in the race as planned, due a foot injury.

Cherry Blossom results are HERE.

Vega Officially 2nd ... The mystery surrounding Antonio Vega's finishing place at last week's ING Georgia Half Marathon has been resolved. The Team USA Minnesotan finished 2nd with his 1:06:00 performance.

Official results are posted HERE.

Photo courtesy of McMillan Elite.