Twin Cities Marathon More Than Half Full

The field for the 2009 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is more than half filled after eleven days of on-line registration, race officials announced yesterday.

Registration for the October 4 event opened on Friday, April 17 and so far more than 5500 runners have registered for a spot in the race's 11,000 runner field.

"Continued interest in the marathon distance is exciting to see," Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said in a media release. "In its 28th year, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon continues to draw participants from around the world. Not only do they say they come back for the great shared experience, but also because the enthusiastic community support in the Twin Cities."

Entries do appear to be coming in more slowly than in recent years. Last year, entries for the race hit the half-full benchmark after only four days of registration, as opposed to the eleven it has taken in 2009. Last year, TCM filled in 31 days.

TCM officials noted that entrants to the race hale from 49 states and eleven countries.

TCM Awards Scholarships ... Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. awarded $5000 scholarships to two Twin Cities area high school seniors. Weiming (Vivian) Hou of Eastview High School and Samuel Seehof of Minnetonka High School are the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. $5,000 College Scholarship winners. Hou and Seehof were chosen from a field of more than 85 candidates, based on running accomplishments, academic performance, community service, and a personal essay.

Hou is a four-year letter recipient on Eastview’s cross country team, and captain of the 2008 team that qualified for the MSHSL State Meet. She has been on the varsity cross country team for three seasons, and participated in track for two years. Hou is a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Honors and is ranked first academically in her class of 556 students. Hou has not yet decided on a university, but plans to study biology and neuroscience.

Seehof is a three-year varsity letter recipient in cross country and two-year recipient in track, in addition to carrying a 4.412 GPA in the International Baccalaureate program at Minnetonka High. He is editor of the school newspaper, an Executive Cabinet Member of the Student Government, co-captain of the Math Team and a member of the National Honor Society -- all while holding down two jobs throughout his high school career. Seehof will be attending Dartmouth College after he graduates from high school.