Grandma's Champ Unsure of Return to Duluth

Are the running gods working against Grandma's Marathon this year?

First, the race failed to fill to its entrant limit for the first time in 15 years. Now, it's defending champion might not be able to return for the race, due to visa problems.

With less than two weeks until the starting gun fires for the 33rd Grandma's Marathon, Lamech Mokono of Kenya, who won last year's race in 2:13:39, is still waiting to receive a visa to enter the United States, according to THIS Kevin Pates story in the Duluth News-Tribune.

Mokono's agent told Pates he thought the chances were 50-50 that the 28-year-old would make the Grandma's starting line this year.

The second, third, and fourth-place finishers from last year's race, as well as 6th-placer Chris Raabe, the former Sauk Rapids high schooler, are set to return.

Two-time women's champ Mary Akor will also compete. She'll attempt to be the first women since Lorraine Moeller to win Grandma's three times in a row.