A Mid-Week News and Info Round-Up

Lot's to report this Wednesday morning, so let's get right to it ...

Minnesota Mile Opens ... Registration for the Minnesota Mile, held in Duluth and hosted by Grandma's Marathon, is now open. The Sunday, September 13 race offers 250 randomly selected finishers guaranteed entry into next year's Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as a perk of participation.

Find complete details HERE.

Jeremy Polson Profiled ... 2009 Runner of the Year leader in the men's open division, Jeremy Polson, was profiled, HERE, by Kevin Pates of the Duluth News-Tribune. Last weekend, Polson finished third to Mike Renaeu and Eric Hartmark at the MDRA Minnesota 15K.

MDRA has a photo gallery from that race HERE.

Van Norman Leaves Tulane ... Heather Van Norman, the Minnesota high school sprint sensation who single-handedly won a MSHSL Class A team title for Windom in 1987, has left the head track and cross country coaching position at Tulane University in New Orleans to become an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune has the story HERE.

An archived Minnesota Running & Track feature story about Van Norman, who guided the Tulane program through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is HERE.

Torchia Crosses State for Orphans ... There's video, HERE, and a blog, HERE, describing University of Minnesota runner Mike Torchia's transverse of the state by kayak, roller-skis, bike, and foot to raise money for a Peruvian orphanage.

Diane Goulett Passes ... Former masters running star Diane Goulett, who won Minnesota Runner of the Year honors in the women's 65-69 age-group in 1999, died last week.

The Star-Tribune has an obituary, HERE, that spotlights Goulett's running career.