Minnesotans Sparkle in July 4th Races

Minnesota's top distances runners celebrated Independence Day with road racing successes across the region and nation.

Apple Valley native Mckenzie Melander won the Fifth Season 8K in Cedar Rapids, Iowa running 27:10.  The recently graduated University of Iowa star outlasted Team USA Minnesota's Emily Brown, who ran 27:18.  Michelle Frey was fifth among women in 27:53.

In men's competition, Hassan Mead, apparently feeling few ill effects from his Olympic Trails efforts at 5000 and 10,000-meters, was the runner up in 23:14.  Alena Rita, the controversial 2007 Get in Gear champion, won in 23:04.

Team USA Minnesota's Matt Gabrielson was 9th in 24:40.  Teammate Josh Moen was 14th in 25:02.

Find complete results HERE.

Elsewhere ... Katie McGregor finished 12th at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, running 34:25 in one of the country's most recognized 10K events.

Complete Peachtree results are HERE.

Closer to home, Olympic Trials 1500m finalist Will Leer returned to the western suburbs to run in the Firecracker Run in Excelsior, where he found himself in a neck-and-neck battle with Team USA Minnesota's Jon Grey.

Leer topped Grey in the results, although both were timed at 14:43 for 5K.

Firecracker results are HERE.