Marathon Connections

Most know about Kara Goucher's Minnesota roots, but few know that her training partner, Shalene Flanagan, has something of a tangential connection to the area. Her mother, then Cheryl Bridges, had a short stint working at Hamline University in the mid 1970s. Not long after setting a World Record of 2:49:40 in the marathon, Bridges began to climb the academic ladder, teaching at the University of New Mexico before Hamline.

In 1976 she became the women's athletic director at Oklahoma State University. Today, Cheryl Treworgy is a professional track and field photographer. Amby Burfoot interviewed Treworgy prior to today's Olympic marathon where Flanagan has the opportunity to follow up on her bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. You can read the interview HERE.

NBC's morning program on KARE-11 will cover the marathon. You'll have to get up early, as the race starts at 5 AM Minnesota time.