Kids Rule Fieldhouse Run

Hundreds of Twin Cities-area kids will race around the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse track at the TC Kids Fieldhouse Fun Run, hosted by Twin Cities In Motion, on Saturday, February 2 starting at 9:00 AM.  The annual event is an opportunity for youngsters grade K-8 to compete on the same track where Big Ten champions, All-Americans, and Olympians train and race.

Last year, more than 600 kids competed in One Mile, Half Mile and Relay races at the event. Harry and Shelly, TCM’s tortoise and hare mascots, will also get in on the action.

What:              TC Kids Fieldhouse Fun Run

Who:               Hundreds of active kids grade K-8

Where:            University of Minnesota Fieldhouse, Minneapolis

                        1800 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis

When:             Saturday, February 2, 2013, starting at 9:00 AM.

Web:               https://www.tcmevents.org/events/tc_kids_fieldhouse_fun_run/

Yes/No: Any local runner in the top ten at USA Cross Country?

The city of Saint Louis, Missouri, will play host to the USA Cross Country Championships this weekend.  Many of the top runners in the United States will compete, including Dathan Ritzenhein, Matt Tegenkamp, Deena Kastor and Shalene Flanagan.  These runners, and many others, will attempt to finish in the top six for each gender to book a trip to Bydgoszcz, Poland for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Team USA-MN will be well-represented in this race, as will a few other Minnesotans and former Minnesotans.

As always, we will take the local view and try to predict how our favorite athletes will run this weekend...

Yes/No: Will there be any local athletes among the top ten finishers at the USA Cross Country Championships on Saturday? 

This question pertains only to the Open races (not the Junior or Masters events).  This is the list of local athletes participating:  Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Jamie Cheever, McKenzie Melander, Meghan Peyton, Stephanie Price, Elliott Heath, Hassan Mead and Jonathan Peterson.  (If you find that there are additional local athletes that are not on this list, please e-mail us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com.)

You can find more information on the races at these sites:  USATF, Big River Running, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Runnerspace.

Some of the top runners on the men's side include:  Dathan Ritzenhein, Matt Tegenkamp, Bobby Mack and Chris Derrick.  The women are led by Deena Kastor, Shalene Flanagan, Sara Hall, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, Kim Conley and Tara Erdmann

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 1:00 P.M. CDT, Saturday, February 2nd.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's questions was: Will Stephanie Price and Joe Moore both finish in the top ten in their respective races at the NACAC championship on Saturday?  The answer was yes.  Joe Moore finished seventh and Stephanie Price was tenth.  Eighteen players answered correctly and we are now down to three folks that have a perfect three points.  These are the perfect three:  Toby Hatlevig, Dimitri Drekonja and Pat Foley.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

News bits

Kara Goucher was the only Minnesota runner in the Running Times Rankings for 2012.  Goucher was seventh in the ranking for US women runners.  The full list is HERE.

The Gopher men's track team moved from eighth to seventh place in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA Division I poll.  Full listing is HERE.

MSU Moorhead men's team is ranked sixth and Minnesota State Mankato men are ninth in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA Division II poll.  The U-Mary women are ranked eighth.  Full listing is HERE.

The St. Thomas men's team is ranked fifth in the latest USATFCCA NCAA Division III poll.  St. Olaf's womens' team is ranked 19th.

Heather Kampf will run the women's mile, Garrett Heath the men's 3K, Will Leer the men's mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meet in Boston on Saturday.  Live results available HERE.

Registration Opens for Metronic TCM and Six Related Events on February 2

Registration for the 32^nd annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and six additional running events hosted by Twin Cities In Motion will open on Saturday, February 2 at 8:00 AM.  The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is scheduled for  Sunday, October 6 The field is limited to 12,200 participants and typically fills by June each year.

Twin Cities In Motion will also open registration for three other Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Weekend events: the Medtronic TC Family Events, TC 5K Run/Walk and TC 10K which take place on Saturday, October 5.

Registration also opens for the Medtronic TC 1 Mile, held on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis on May 9, the TC Kids Cross Country Fun Run, held May 18 at Como Park in St. Paul, and the Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon, held in Minneapolis on July 4.

Registration for all of the events will be conducted online through the Twin Cities In Motion website, tcmevents.org.  Entry fees for each event are listed there. Lottery registration for the Medtronic TC 10 Mile held October 6, will open on July 10.  The field for the Medtronic TC 10 Mile is limited to 9,800 runners.

MIAC Athletes of the Week

Carleton sophomore  Noah Laack-Veeder's(Madison, Wis./LaFollette) two wins at the Minnesota State Open last weekend earned him the MIAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Week.
 
Laack-Veeder  surged from behind to  win the 800 meters by .01 seconds. His winning time of 1:56.54 ranks first in the MIAC this season, and 16th nationally. He also ran a leg on the 4x400-meter relay team, helping them finish in  3:28.98,    the MIAC's second-best time in that  event.
 
Gustavus' Josh Owens (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park)  won the pole vault at Friday's St. Olaf Triangular. He currently leads the MIAC and ranks in the top 10 nationally, and is the MIAC Men's Indoor Field Athlete-of-the-Week.
 
Owens jumped 4.75 meters(15'7"), first in the MIAC by more than six inches. Owens is currently ranked seventh in the event  in NCAA Division III in the pole vault. Owens is the defending MIAC champion in the indoor track and field pole vault after clearing 4.90 meters (16' 75" ) at the 2012 MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.
 

Augsburg senior Ashley Carney (Lakeville, Minn./South) won the 60-meters  last weekend in 7.95 seconds at the Warren Bowlus Open.  Her time  leads the MIAC and ranks in the NCAA Division III Top 25. Carney was named the MIAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Week.
 
Her win came against a loaded field, which included 22nd-ranked runner Bailey Alston of UW-La  Crosse, and Jessica Smith, who was an All-American and the WIAC heptathlon champion a year ago. This is Carney's third MIAC Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Week award as she earned the honor twice in 2012.
 
Carleton's Amelia Campbell (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sturgeon Bay) did her first heptathlon ever at Friday's Minnesota State Open. The freshman finished fourth against mostly NCAA Division II competition. For her breakout performance, Campbell was named the MIAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Week.
 
Campbell 3,079 points ranks first in the MIAC this season, and third in NCAA Division III.  It is the also the fourth-best  ever for a Carleton woman. 

Minnesota State Open results are HERE

St. Olaf Triangular results are HERE.

Warren Bowlus Open results are HERE.

Reduced Fee Entry to Grandma's Goes Up on Friday

Runners registering for the 37th Grandma's Marathon have through Thursday to enter the race at a reduced rate of $90. On February. 1, the current entry fee increases to $95 for two months. (Complete fee structure below).

Visit www.GrandmasMarathon.com to register for the Two Harbors-to-Duluth race – currently the 13th largest marathon in the U.S. – which is set for Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 7:45 AM. The 26.2-mile race is limited to the first 10,000 participants.

2013 Grandma’s Marathon Entry Fee Structure

$90 - Thru January 31

$95 - February 1 to March 31

$110 - April 1 to May 31

More Weekend Meet Results

The Minnesota Morris Cougars opened their season at the Cobber Open at Concordia College Moorhead on Saturday  with wins and school records. Ken Broden won the 800m in a time of 1:58.87 and the 4x200m relay team of Zeke Miller, Terrance Chastan-Davis, Nathan Harder and Bailey Denzer tied for first finishing in a time of 1:37.93. 

Kat Nelson set the school record in the shot put and weight throw. She bested teammate Katia Vantries in the weight throw on her last throw after Vantries had set the school record moments before.  Nelson finished fourth in the shot put and sixth in the weight throw.

The women had six top five finishes as did the men. Jennifer LaRoque was the top finisher for the women, taking second place in the high jump with a height of 1.58m.

Top Five Finishes
Women1000m - 5 Halee Morris, So              3:27.43      
3000m - 4 Amanda Peters, So          11:53.01
4x400m - 5  (Anna Peterson, Teja Foy, Justine Wolf, Zoe Bergstrom)   4:34.15
Distance Medley - 3 M (Halee Morris, Kelsi Kolle, Laura Borkenhagen, Maddy Gehrig) 14:14.82
High Jump - 2 Jennifer LaRoque, So          5-2 1/4 (1.58m) 
Shot Put - 4 Kat Nelson, Sr                           39-6 (12.04m)

Men
60m - 5 Zeke Miller, Sr                       7.33
800m - 1 Ken Broden, So                  1:58.87
5 Chalmer Combellick, Fr                  2:03.27
Mile - 4 Chalmer Combellick, Fr       4:29.06
4x200m - 1  (Zeke Miller, Terrance Chastan-Davis, Nathan Harder, Bailey Denzer)   1:37.93
4x400m - 3  (Nathan Ferrey, Chalmer Combellick, Josh Lozancich, Ken Broden)      3:39.46

Concordia Moorhead senior Erik Olson broke a 30-year-old school record in the pole vault. Olson became the first Concordia athlete to clear 15 feet  and helped CC post eight top five finishes at the meet.

"It was amazing," said Concordia head coach Garrick Larson. "I've been through a lot of things this past year but Erik's vault was one of the most incredible."

Olson, whose previous best was a 14-5.25 at last year's MIAC Meet, broke the  vault record of 14' 11" set by Buz Dahl in 1983. Olson finished with the height of 15-0 and placed second in the event. He was one of three Cobbers who finished in the top five of the pole vault. Charlie Alvarez cleared 13' 6.25" and was fourth while Levi Bachmeier fifth with the same height.

Most of the top finishes for the Cobbers at the meet came in field events. Besides the three top 5 marks in the pole vault, Concordia had three top 5 finishes in the high jump. Sophomore Simon Erlandson posted one of his two top 3 finishes as he placed second with a mark of 6-02. That height ties his career collegiate best. Freshman Gabe Wright and sophomore Mark Goss had the same height but placed in a tie for fourth because of the number of misses at lower heights.

Erlandson also came away with the top track finish of the day for the Cobbers.  He ran a 7.29 in the 60-meter dash and came in fourth place. His time would have been the second fastest of any Cobber athlete in all of last season.

The only event win for the Concordia men came from senior Brad Johnson in the two-day heptathlon. Johnson finished with a total score of 4,316 and won by almost 500 points. His total was also 61 points better than his season-best score from the 2012 season at the MIAC Meet.

The Concordia women's middle distance and distance athletes recorded seven different top five finishes in the five races from the 800 meters through the 5K. Junior Hannah Knickerbocker, the team's top finisher at the MIAC cross country meet in the fall, won the 5000 meters in a time of 18:55.46. That mark is better than any CC athlete from all of last season. Knickerbocker was one of three Concordia runners to finish in the top 5 in the 5K. Kathryn Stalnaker was third at 19:30.57 and Nicole Woinarowicz was fourth in 19:31.37.

Suzanne McConn and Liz Hanson claimed fifth-place finishes in the two other distance events. McConn placed fifth in the 3000 meters in 12:21.03 and Hanson was fifth in the mile with a mark of 5:40.99.

The middle distance group was led by Callie Christianson and Morgan Christian. Christianson was third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:31.50 and Christian was third in the 1000 meters at 3:09.33. Christian's time is almost two seconds faster than her season best from 2012.

The Concordia field athletes had a wide range of results and were led by Chelsea Klemetson who placed third in the high jump and ninth in the long jump. Klemetson cleared 5' 02.25" in the high jump and tied for the top height but was placed third because of misses at lower heights. Kelemetson also made the finals in the long jump and had her best jump in the finals when she posted 15' 1.5".

The other top 3 finish for CC in the field events came from sophomore Cherae Reeves who was third in the shot put. Reeves had a heave of 41' 4.25" in the prelims and was one of only three athletes in the meet to surpass the 40-foot mark. Her distance in the opening meet is better than any of her marks during the 2012 season.

Senior All-American Kaari Jensen started her 2013 season by finishing second in the pentathlon on Friday. Jensen completed the five events with a total of 2,693 points. Teammate Samantha Risan was fourth with a total of 1,926 points.

The University of Mary men’s track and field team split itself between the Montana State University Open in Bozeman, MT, and the Cobber Open. In Moorhead the Marauder men captured the top three spots in the triple jump. Aaron Teigen (Jr., Rugby, ND) won the event, followed by Thomas Hartwell (Sr., Fife, WA) and Dustin Rueb (So., Beulah, ND). In the 600 Deland Weyrauch (Sr., Ray, ND) placed first, just ahead of teammate Jordan Davis (Sr., Bismarck, ND). Shaun Henderson (Jr., Huron, ND) posted two strong performances for U-Mary, placing second in both the mile and the 3,000.  

Jordan Washington (Jr., Katy, TX) highlighted the Marauders efforts at Montana State on Friday, winning the 400. In the 55 meter hurdles, Chase Dixon (Sr., Grass Valley, CA) posted his best time of the season at 7.82 to place second. He also placed eighth in the 200. Two other Marauders finished fourth in their events, Kendall Kautz (So., Bismarck, ND) in the high jump and Tim Simonich (Sr., Laurel, MT) in the pole vault.

For the U-Mary women Melissa Agnew set two school records, and Brittney McKinley captured four individual events.  Agnew, a senior and nine-time All-American opened the Montana meet by setting a new school mark in the mile. Her winning time of 4:44.59(altitude adjusted) leads the nation and is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA DIII championships. Agnew then came back to set another school record in the 800 meter run. She finished second in a provisional qualifying time of 2:12:49(altitude adjusted) and is ranked second nationally in the event.
 
Two other individuals and a relay team hit provisional qualifying standards at the Montana State Open. Freshman Danylle Kurywchak(Cameron Park, CA) won the triple jump with an effort of 38' 5". She ranks third in the Northern Sun Conference. Janet Johnson, a junior from Kingston, Jamaica, ran the 55 meter hurdles in 8.24 seconds (converts to 8.89 seconds in the 60) to place second. She owns the top time in the NSIC.
 
Also posting a provisional qualifying time was the 4x400 meter relay team of Crystal Hovland (So., Rugby, ND), Megan Jenkins (Sr., Kuna, ID), Kaitlyn Wurnig (So., Huntley, MT) and Josie Guptill (Fr., Quinn, SD). The four posted a time of 3:53.39 to rank first in the conference. Dakota Wolf (Sr., Dickinson, ND) earned a second place finish in the mile. Stephanie Fey (So., Groton, SD) claimed second in two different events, the weight throw and the shot put.
 
The Concordia Invitational was dominated by McKinley. The junior from Los Angeles, CA, won four events – twice reaching provisional qualifying marks - and placed in another. McKinley, who did not compete in track in high school, won the 60 meter dash in an NSIC-leading 7.85 seconds. She later won the 60 meter hurdles in a provisional time of 8.93 seconds. McKinley capped off her day with a win in the 200 meters (26.46). Earlier in the meet, McKinley won the triple jump in a provisional-qualifying effort of 37-9.25. She also placed fourth in the long jump.

Several other Marauders also had strong meets at Concordia. All-American Jennifer Agnew was a double winner. The senior from Onamia, MN, won both the mile and 3,000 meter runs. Melissa Walker won one event and placed second in two more. The All-American from Kingston, Jamaica, won the long jump and was the runner-up in both the 60 meter hurdles and the long jump. Kayla Schuh (Jr., Bismarck, ND) captured the 600. Freshman Claire Gapinski (Foley, MN) placed second in both the 200 and 400.
 
Full Men's Cobber results are HERE.  Women's HERE. Montana State Open results are HERE. 

Gopher Women Earn Spots in T&F News 2012 Rankings

The University of Minnesota placed several women in Track and Field News' 2012 compilation of US and world rankings. Barbora Spotáková won her second Olympic gold for the Czech Republic, and a handful of other former Gophers on the list competed at the US Olympic Trials. Two Gopher relays from last spring made the list.

Current and Former Gophers in the 2012 Track & Field News Rankings
800 meters: Heather Kampf - 17th US, Gabriele Anderson - 27th US
1500 meters: Gabriele Anderson - fourth US, 39th world
Steeplechase: Jamie Cheever - 13th US
Half-Marathon: Emily Brown - 12th US
Pole Vault: Samantha Sonnenberg - 12th US
Javelin: Barbora Spotáková - first in the world (and won her second Olympic gold medal)
Heptathlon: Liz Roehrig - 23rd US
4x100-meter relay: Todea-Kay Willis, Nyoka Giles, Chimerem Okoroji, Kylie Peterson - 34th US
4x1500-meter relay: Katie Moraczewski, Molly Kayfes, Ashlie Decker, Laura Docherty - sixth US

Weekend Meet Results

The Minnesota men’s track & field team won six individual events to claim its second team title of the year on Saturday at the Bill Bergan Invitational in Ames, IA. The Gophers tallied 123.25 points at the event, more than 50 points ahead of runner-up Wisconsin.

The Gophers’ day was highlighted by a 1-2-3 finish in the mile run with Nick Hutton claiming top honors with a time of 4:07.35. Bob Nicolls finished second at 4:09.74 while Travis Burkstrand followed closely in third at 4:10.47.

Minnesota’s 4x400 meter relay team of Jacob Capek, Kevin Bradley, Goaner Deng and Cameron Boy, which edged Kansas State for the team title with a time of 3:10.60. The Gophers also claimed top honors in the 3,000-meter run (John  Simons, 8:11.18) and the 60-meter dash (Sean King, 6.68).

In the field events, Minnesota finished 1-2-3 in the pole vault with Zach Siegmeier(5.05m) triumphing over  Jack Szmanda and Logan Markuson for the individual title. Oladipo Fagbemi won the triple jump(14.92 ). Sam Kettenhofen finished second in the long jump(7.3m) 

Instead Gopher Luke Johnson took individual honors in the shot put(16.66m) on Friday at the St. Thomas Showcase  St. Thomas's Cody Jerabek swept the 60 (7.02)and 200 meter(22.71) dashes to lead the Tommies in the non-team scored competition in Anderson Fieldhouse. Keaton Wendroth won the 3,000 in 8:50.99. UST also won the 4x400 relay in 3:28.59.

Other UST results: Doug Thoresen (1:23.38) and Doug Mueller (1:24.23) finished 1-2 in the 600 meters. In the 800, Dan Kremer (1:58.51), Fritz Alt (1:58.91) and Tyler Krpan (1:59.61) placed 1-2-3. In the 60 hurdles, Gavin Yseth (8.95) and Maxwell Dunne (8.99) placed 1-2. Hamline's Colin Rodgers won the men's mile in 4:33.27.

In the weight throw, Bryan Thell (54-6 3-4) and Aba Omot (53-6 1-2) finished 1-2. Thell also placed second in the shot put (46-6 3-4). Charlie Pechous was second in the long jump (20-10 1-2). Cole Boughner was second in the 200 (23.14). Thomas Foote took third in the pole vault (14-0 1-4).

Ten different University of Minnesota Duluth male athletes turned in top-three finishes at the  St. Thomas Showcase. Freshman Mark Emlaw in the long jump (1st place; 21'-.50") and in the 60-meter dash (2nd; 7.16), junior Nick Pedersen in the triple jump (1st; 42'-2.00"), senior Cole Toepfer in the 3,000-meter run (2nd; 8:52.77), senior Joe Deters in the triple jump (39'-11.50"), junior Jacob Nelson in both the 60-meter (3rd; 7.18) and 200-meter dashes (3rd; 23.45), junior Jason Coffin in the mile (2nd; 4:33.89), sophomore Phil D'Entremont in the 600-meter run (3rd; 1:25.46), sophomore Nick Moran in the weight throw (3rd; 50'-2.50"), senior Brandon Randall in the shot put (3rd; 43'-2.50") and senior Andy Heffele in the high jump (3rd; 6'-2.00").

The women's portion of the competition was an intrasquad meet for UST.  Full results are HERE.

The Golden Gopher women's track team sent a small contingent to the Minnesota State Open in Mankato on Friday and Saturday. Christina DeLakis led the team's efforts with her second-best shot put mark of the season. She won the event with a toss of 49-7 (15.11m). Melissa Flucke won the high jump and Nicole Murphey won the long jump. In Cami Gilson's debut in a Gopher uniform. she pole vaulted her way into Minnesota's all-time top-10 list, finishing second with a mark of 12-8 1/4 (3.87m), ninth-best in school history.

The Gopher weight throwers competed on Friday afternoon, with the jumpers, hurdlers and one 400-meter runner competing on Saturday. The rest of the team had a weekend off from competition after the Jack Johnson Classic.

"It was good to see Cami compete in the maroon and gold for the first time," director of track and field/cross country Matt Bingle said. "She had an impressive debut. It was also good to see Tina continue to perform well in the shot put. We have an important few weeks ahead of us, so we just need to keep improving and competing."

Host Minnesota State Mankato sophomore Nathan Hancock won the heptathlon with a personal best of 5,140 points. Senior Nicholas Nelson finished in third- in the 60 meters(6.96 prelim time/7.0 final)  Sophomore Anthony Gustafson won the 200 meters(22.52). Junior Devin Allbaugh triumphed at  1000 meters(2:33.85.)

In the mile run the Mavericks took the top two spots with junior Ryan Ness(4:22.55) and Garret Ekloff ( 4:22.92). Freshman Justin McMurtry was fifth in the  60m hurdles(8.92). In the triple jump junior David Pearcill (13.97m) won.  Junior Chris Reed took the shot put(16.23m) and Dan Novak placed second in the pole vault(4.98m). Junior Keyvan Rudd placed first in the high jump with a jump of 6-11.75m. He currently has the third highest mark in Division II track and field and is one of three athletes to automatically qualify NCAA DII Championships in the high jump.

Friday's results are HERE.  Saturday's results are HERE.

Moore Seventh to Help Men Win NACAC XC Senior Title; Price Tenth to Help Women Place Second

Twin Cities Track Club's Joe Moore finished seventh in 25:25 and helped the US men's team win the NACAC 8K XC title in Mandeville, Jamaica on Saturday.  TCTC's Stephanie Price was tenth in 22:23 to help the US women's team finish second in the 6K NACAC Championships. Men's results are HERE. Women's are HERE. Mike Scott's photo album of the championships is HERE.

Odds and Ends

Minnesota Daily coverage of the Jack Johnson meet is HERE.  Daily story on the men's throwers is HERE.

Proctor's Matt Welch selected as Gatorade  Minnesota Boys Cross Country Runner of the year. Maria Hauger of Shakopee was Minnesota Girls XC Runner of the Year. Stories are HERE and HERE.

Stephanie and Joe Visit Jamaica

Emancipation Park in downtown Kingston, Jamaica.

Most people think that if you are a professional runner who travels the world to competitions that it is a rather glamorous lifestyle, but the reality does not often live up to the image.  Take, for example, the trip Twin Cities Track Club members Stephanie Price and Joe Moore are currently undertaking as part of the US team that will compete in Saturday's NACAC Cross Country Championships in Mandeville, Jamaica.

"We were up by 4:15 AM(Wednesday morning) to catch our 6:25 flight to Miami, where we then connected to a flight into Kingston, Jamaica" writes Price from Kingston.  "We were both tired, crabby, and in need of some oatmeal and coffee.  Once we got over that hump, the day went smoothly."

Once in Jamaica they met up with the USATF staff and rest of the team.  Stayed the night in Jamaica before Thursday's bus trip for "the 90 minute to two hour trip to Mandeville, where our race will be held," writes Price.  After they landed in Kingston though there was the task of finding a place and a time to get in a run.  Emancipation Park was the "only place recommended for us by USATF staff,"  adds Price.  "With the way people drive around here and the lack of sidewalks, I can sort of see why.

"It was great to get the blood moving in the legs after traveling all day, and it was even better to finish a run drenched in sweat and feeling great.  The 85 degrees is much better than the -20 it was in Minneapolis when we left this morning."  As you can tell from the picture, Emancipation Park is more the size of Loring Park than Central Park, so Moore and Price ran 500 meter loops repeatedly to get in their 10-mile run.

After that it was time for a shower and dinner, Moore already expressing interest in Curry Goat with fixings, while Price was eager to taste the Bucca juice(coconut).  Life on the road for a professional athlete!

Pictures of  the US team's at the course are HERE. You just have to click through the photo album of shots by Mike Scott.  An aerial shot of the course is HERE.

Yes/No: Price and Moore in top ten at NACAC?

Twin Cities Track Club members Stephanie Price and Joe Moore are off to Jamaica to compete in the North American, Central American, Caribbean Cross Country Championship on Saturday.  The NACAC meet features a senior men's 8k, senior women's 6k and two junior races.  This is the second time Price and Moore will represent the United States in a cross country race this month; they previously competed in Edinburgh on January 5th.

The United States have swept the men's and women's senior team titles at the NACAC championship for the last four years.  That record will be put to the test this year as Canada is sending defending champ Cam Levins, as well as two-time NCAA cross country champ Simon Bairu.

With this week's question we'll focus on the individual events of our two local runners...

Yes/No: Will Stephanie Price and Joe Moore both finish in the top ten in their respective races at the NACAC championship on Saturday?

For a point of reference, Chris Rombough and Jamie Cheever ran in the 2012 version of the NACAC championships.  Rombough finished fourteenth and Cheever was fourth.

Team USA at NACAC consists of five senior men and five senior women.  The National rosters are HERE.

Stephanie Price has spent some time training in San Diego in preparation for this meet and the USA Cross Country Championships the week after.

Joe Moore has had a busy winter.  He ran USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in December, followed by the race in Edinburgh, then a job pacing an elite group at the Houston Marathon through 16 miles, and now the NACAC race.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 2:30 P.M. CDT, Saturday, January 26th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's questions was:  Will there be 300 or more finishers in the 5k and 10k races at Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run on Saturday?  The answer was yes.  The results page on the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run web site says that 306 runners participated last weekend.  There were 201 runners in the 5k and 104 in the 5k.  (I know 201 + 104 = 305...I am just reporting what is on the current FYGBR results page.) Twenty-three players answered correctly and we now have a six-way tie for first place with two points.  These are the perfect six:  Toby Hatlevig, Dimitri Drekonja, Bryan Tolcser, Lori Anne Schwiesow, Mitch VanBruggen and Pat Foley.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Emily Naslund in the NYT

Emily Naslund, who won MSHSL individual and team championships while running for Bloomington Jefferson, was featured in a photo on the splash page of the New York Times on Wednesday.  The picture has been replaced by another in the archived version of the article but another photo from the same batch is available HERE.

A 2008 feature on Running Minnesota is HERE.  A military bio is HERE.

Catch Up

Playing catch up a bit here with reports from past events.

What a difference a year makes.  In 2012 the Chevron Houston Marathon was the US Olympic trials, the weather was warm and dry, and the times were fast.  This year it was cold and rain, and the times were slow for those who were able to finish. Twin Cities Track Club's Mike Reneau went to Houston in hopes of improving the PR he set there at the trials by around two minutes, hoping for a time in the 2:12 range.

Teammate Joe Moore went with him to pace the 2:12 group through the first half of the race.  Things did not go well from the start.  By five miles the pace was not the 5:04 per mile as planned, but closer to 5:16/5:20 and Reneau was so cold that he could hardly pick up his fluid bottles and couldn't twist the cap to get the fluids.  His leg muscles were tightening up, especially along his IT band, and the race had become a survival test, rather than an attempt at a PR.

Team USA Minnesota's Andrew Carlson made it to the finish, six minutes off the PR he set in Houston the year before, but in seventh place.  "People don't appreciate what an effort that was," says Reneau.  They'll look at the slower time and think it wasn't much of an accomplishment, said Reneau, but people probably won't appreciate the difficulty of the effort, both mental and physical, he said.

Like Reneau, Carlson was hoping to knock about two minutes from the 2:11 PR he had set in Houston in 2012, but was able to recalibrate in the conditions and not only finish, but finish in the top ten of a highly competitive event.  That is even harder to do when you go into the event looking at a specific goal that becomes unattainable early, forcing you to change everything and cope with what you can handle on the day.

Reneau tried to do that, but his body would not let him.  His legs were tight and "locking up," Reneau said.  His body was so cold, the fine motor skills, such as opening containers, had ceased to function, and the decision was made at 14 miles to drop out, a first for Reneau.  But he still had to go two more miles to get to the aid station with a medical tent.  He waited there for an hour before transport arrived, and Reneau's temperature was down to 92 degrees, hypothermia territory, despite having blankets and fluids.

Despite the setback, Reneau is trying to regroup and try again in the Fidelity Investments Woodlands Marathon on March 2.  His body didn't recover as quickly as he anticipated, however, and he stepped on some broken glass and gashed his heel, but if no more setbacks get in his way,  Reneau is still planning on taking a second shot at 2:12.

Former Team USA Minnesota runner, Chris Lundstrom also had to drop out of his event--the US 100K Trail Championships that started in Bandera, Texas the day before the Houston Marathon.  Lundstrom writes about his experience HERE.

Joe Moore talks about his experience on the US team in Scotland for the BUPA Great Edinburgh Cross Country Challenge  HERE.

Honors

The first MIAC Indoor Track and Field Athlete-of-the-Week awards were presented this week. The men's track honor was claimed by Bethel's Zach Haskins, a senior, who set a new personal indoor best of 4:19:24 to win the mile at the St. Thomas Opener Meet. St. Thomas' sophomore Erika Tipp claimed the women's track honor winning both the 60(7.97) and 200-meter(26.76) dashes on her home track. Hamline senior Becky Culp won both the shot put and the weight throw(15.39m) at the Carleton Triangular- setting a new PR of 13.86 meters and a Carleton Fieldhouse record in the shot - to claim the second indoor field honor of her career.

University of Minnesota women's coach Gary Wilson will be given the President's Award at the Minnesota State HS Track and Field Coaches Association(MTFCA) annual clinic February 1.  The honor is for his contributions over the years to the sport of track & field and cross country in Minnesota, says Mark Alcorn, girls track coach at Holdingford HS and president of the MTFCA.

Concordia Moorhead's Levi Bachmeier Talks Vaulting

Levi Bachmeier, a junior pole vaulter from Concordia College Moorhead talks about vaulting. 
Who has been the most influential person in your athletic career?
My high school pole vault coach, Adam Christensen (West Fargo HS). The passion he possesses for the sport is contagious, his love for pole vaulting rubbed off on me. He is without a doubt one of the most encouraging individuals I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet.
 
If you could meet any athlete, who would it be and what one question would you ask them? 
I’d love to sit down with Surgei Bubka and ask him why he loves track and field, pole vaulting specifically.
 
What is your most embarrassing sports moment?
I’ve definitely had my fair share, but I’d say getting stuck in the pole vault pits and having to have someone help pull me out.
 
Do you have any pregame/pre-event rituals? If so, what are they?
I like to eat the same things and listen to the exact same play list, followed by the same warm up I’ve done since high school.
 
If you have been involved in community service projects, which project has been the most rewarding and why? 
I had the opportunity to help advise a group of high school students as they’ve attempted to raise as much food as possible for those in need. In the two years I’ve advised the group, the students have raised nearly a million meals. It’s been more rewarding than I can say.

Gophers Sweep Team Titles at Jack Johnson Invitational

The Golden Gopher women’s track team won six events, the men eleven to sweep the team titles at the Jack Johnson Invitational on Saturday at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse.  

Todea-Kay Willis won her second event of the weekend after winning the long jump on Friday. She ran a personal record time of 7.50 seconds in the 60-meter dash, the fifth fastest time ever by a Gopher woman.  Kylie Peterson was second in 7.59.

Alena Brooks won the 600 meters in 1:31.49. Bria Halama won the triple jump with a PR of 39-3 1/4 (11.97m). The Gophers’ “A” 4x400m relay, which included Brooks, finished first in 3:47.48.

The women milers had a solid showing with Laura Docherty(4:53.08), Becca Dyson(4:53.93), Molly Kayfes (4:54.49) and Maggie Bollig(4:57.97) claiming the top four spots. Christina DeLakis won the shot put with a season-best toss of 49-9 3/4 (15.18m). Devin Stanford (58-5 1/4) and Jeri-Johnson Chambers (57-7 3/4) set new PRs in finishing second and third in weight throw.

“I was really pleased about this weekend,” director of track and field/cross country Matt Bingle said. “Everyone competed well, and there were PRs across the board. But we can’t be satisfied. Everyone has plenty of things to fix going forward. We need to keep having a good attitude and working hard.”

 Minnesota's women scored 203 points. North Dakota State (135) and Western Michigan (128) finished second and third. Minnesota men’s team finished with 236.50 points. South Dakota(105) and North Dakota State(84.5) were second and third.

Gophers John Simons and Bobby Nicolls went one-two in the mile. Simons ran 4:08.74 while Nicolls ran  4:09.26. Other Gopher winners in running events were:  400-meter dash (Jacob Capek, 48.49), the 600-meter dash (Goaner Deng, 1:19.90), the 800-meter dash (Nick Hutton, 1:51.00) and the 60-meter dash (Sean King, 6.75).

In the field events as Mark Jennings and Emmanuel Onyia finished first and second, respectively, in the shot put. Jennings bested threw 17.64 meters while Onyia 's best toss was  17.52 meters. The Gophers also earned individual titles in the high jump (Danny Schiller, 2.06 meters), the triple jump (Olapido Fagbemi, 14.83 meters) and the weight throw (Jon Lehman, 20.26 meters). In the  heptathlon, Kenny Schofield placed second in the event with a score of 4,930, narrowly trailing  Laquone Robinson of Minnesota State-Moorhead who scored  4,961.

Second day women's results are HERE. Men's results are HERE. 

Team USA Minnesota's Jamie Cheever talks to Flotrack about her PR in the 3K and upcoming US Cross Country Championships HERE, and a video of the men's 3K won by Jon Peterson a few seconds shy of the meet record is HERE.  Peterson post-race interview is HERE.

Catching Up on Ultras

On November 15-18, 2012 in Grapevine, Texas they had an ultra extravaganza called the Ultra Centric Experience.  Ultra races from six to 72 hours were held.  Several Minnesotans were involved.  Full results are HERE.

Highest finish was a second place by Hopkins' Scott Koepp in the Six Hour run.  The 46-year-old Keopp completed 36 miles, six miles behind the winner, 31-year-old Brent Robinson of Texas. 50-year-old Joan Radde from Apple Valley was the second female finisher in the 12 Hour competition and was seventh overall, completing 52 miles.

73 year-old "Fast Eddie" Rousseau finished fifth in the 72 Hour run, completing 188.2 miles. Rousseau has set an American record at races in the Ultra Centric Experience in past years, and says that his result in the 72 hour run this year was the fastest in the world during 2012 for runners 70+.

Jack Johnson Invitational Day One

Todea-Kay Willis leaped a season-best 19-6 1/4 (5.95m) to win the long jump for the second week in a row to highlight the womens' Golden Gophers’ opening day of the Jack Johnson Classic Friday afternoon at the Minnesota Fieldhouse. Willis’ winning jump came on her first attempt in the final round. Chidera Obasih finished third. Stephanie Solfelt, second in the 5,000 meters (18:03), was the Gophers’ other top-three finisher on Friday

.

Director of track and field/cross country Matt Bingle noted improvement by the pole vault group. Katie Murgic improved her mark from last week to 11-11 3/4 (3.65m) and finished fourth. Sara Tseng and Stephanie Oleson competed for the first time this season. Amanda and Alex Beckman made their debuts in the pentathlon, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively. Alex and Amanda posted a one-two finish in the shot put portion of the pentathlon.

“Overall, it was a good day,” Bingle said. “I’m excited to compete tomorrow and hopefully have a good day in front of our home crowd.”

The Gophers lead the meet with 56 points. Western Michigan (43) and South Dakota (42) round out the top three teams after the first day of action.

Women's day one results are HERE.

Minnesota men's track & field team picked up two individual event titles on Friday.The Gophers currently sit in first place with a team score of 36, ahead of Augustana with 13 and South Dakota with 12.

Minnesota's Sam Kettenhofen leaped 7.24 meters in winning the men's long jump, while Cameron Boy won the 200-meter dash in 21.69. 

Men's day one results are HERE.

Heather Kampf Wins KPMG Front Street Mile

Team USA Minnesota's Heather Kampf started off 2013 with a win in the KPMG Front Street Mile in Bermuda.  Kampf ran 4:49, nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up Sarah Brown of the US who was timed in 4:50.79.    Full results of all the mile races are HERE. Photos from the races are HERE  The Royal Gazette story on "birthday girl Heather" is HERE.

2003 Gopher Men's Big Ten Outdoor Champs Honored at Jack Johnson Invitational

Minnesota will honor its 2003 Big Ten Men's Outdoor Championship team on Saturday during the Jack Johnson Invitational and celebrate the 10th anniversary of Minnesota's fifth outdoor title.  

The two-day event kicks off on Friday at 3 PM  with day two set to begin at 10 AM. on Saturday. 

The Gophers paced last year's Jack Johnson Invitational -- finishing first overall with 202 team points. Harun Abda andDavid Pachuta set UM Fieldhouse records in the 600m (1:16.38) and the 800m (1:49.90. respectively. Abda and Pachuta earned two-of-seven individual event titles at the event. 

 The Gophers set a Big Ten record for points at an outdoor championship in 2003 with the Gophers scoring in 20-of-21 events in the three-day competition held at the university's Bierman Track. Event champions included Mitch Potter (400m; 4x400m Relay), Mikael Jakobsson (4x400m Relay), Adam Steele (4x400m Relay), Andy Wohlin (4x400m Relay), and Karl Erickson (Discus). 

Meet results are HERE.

TCM Announces Charity Fund Raising Totals

Twin Cities In Motion (TCM), together with its Community Partners and Charity Program teams, raised a grand total of $759,462 for charity in 2012, exceeding its 2011 fundraising total by nearly a quarter of a million dollars.  The funds were raised via race entry fundraisers, individual donations and contributions to the Friends of TCM program which supports youth fitness.

The majority of money raised came through the efforts of teams participating in TCM’s Charity Program. Twenty charity teams used the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon for their fundraising efforts, using race entries and pledges to gather more than $586,000 for their respective causes.

TCM’s Youth Fitness Partners raised money through late entry fundraisers, donations given during registration as well as with fundraising teams. Bolder Options, Girls on the Run, MIGIZI Communications and the YWCA of Minneapolis work together with TCM to promote health and fitness not only through their youth programs, but also through their reach into areas of the Twin Cities most in need of resources.  Athlete Development Partner Team USA Minnesota also raised funds to develop post-collegiate long distance runners through TCM.

In addition to monetary donations, goods were donated to TCM’s In-Kind Community Partners.  TCM donated over 36,000 pounds of food to the Emergency Foodshelf Network.  Over 3,600 pounds of clothing was donated or recycled through WearEver Recycling, while $15,000 worth of new shirts were shipped overseas through Hand In Hand Together.

Yes/No: Will 300 runners brave the cold in International Falls?

The extreme cold will return this weekend, just in time for the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run in International Falls.  It is the thirty-third year of FYGBR, held during the four-day winter festival known as "Icebox Days."

In 2012, there were over 300 runners that braved the cold (2012 temperatures ranged from 11 to 13 degrees for the races) to run the 5k and 10k races.  It appears that the temperatures will be a bit lower this year.  We know the hardy  runners in Northern Minnesota will still turn out...but the question is how many?

Yes/No: Will there be 300 or more finishers in the 5k and 10k races at Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run on Saturday?

For this contest, each finisher in the 5k and 10k will be counted, even if it is the same person.  Some runners run both the 5k and 10k and he/she would be counted as two finishers in this contest.

Weather.com is predicting a high temp of 10 degrees in International Falls on Saturday.  The low is set at negative 21 with winds of 22 miles-per-hour.

Here are the 2012 FYGBR results for 10k and 5k.

A 2006 Running Times article about the race - HERE.

Online Race Results has results from the years 2007 - 2010 - HERE.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 9:30 A.M. CDT, Saturday, January 19th.  Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.  We will offer a bonus for participants making their 2013 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My Answer:  Yes

Last week's questions was:  Will Michael Reneau run faster than 2:15:00 at the Chevron Houston Marathon on Sunday?  The answer was no.  The weather did not cooperate - it was cold, windy and raining and Reneau ended up dropping out.  Thirteen players answered correctly and we now have a thirteen-way tie for first place with one point.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Just in Time for Sub Zero Temps, Heather Kampf Heads to Bermuda; Peterson Second in San Fran

Since next week's weather forecast promises a dip to below zero temperatures, former Gopher Heather Kampf might be thinking of rescheduling her flight back to the Twin Cities from Bermuda.  She's not on the island for a  holiday, but rather to run in the KPMG Invitational Front Street Mile on Friday.  You can read about the race HERE.

In other Team USA Minnesota news, Jon Peterson ran in the Bay Area Cross Country Challenge in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco last Sunday.  He finished second in 23:38, two seconds behind winner Yosef Ghebray.  FloTrack post-race interview is HERE.

Gary Wilson Awarded Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award

Minnesota head women’s track & field and cross country coach Gary Wilson was presented with the Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award at U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's annual convention in Orlando, FL last month.

The USTFCCCA’s Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their service to the Association and to the sports of Cross Country and Track and Field.

As an advocate of the track & field and cross country community, Wilson served as an officer for the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association – a predecessor to the USTFCCCA Division I Cross Country Executive Committee – for six years, including as president from 1993 to 1995. In that capacity he spearheaded the movement to expand the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. He has also served on the USTFCCCA Board of Directors.

Wilson will retire in the summer of 2013 following 28 years of coaching the Golden Gophers, and 45 years of coaching overall. He has served as a track & field assistant coach specializing in distance running for the Gophers during the past eight seasons. He is a member of the Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame and the USA Track and Field Minnesota Hall of Fame.

PAST WINNERS
2008 – John Copeland, Rhode Island
2008 – Bill Thornton, St. Olaf College (retired)
2009 – Doug Watts, Edinboro University
2010 – Jim Sackett, Cal Poly Pomona
2011 – Dave Harris, Emporia State

Gopher's Jon Lehman Co-Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week

The Big Ten Conference announced that Gopher weight thrower Jon Lehman's NCAA-best 20.74m throw at the Northwest Open last weekend earned the junior a share of the Big Ten Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award.

The honor marks the first career award for Lehman, who just missed a personal best (20.79m) with Saturday's throw, and the first Gopher to earn the honor since Micah Hegerle on February. 20, 2012. 

Lehman's throw ranks as the fifth-best in the Gopher indoor track & field record boo, and he shares this week's honor with Nebraska's James White (high jump) while Casimir Loxsom of Penn State earned the Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete of the Week (800-meter run) Award.

The Gophers host the Jack Johnson Invitational on Jan. 18-19 with the Snowshoe Open following on Feb. 15.

Unique Race Series for Endurance "Multitaskers"

The Upper Midwest Endurance Challenge(UMEC) – a new running and skiing race series –will test their mettle in the region’s premier marathons as well as in the country’s largest cross country ski race. The UMEC will offer participants in this year’s Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the 2014 American Birkebeiner, which races from Cable to Hayward, WI, the chance to compete against one another in an event series that spans the seasons.

Registration for the series opens online today.  For the $30 UMEC entry fee, (plus registration fees for the individual events) runners and skiers can compete for the honor of earning a Brooks® UMEC finishers’ jacket as well as open and age-group awards and prizes.  All UMEC participants will receive a free pair of running socks from FITSOK®.

Additionally, one UMEC participant chosen at random will earn free entries into the 2014 Grandma's Marathon or Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, the 2014 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon or Medtronic TC 10 Mile, and the 2015 American Birkebeiner or Kortelopet.

The Upper Midwest Endurance Challenge is a partnership between event organizers Grandma’s Marathon, Inc., Twin Cities In Motion, and the American Birkebeiner.  This year’s Grandma’s Marathon takes place on June 22.  The 2013 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is set for October 6, while the 2014 American Birkebeiner is scheduled for February 22.

“The Upper Midwest Endurance Challenge is a natural partnership among three great endurance events in the region,” Grandma’s Marathon Executive Director Scott Keenan said.  “We share a common purpose and similar histories, so it was only natural to team up for the Upper Midwest Endurance Challenge.”

All three UMEC events have deep roots and long histories in the region.  The American Birkebeiner was first contested in 1973.  Grandma’s Marathon was established in 1977, followed shortly thereafter by the Twin Cities Marathon in 1982. 

“We wanted to offer an opportunity for marathon runners and long-distance skiers to differentiate themselves and highlight their achievements,” American Birkebeiner Executive Director Ned Zuelsdorff said.  “It’s a special breed that runs 26.2 miles and skis 50-kilometers or more, so we’re glad to recognize them.”

Series organizers also hope the Challenge resonates with athletes with more modest aspirations.

“Endurance exercise is great for living a healthy lifestyle,” Twin Cities In Motion Executive Director Virginia Brophy Achman said.  “We think the Upper Midwest Endurance Challenge will highlight some of the most popular ways people in our region stay fit.  No matter the season, there’s a way to stay active and stay healthy.”

Details on the race series can be found at www.runrunski.org.