Weather Won't Stop Elite-Meet, Officials Say

"The meet is a go!"

That was Hamline Elite-Meet director Lynden Reder's response this morning to the question on the minds of athletes, coaches, and spectators for the tonight's Elite-Meet, where 40 degree temperatures, wind, and rain-turning-to-snow is predicted.

"We really wish, along with everyone coming to the meet, that the weather were going to be better, but what else could we expect with how this spring has been around the state," Reder added.

It doesn't appear event organizers ever seriously consider postponing or cancelling the event.

"With our college schedule, and the meet schedule for high schools in mind, this is really the best night to host the meet," Reder said. "We continue to cross our fingers that the weather blows through, but if not, it will be a true test of our best Minnesota track athletes!"

Reder does expect the pole vault and high jump events to be moved indoors due to the weather.

"Other than that," he said, "things will mainly stay the same. Our schedule is pretty close, but we will roll ahead if things are pretty nasty. Again, we are hopeful but prepared."

Reder, the Hamline men's coach, invoked Steve Prefontaine to describe a proper philosophy for the challenging conditions:

"Prefontaine said, 'We run to see who has the most guts' right? He didn't say, 'We run to get a tan.'"

"These races will be every bit as fun to see - although its fair to say that the times and distances might not be what we could expect on a perfect night," Reder added. "There are great events up and down the line, so it will be good to see who handles the elements and rises to the top."

Action begins at Hamline Klas Stadium at 5:30 p.m.

If you won't be braving the weather yourself, join Down the Backstretch on tonight beginning at 5:15 p.m. for our live coverage of the Hamline Elite-Meet. We'll feature live-text coverage of the events and same-night video of action on the track.

#10 Gophers Aim for Relay Trifecta Repeat

The #10-ranked University of Minnesota women's track squad returns to the blue Drake Relays track today for what they hope will be more relay glory at "America's Athletic Classic." The Gophers, who jumped from #22 in the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll, hope to duplicate the relay trifecta they accomplished last year when they won the 4 x 800 meter, 4 x 1600m, and distance medley relays.

This year's 4 x 800 meter relay will feature Jamie Cheever, Gabriele Anderson, Julie Schwengler, and Heather Dorniden, the same foursome that posted a Drake Relays record time of 8:27.42. The Gophers will shoot for their third straight title in the 4 x 1600 meter relay, where Cheever, Anderson and Dorniden will be joined by rookie Nikki Swenson. Cheever and Anderson were members of the 2007 relay that set a new Drake Relays record at 19:07.75. The DMR lineup is expected to be Challis Larson, Jamie Dittmar, Julie Schwengler, and Nikki Swenson.

The Gopher men hope to share in some Drake glory as well. Their 4 x 1600m relay today will feature will feature cross country all-Americans Chris Rombough and Hassan Mead and include seniors Eddie Kibira and David VanOrsdel.

Live results from Drake can be found HERE.

Elite-Meet: Hot Events for a Cold Night

This post was updated at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, noting an important late scratch and correcting an error ...

The weather forecast for the third running of the Hamline Elite-Meet on Friday looks windy, cold, and rainy. (See for yourself, HERE.) The action on the track and in the field, however, looks to be good and hot in Minnesota's annual attempt to gather the best athletes and relays teams from high schools of all sizes into a single event.

Seven previous Elite-Meet champions return for additional glory. Three Four reigning MSHSL Class AA State champions are scheduled to compete, including Minnesota's best girl triple jumper ever, Wayzata's Jordan Helgren. The meet will also feature some scintillating match-ups and delicious meet-record-breaking possibilities, if the weather allows.

You can find boys startlists HERE.

Girls startlists are HERE

Here are some of the events we're particularly eager for ...

Girls Triple Jump ... 40 degrees and rainy isn't exactly ideal triple jumping weather, but we're eager to see what Wayzata's Helgren can do in her return to the site of her state-title-winning, Minnesota all-time best triple jump performance of 38-10 1/4. Helgren has jumped 37-7 already this year and is no doubt eying the Elite-Meet record of 36-07 1/2 held by Alise Post of St. Cloud Tech.

Boys 1600m ... 2005 Class AA 3200m and 2007 Class AA cross country champ Rob Finnerty of Burnsville will battle Irondale's Andy Richardson in the metric mile. The pair went 2-3 in the Class AA 1600m last June, Finnerty edging Richardson 4:10.39 to 4:10.78. Finnerty, with a PR of 4:08.84, is the 4th-fastest 1600m man in Minnesota prep history. Richardson is the defending Elite-Meet titlist in the event.

Girls 100 meters ... Call it the battle of the Elite Meet champions. In 2006 Caitlin Dhein of St. Cloud Tech won the Elite-Meet 100m. Last year, Julia Rozman of Edina won the event in a record-setting 12.38. Both seniors now, the two will battle to join the short list of two-time winners of the meet.

Boys 800 meters ... Two of the best half-milers in the history of Minnesota prep track and field will square off as Class AA champ Zach Mellon of Buffalo meets last year's State Meet runner-up Andy Richardson. Richardson, the 5th fastest Minnesota prep of all-time after his blazing prelim run of 1:51.60 at State, will battle Mellon after running the 1600m. Mellon, the reigning Elite-Meet 800m champ has the 8th fastest Minnesota high school 800m of all-time at 1:51.87.

Update: DtB has learned that Andy Richardson is a late scratch from the 800 meters. He will still contest the 1600m. Also, we failed to note Derek Jerde's presence in the meet.

Boys High Jump … In first two editions of the Elite-Meet, the high jump has been won at 6-7. Junior Derek Jerde of Chaska jumped 6-8 to win the Class AA title in the event last spring. He’ll jump in his first Elite-Meet on Friday with the hopes establishing a new record for the meet.

And more ... Other athletes and events we'll be keeping a close eye on include: Micah Hegerle of Kasson-Mantorville in the boys' discus. He enters the meet with a mark of 186-4. One of his top challengers will be Brian Leonhardt of Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony, the #1 seed at 57-7 in the boys shot put. The defending Elite-Meet champs in the girls throws return. LaiShema Hampton of St Louis Park will attempt to defend her shot title. Jessica Cagle of Grand Rapids, the meet record-holder in the discus, will attempt the same.

There will be a new Elite-Meet champion in the boys' triple jump -- two-time winner Tommy McNamara has graduated from Mounds Views. St. Louis Park's Austin Delaney enters the meet with an impressive 46-7 mark. Junior Zach Mellon of Buffalo, the defending Elite-Meet and Class AA 800m champ will aim for his own meet record of 1:55.26.

Join Down the Backstretch on Friday night beginning at 5:15 p.m. for our live coverage of the Hamline Elite-Meet.

Fitger's and Earth Day Photo Galleries

Two new photo galleries from Saturday's road action have been added to the USATF Minnesota site. Craig Yotter provided a sizeable set of photos from the Earth Day Half Marathon in St. Cloud, while Gregg Robertson submitted shots from Fitger's 5K in Duluth.

Preliminary Team Circuit results from the Earth Day Half are also available.

Elite-Meet: Final Startlists Announced

Organizers of the Hamline Elite-Meet have released final startlists for the third annual event.

You can find girls' entrants HERE.

You can find boys' entrants HERE.

Remember, join Down the Backstretch on Friday night beginning at 5:15 p.m. for our live coverage of the Hamline Elite-Meet.

Tollefson Out of Drake Relays

Carrie Tollefson has withdrawn from the Drake Relays 1500 meters, Team USA Minnesota has announced. The come-backing 2004 Olympian is fighting a lingering bronchial infection, according to a media release.

Tollefson, who missed most of the 2007 season with an abdominal injury, has had a bumpy 2008 season so far. The thirteen time MSHSL champion finished 14th at the Central Park Challenge 8K in New York City last month. In February, Tollefson finished 6th in the Tyson Invitational.

Three Team USA Minnesota athletes will compete at Drake: Emily Brown will contest the 3000-meter steeplechase, while Matt Gabrielson and Brad Lowery will compete in the special invitational mile -- which features American record-holder Alan Webb.

Carlson in Oregon ... Team USA Minnesota's Andrew Carlson will run the 5000 meters at the Oregon Relays in Eugene on Friday evening. The Oregon Relays will be held at historic Hayward Field, the site of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials this summer.

The meet marks the beginning of Carlson's outdoor track season. The reigning USA 15K champ withdrew from the Sun Angel Track Classic in Tempe April 12 due to illness. Carlson has a best in the distance of 13:32.71

Roehrig, Studt Named Athletes of Week

The best multi-event athlete in Minnesota Golden Gopher history and an emerging U of M shot put star are the current Big Ten Athletes of the Week.

Liz Roehrig, who set new school records in the heptathlon and high jump last week at the Kansas Relays, and Aaron Studt, who threw a PR 62-7 1/2 in the shot put at the Tommie Twilight meet earned the awards, the school has announced.

Roehrig accumulated 5740 points in the heptathlon, bettering her own Gopher record of 5621 and falling just 10 points shy of an automatic Olympic Trials A Standard. The mark currently ranks the junior second in the NCAA. A three-time All-American, Roehrig set the school high jump record during the heptathlon. Roehrig cleared 6-0, improving the Minnesota record she has held since her freshman season. She is one of only five jumpers in the NCAA to clear the 6-0 mark this season.

Studt's 62-7 1/2 was a personal best by over three feet. The effort is also the third-best throw in school history and the Big Ten’s top mark this season. The sophomore got a second victory last weekend as well, throwing the shot 60-10 1/2 at the Carleton Relays.

Also ... The Gopher media department recently published two feature stories on U of M tracksters. There's a piece, HERE, on the Gophers' Polish triple jumper Anna Arciszewska. There's also another story, HERE, on Gopher captain Pete Miller.

Elite-Meet: Reder Explains Idea, Allure

The Hamline Elite-Meet -- one of the highlights of the Minnesota track and field season -- takes place this Friday night. As we did last year, Down the Backstretch will cover the meet live, putting the top-results on your computer screen immediately and posting video of selected running events during the course of the meet.

To put everyone in the Elite-Meet mood, DtB talked to Elite Meet director Lynden Reder (pictured), the head men's track and field coach at Hamline, to learn about the origins of the event and what to look forward to Friday night.

DtB: How did the idea for the Elite-Meet come about?

Reder: That would be a great question for Adam Steele! Adam and I were captains together at Minnesota a million years ago, and when I was brought on full-time at Hamline, I was working towards bringing Adam on as our sprints coach. I can't remember the details of the conversation, but while talking track, like we constantly do, the idea came up to host a meet like this. The funny thing is, we were talking about the U of M hosting it, since at the point Adam was still helping out over there.

As Adam and I were talking about him working with me at Hamline, the idea shifted hosting it at Hamline. We had just been awarded the MSHSL State Championship Meet and thought it would be a perfect time to launch the meet. I ran it by some trusted high school coaches and they thought it was a great idea. We started getting confirmations from major programs like Mounds View, and we knew we were onto something. We came up with the idea to give all the qualifying athletes a dri-fit "Elite-Meet" shirt, and having the winning athletes throw a shirt into the stands on a victory lap (something they do at the University of Oregon, where Adam is ironically training now), later in the process. The event has changed and adapted countless times, and has turned into something even better than we imagined from the onset. It also has certainly caught on a lot faster than we ever imagined.

So, long story short, Adam and I have an on-going debate about who should get credit for the idea. I think as soon as he moved to Oregon, he forfeited all copy-rights! But in all seriousness, a lot of people, including Adam, all our HU track athletes who work the meet, and of course the entire coaching staff here at Hamline deserve credit for creating this meet and grinding out the large undertaking of hosting it every year.

DtB: Are you planning anything different for the 2008 Elite-Meet?

Reder: The qualifying process and time-line will get tweaked a little to account for the weather, but other than that, the major concepts of the meet are intact. Last year we added a prelim in the 100m, the only track event with a prelim and that is one of the most major changes so far. We are always open to new ideas for making the meet better for the athletes AND for spectators, so anyone reading this should feel free to suggest something!

At the end of the day, the major theme for the Elite-Meet is gathering the finest track and field athletes, regardless of their school size and let them duke it out!

DtB: Why do you think the event has proven to be so popular?

Reder: I think that seeing some match-ups you normally wouldn't see at this stage in the year is a major factor. The fields end up being of the highest quality, and because of the format of the meet, we're always confident there will be some BIG performances. Mike Torchia's sub-9 minute performance the first year we hosted the meet really set the tone for that going forward. Each year a new premier event seems to rise to the top, so its fun for people to see how it all plays out.

The culture of the meet seems to have become that of 'lets all get after it and see if we can't get some big personal bests!'. Winning the meet is great and all, but if someone drops 30 seconds from their 3200 pr and gets 6th, when in a normal meet that might not be possible, I'm sure they're still pretty pumped!I'm sure there are athletes that have finished towards the back of the pack from small towns outside of the metro, but mixed it up with some big-city kids for the first time and had major improvements. As a small town guy, that is my favorite part of the meet... seeing the best Class A athletes get a chance to mix it up against the top Class AA athletes, where those head-to-head match-ups aren't possible at the state meet.

DtB: Bad weather has been a factor this outdoor season, have you had to take that into account at all?

Reder: The poor weather is the biggest reason for the entry deadline being changed. We'll allow entries up until Tuesday night at 11:59pm... which will give kids the opportunity to get a mark in a Monday or Tuesday meet and still get in. It will make things tight on our end, but we think its the right thing to do. Similar to last year, we'll also allow a conversion from 1600 to 3200 since athletes haven't had many chances to race yet.

DtB: Is there anything else you'd like to add about the meet?

I just want to invite everyone to join us at the meet! It is a very spectator friendly meet, and again, a very fun culture for the athletes. Its a blast to watch the outstanding performances, and unlike most meets, its a meet filled with a final, after a final, after a final. No one has to suffer through 20 heats of an event.

We look forward to hosting the event every year! If you love track and field, you will love this meet!

Photo courtesy of Hamline University.

Down the Backstretch will post Elite-Meet updates and news items throughout the week. Remember, tune to "WDTB" on Friday night beginning at 5:15 p.m. for our live coverage of the Hamline Elite-Meet.

Twin Cities Marathon More Than 50% Full

The 2008 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is more than 50% filled just four days after on-line entry for the race began, race officials have reported. This year's race registration, which began one minute after midnight last Friday, is out-pacing that of the past, they add.

The 2007 race filled in 19 days, and has filled within a month’s time for the last 20 years. Capacity for this year's event, to be held October 5, is 11,000, an increase of 500 from last year’s marathon.

"Online-only registration has been very successful this year,” Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said. “It’s exciting to see such great interest in marathon running continuing, not only in Minnesota, but around the country."

Brown, Carlson Named Athletes of the Month

The Minnesota Association of USA Track & Field has announced that Team USA Minnesota athletes Emily Brown and Andrew Carlson are USATF Minnesota's Athletes of the Month for April 2008.

Brown, a 2007 University of Minnesota graduate, was recognized for being the top finisher for the United States team at the IAAF World Cross County in Edinburgh, Scotland, last month. Brown, a former Big Ten steeplechase champion, finished 18th in the race, running 26:36 on the 8K course.

Carlson, also a U of M graduate, was honored for winning his first national title at the USA 15K Championship held in conjunction with the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida, in March. Carlson out-dueled 2002 Twin Cities Marathon champion Dan Browne for the win, running a personal-best 44:12 for the 9.3 mile distance.

USA Track & Field Minnesota selects Athletes of the Month to honor excellence in track and field and its related sports in Minnesota. USA Track & Field is the governing body of the sport in the United States and the Minnesota Association of USATF sanctions and sponsors track and field, cross country, road racing, and racewalking events for athletes of all ages in the state.

Women's Olympic Trials Photo Gallery

Turena Johnson Lane, 6th in 2:34:17

Nicole Cueno, 55th in 2:44:54

Stephanie Herbst-Lucke, 59th in 2:45:14

Michelle Lilienthal, 85th 2:48:46

Jenna Boren, 94th 2:49:34

Marie Sample, 116th in 2:59:01

Other Minnesota finishers not pictured: Johanna Olson, 46th in 2:43:39; Melissa Gacek 50th in 2:44:10; Erin Ward, 86th in 2:48:51.

Photos by Victor Sailer http://www.photorun.net/

The Short-Cut: Results Links for April 18-20

Better late than never, here are results links for the busy weekend ...

Friday:
Kansas Relays: Results
Update: Gopher women win DMR, Radocaj 2nd with 168-5.

Tommie Twilight: Results
Update: Gophers' Studt puts PR 62-7 3/4 .... Potter, Buzard run 47.38, 47.70.

Mount SAC Relays: Results
Update: Luke Watson runs 8:37.21, Ferrell runs 15:33.88.

Saturday:
Kansas Relays: Results
Mount SAC Relays: Results
Carleton Relays: Results
Manitou Classic (St. Olaf): Results
Earth Day Half Marathon (Team Circuit): Results

Sunday:
Women's Olympic Marathon Trials: Preview * Results
Update: Turena Johnson Lane 6th in 2:34:17.

Mount SAC Relays: Results

Lilienthal Leads Minnesota Trials Contingent

Team USA Minnesota's Michelle Lilienthal leads a strong contingent of Minnesota women into Sunday's U.S. Women's Olympic Trails Marathon in Boston. The 26-year-old University of Wisconsin graduate sports the sixth fastest qualifying time in the field -- the 2:35:51 she ran at the 2006 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Lilienthal, along with Brainerd native Turena Johnson Lane and former Team USA Minnesota runner Dana Coons are contenders for one of the three Olympic team berths on offer at the race. American marathon record-holder and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor is the prohibitive favorite in the race. Johnson Lane enters the Trials with a #9-seeded 2:36:15 qualifier; Coons ran 2:38:18 to earn her toe-space on the starting line, the #11 seed in the field.

In all, nine Minnesotans will compete at the 7th Olympic Marathon Trials for women: Lilienthal, Johnson Lane, Nicole Cueno, Erin Ward, Marie Sample, Jenna Boren, Wadena native Johanna Olson, Melissa Gacek, and Chaska native Stephanie Herbst Lucke.

Among the other contenders for tickets to Beijing are two racers familiar to Minnesota marathoning fans. 2003 Twin Cities champ Blake Russell, who finished 4th at the 2004 Trials after leading the race's early stages, is likely to be a factor in this year's race. Also a likely challenger for a team spot is defending Grandma's Marathon champion Mary Akor, the #3 seed.

1999 TCM champ Kim Pawelek will run her third Trials on Sunday. Former TCM champs Marla Runyan and Nicole Aish, however, have scratched from the event.

The race will be web-cast live, HERE, thanks for NBC.

You can find all sorts of information on the event, HERE, at the Trials web-site.

Boren: " ... there is opportunity in change."

Down the Backstretch asked Jenna Boren some questions ahead of the her race Sunday at the U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. Boren (pictured), who brings a personal best of 2:42:39 from last year's Houston Marathon with her to the event, talked to us about her training, her 7th place finish at Grandma's last summer, and her disappointing 28th place, 2:50:37 run at the New York City Marathon last fall.

DtB: So, how has Trials training gone for you?

Boren: It has been an interesting winter to say the least. As much as I would like to say everything went according to "THE PLAN", it didn't. A bit of injury and a dramatic winter/spring inspired the new "CREATIVE" plan. Although I had some frustrating days, I decided to focus on the things I could do successfully or without pain and minimized the aggravating activities.

I was unable to run on a treadmill due to a leg problem but I could run outside, hills, long runs. So I just plugged away doing almost all of my training outside (once a week in the dome). Finally, all running came to a halt for 2 weeks in March but fortunately I was able to cross train. For the past 3 weeks, I have been able to run pain free and my mind is in a good place...rejuvenated!

Although I had to adapt a significant amount of my training, I do believe there is opportunity in change. I am such a "routine" person that I may have previously considered the training alterations as "setbacks". I am learning that this actually an opportunity to grow/change/challenge my mind and learn how to be more adaptable. I am not certain where my fitness is right now but I do trust in the training I have followed consistently over the past 4 years is still in me and the "character building" runs this winter were beneficial mentally. Regardless, I learned how to focus on each day and the task at hand. I am hoping I broke some subconscious barriers by learning to adapt my training.

DtB: Are you able to get a sense at this point of how things might go for you in the race?

Boren: I honestly have NO idea what will happen. I would like to think that if I am patient and controlled early on, I might be able to crack the top 25-30 women. I just need to be smart early on and take it one mile at a time (and not worry about place in the beginning)!

DtB: What do you think is a realistic goal for yourself?

Boren: On a perfect day, I would love to run under 2:40 but who knows what could happen. I ran New York in November and training had gone really well....according to "THE PLAN". If there was time I thought I would run well, it was at New York. I really hope I am in the mix of things!

DtB: Walk us through the year-plus since your 2:42 at Houston?

Boren: After feeling pretty good at Houston, I felt great through April 2007 when I hurt my foot. I was unable to run for about 3 weeks but cross trained on the underwater treadmill and elliptical. I was about 1 day away from calling Scott [Keenan] at Grandmas to tell him that I was going to drop out. I was encouraged by a couple of friends to give it another day and I ended up being able to run. SO, I had 2 weeks to get my miles in and ended up 7th at Grandmas. I was really glad I still ran!

In the meantime, I had contacted New York because I thought Grandmas was going to be a disaster. They offered to pay for everything as part of an incentive to get closer to the "A" standard. I couldn't pass up the opportunity! Training went close to what I would consider perfect but I was exhausted at the start...maybe it had gone too well. I took some time off in November and did more stair type workouts without as much running in early December.

DtB: How difficult has it been to race at a high level while you're working full-time in your own chiropractic practice?

Boren: If I could give up the "management" part of the business and just treat people, it would be ideal. Helping people achieve their goals is VERY motivating for me and actually helps me when I run. I am lucky to combine both interests! The part that can be exhausting is managing a business but it is what I need to do for now. Someday, I hope to find a bit more balance. I have been lucky in the past few years to travel with the MEADP and AADP grants which has allowed me to race at a more competitive level. I really can't complain. There are many people who do FAR more things than I do in a day!

Photo by Gene Niemi.

News and Notes to Start the Day

Lot's to report on today, so we'll start out with quick news items ...

Roehrig wins, breaks record, qualifies ... Gopher junior Liz Roehrig won the Kansas Relays heptathlon yesterday with a school record-setting 5740 points. The mark broke her old school record of 5621, qualified her automatically for the NCAA Championships, and provisionally for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

More details can be found HERE.

R.J. McGinnis led four Gopher men to top-10 finishes in the Kansas Relays decathlon with his 4th place, 6879 point performance. Find details HERE.

Grandma's lodging fundraiser trying to stay legal ... A fundraising enterprise centered on the notorious lack of inexpensive lodging in Duluth on Grandma's Marathon weekend ran into legal troubles this week.

The Northern Communities Land Trust holds a fundraiser in which people offer lodging in their home to Grandma’s Marathon participants. The four-year-old fundraiser recently ran afoul of Duluth's lodging and rental ordinances. In an effort to stay on the right side of the law, the Duluth News-Tribune reports, HERE, that the organization will no longer require lodgers to sign leases or make rental payments.

Roehrig Leads Kansas with Record-Setting Pace

University of Minnesota junior Liz Roehrig handily leads the Kansas Relays heptathlon at the end of yesterday's first day of competition and is on pace to break her own school record of 5621 for the seven event competition.

Roehrig (pictured) is more than 400 points clear of first day runner-up Chantae McMillan of Nebraska. Already, the Chilton, Wisconsin native has broken the University of Minnesota high jump record with her 6-0 clearance in that event of the heptathlon yesterday.

Roehrig leads the competition with 3591 points. She opened yesterday's competition with a 14.35 clocking in the 100 meter hurdles for 929 points, earned 1016 for her high jump, put the shot 42-2 1/4 for 718 points, and then ran a PR 24.56 in the 200m for 928 points.

Last year, at the Bobby Lane Arlington Invitational in Texas where she set the current Gopher heptathlon record, Roehrig opened with marks of 14.13, 5-10, 41-9 1/4 and 24.60. On the second day of competition there she long jumped 19-7 3/4, threw the javelin 110-11, and ran the 800m in 2:31.03.

Gopher men's quartet in the mix ... Gopher men's multi-eventers R.J. McGinnis, Garrett Wankel, David Meissner, and Joey Schwecke find themselves in the top-10 in the decathlon competition at Kansas. McGinnis is currently 5th with 3680 first-day ponts. Wankel is 6th with 3279, Meissner is 8th with 3199, and Schweke is 9th with 3175.

You can follow today's Kansas Relays multi-event competition and the weekend's individual and relay events HERE.

Photo courtesy of the U of M.

Additional $2,750 Raised for Ngetich Family

Grandma’s Marathon announced today that it has raised an additional $2,750 for the family of two-time race champion Wesly Ngetich. The race used a week-long online auction, which included 2008 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon entries, to raise the funds.

Ngetich was killed on January 21 after being shot with an arrow while reportedly attempting to mediate conflict between two disputing tribes near his home in Trans Mara, Kenya . The 2005 and 2007 men’s champion of Grandma’s Marathon, Ngetich was expected to return to Duluth in June to defend his title.

The auction was the second fundraising effort Grandma’s Marathon had conducted to assist Ngetich’s family. In March, the organization raised $6,000 when it opened an additional 100 spots in the 2008 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon to runners not selected through the entry lottery.

Another online auction fundraiser is being planned for later this year.

Roehrig to Kick-Off Minnesota's First -Ever Kansas Relays Appearance

Improbable though it seems, when Gopher multi-event star Liz Roehrig steps into her blocks for the heptathlon 100 meter hurdles this morning at the Kansas Relays, she'll be the first-ever Golden Gopher woman to compete in the storied meet. Never, in the 81-year history of the event, has Minnesota participated in the Lawrence, Kansas meet.

Roehrig will be looking to achieve an NCAA-qualifying score in the two-day, seven-event contest, and exorcise the ghosts of last year's largely-lost outdoor season. The senior from Chilton, Wisconsin tallied a school record 5621 points in her only heptathlon of 2007, but then suffered a season-ending injury that kept her from defending her Big Ten title or competing in the NCAA Championships.

Roehrig competes today and tomorrow.

Another likely highlight of the Gophers' Kansas Relays debut will be Saturday's teaming-up of Heather Dorniden and Jamie Cheever in the 1500m. Both athletes have U.S. Olympic Trials "B" qualifying marks in their main events -- the 800m for Dorniden and the 3000m steeplechase for Cheever.

You can read the full Golden Gopher media release for the event HERE.

You can keep track of the action, HERE, via the Kansas Relays live results page.

Phillips Working for a Trials Qualifier

In an era of post-collegiate “career athletes” – Olympic hopefuls who put much of the rest of their lives on hold to grasp for the Olympic rings – hammer thrower April Phillips is living the flip-side of that kind of life.

She’s an athlete with a career … as well as the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Phillips (pictured), a four-time Big Ten champion in the shot put and hammer throw at the University of Michigan, is one of many Minnesota residents with a full-time job. The 26-year-old engineer, though, is one of the few nine-to-fivers with her sights set on the Trials.

“Work brought me to Minnesota,” Phillips told DtB recently. “When I hired into Lockheed Martin it was for a leadership development program that cycles you through 4 different types of jobs in two different locations. My first location was in Syracuse, New York, and I completely gave up throwing for the one and a half years I lived there -- time to grow up and enter the real world.”

When it was time for Phillips to choose her next work location for the giant defense and technology corporation, she picked Minnesota. She was beginning to miss throwing by then, too.

“Having thrown in the Big Ten conference in college and now living back in Big Ten country, I thought it would be a perfect time to use my network and try to get back into throwing,” Phillips said. “I’ve had a few opportunities to move since then for work, but have committed to staying in the area through Trials. Plus, I really have grown to LOVE Minnesota.”

Through University of Minnesota women’s throws coach Lynne Anderson, Phillips connected with Hamline men’s track and field coach Lynden Reder. The Gopher men's record-holder in the hammer, Reder is a Trials aspirant himself. Phillips now trains with Reder and works as an assistant coach at Hamline.

“Work as an engineer occupies my life from 6:30 – 4:30 and practice runs after that into the evening,” Phillips said. “Even then, track can get trumped by work and my own training suffers.”

Last weekend, though, Phillips and Reder took the time to travel to Tempe, Arizona to compete in the Sun Angel Classic. Phillips finished 6th in her event with 190-10. Reder was 3rd with 204-8.

“The previous two seasons Lynden and I have been lucky enough to have the MIAC schools let us compete in their track meets,” Phillips said. “However, this season, I’ve made the commitment to travel and hit some meets I’ve had success at in the past. I’ll be throwing at Cornell in a few weekends, and then at my favorite meet ever – the home meet at my alma mater, The University of Michigan.”

Phillips needs throw 206-8 to provisionally qualify for the Trials in Eugene, Oregon in late June; a throw of 219-2 would qualify her automatically for the meet. Phillips’ PR is 202-6 set last year.

“That is absolutely the goal this year,” she confirmed. “When I got back into throwing in October 2005 it was just as a hobby; I really missed throwing. I’m excited to have progressed enough these past few years to have the Trials as an achievable goal.”

Phillips conceded she was “disappointed” with her performance in Arizona over the weekend.

“Anytime I can get weather that nice and a competition that good, I hope to throw closer to (or break) my PR,” she said. “But, I did get to spend time talking to talented coaches and watching great throwers, so I definitely have some tangible things to bring to practice. It is still early in the season; I’m excited to get back to work!”

Phillips opened her season with a win at the Hamline Invite on April 5th, throwing 196-9.

“I feel pretty good about that meet,” she said. “It was the best opening meet I’ve ever had in terms of farthest throw, and overall a good series for me. Now, I did pull a little on one and throw it over a fence … but at least it was entertaining for the spectators!”

Photo by Justin Le.

Masters Great Ellen McCoy Dead at 87

Ellen McCoy, who in 2006 was named Minnesota's top female distance runner of the last 20 years in three separate over-70 masters categories, died April 12.

You can read her Star-Tribune obituary HERE.

McCoy, who is survived by her husband of 67 years, Morris, was a 14-time Minnesota Runner of the Year for her age-group. Although she stopped competing in 2000 at age 80, at the end of 2005 she still held 37 Minnesota age records.

McCoy ran PRs of 25:06 for 5K and 42:49 for 8K as a 70-year-old. She clocked a PR 52:20 10K at 71.

Twin Cities Registration Opens Friday

Now that registration for all of the Grandma's events has wrapped up -- Grandma's Marathon filled last week, you'll remember -- it's time to kick-off registration for the 2008 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.

Indeed, online-only registration for the 27th running of "The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America" begins at 12:01 a.m. , Friday, April 18 at http://www.mtcmarathon.org/. Registration is beginning three weeks earlier than in the past.

Race organizer remind runners that each year, the marathon fills within 20-30 days, although the field limit for the October 5 race has been increased to 11,000 this year.

Organizers are promoting the Corporate Team Challenge as an option for organizations to register as a group again in 2008. The Challenge offers companies an opportunity to add excitement, team building and good-natured competition to the work place. Any corporation (profit or non-profit) may participate with a team made up of employees of the corporation.

Short-Cut: Results Links for April 11-13

Here's our regular links-to-results post aimed at keeping you abreast of the latest happenings during the weekend. There's lots going on, as you might imagine. We're especially keen to see Team USA Minnesota's Andrew Carlson take to the track on Saturday -- in the 5000 meters at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona -- after all the road success he's had already in 2008.

Friday:
Mesa Classic (U of M throwers): Results
Update: Jerry Netland wins disc with 159-8, Aaron Studt 2nd in hammer with 182-1.
Sun Angel Classic: Results
Update: Lynden Reder hammers 204-08; April Phillips throws 190-10

Saturday:
Sun Angel Classic (U of M men, Carlson): Results
Update: Kabia 3rd in 10.49, Storvick run 1:49.92, Carlson scratches due to illness.

Lee Krough Invitational: CANCELLED
Jim Duncan Invitational Results
Furman Invitational (Matt Gabrielson): Results
Update: Gabrielson ran 3:52.57 for 6th in the 1500m, according to Team USA Mn's Pat Goodwin.

Mad City/USA 100K: Results

Sunday:
NDSU Bison Invitational: Results
Update: Defending D2 outdoor champ Jennifer Hensel wins vault with 12-6.

T&FN: Only Goucher & Marks to Olympics

Track and Field News, the self-proclaimed "Bible of the Sport," just published a set of Olympic Track and Field Trials predictions. If you take the magazine's word as gospel, only two Minnesotans -- Kara Goucher in the 10,000 meters and Shani Marks in the triple jump -- will make the U.S. Olympic team.

The magazine, HERE, projects both Goucher and Marks as the runners-up in their events at the Trails in Eugene, Oregon. On the outside looking in, according to compiler Dave Johnson, are Jenelle Deatherage (5th) and 2004 Olympian Carrie Tollefson (8th) in the 1500, Cack Ferrell (7th) in the 5000, and Katie McGregor (5th) in the 10,000.

T&FN doesn't send any Minnesota men to Beijing. 2007 USA Outdoor champ Jim Dilling is picked for 4th in men's projections, HERE.

Also ... The hometown newspaper for the Olympic Track and Field Trials, the Eugene Register-Guard, just launched a special web-page covering the build-up to the Trails. You can find it HERE, and well as in the "Links" section on our sidebar.

What do you think? ... Is T&FN on target or off-base? Who from MN will represent the USA at the Games? Let us know with in the comments section.

(Full disclosure: Although I am a correspondent for T&FN, I have nothing to do with the predictions.)

Gagnon, Melander Earn TCM Scholarships

Minneapolis Washburn star Pieter Gagnon and Eastview standout McKenzie Melander earned $5000 college scholarships as the 2008 winners of the Twin Cities Marathon High School Scholarship Program. Gagnon and Melander were selected for the awards from more than 100 applicants, all top track and cross-country runners at their high schools in the greater Twin Cities Metro area.

Gagnon is a four-time team captain, a 5 Eyewitness News Athlete of the Week, a Star Tribune Athlete of the Week, a three-time Most Valuable Player for Washburn High School, and has numerous state and regional running titles including a third place finish at the MSHSL State Cross Country Championships last fall. Currently ranked second in his class academically, Gagnon plans to study engineering at the University of Minnesota and to continue to pursue his love of running.

Melander was the runner-up in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs at the MSHSL State Track and Field Championships last spring. She was an All-State Cross Country athlete as a sophomore and finished 3rd in the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet her junior year. Melander is a two-time All-State Track athlete and has earned 8 All-Conference awards. Melander volunteers in her community and plans to attend University of Iowa, where she will run cross country and track.

“We value the running spirit these two individuals exemplify,” Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said. “It was a difficult decision because of the tremendous quality of those who applied. But McKenzie and Pieter’s leadership and athletic determination and ability make them the perfect recipients of this year’s scholarships. We congratulate them on all of their accomplishments."

The recipients were selected based on academic achievements, community service, running accomplishments (in either cross-country or track) as well as a personal essay.

USATF-Minnesota Interviews Katie McGregor

The USATF - Minnesota web-site has just posted a interview with Team USA Minnesota's Katie McGregor (pictured), HERE, as part of its "Road to Beijing" series. Running Minnesota's Chad Austin conducted the interview.

My favorite McGregor answer, in response to a question about the odds of making the team, is:

"I wouldn’t dedicate my life to training if I didn’t believe in myself. I believe I will make the team."

In addition, the USATF-Minnesota web-site recently posted some of Thom Weddles' photos from the Carlsbad 5K, HERE.

Also ... Both Andrew Carlson, HERE, and Emily Brown, HERE, have interesting new journal entries posted on the New York Road Runners site.

Carlson segues from his middle school basketball career to Dan Browne's 2002 Twin Cities Marathon victory to Carlson's own duel with Browne at the Gate River Run last month. Brown talks about her recent cross country success and explains why she once said she never wanted to run cross country again.

Photo by Sean Hartnett.

Minnesota Clash Set for Drake Women's 1500

The three top women's milers in Minnesota -- Olympian Carrie Tollefson, the rejuvenated Jenelle Deatherage, and post-collegiate phenom Emily Brown -- are scheduled to compete against one-another over 1500 meters at the Drake Relays on April 26.

The Des Moines Register, in THIS story, highlights Tollefson's entry in the event, but also places Brown (incorrectly) and 2007 Drake champion Deatherage in the 1500m field as well.

THE CORRECTION ... Team USA Minnesota coach Dennis Barker informs us the Des Moines Register has the story wrong. While Team USA Minnesota's Tollefson and Deatherage will race the 1500 at Drake, Team USA Minnesota's Emily Brown will compete in the steeplechase there.

The Olympic Torch: in San Francisco, in History

Image details: Protestors Rally As Olympic Torch Arrives In San Francisco served by picapp.com


Since it was lit on March 24, the Olympic torch has attacted protests by pro-Tibetan activists and others opposed to the policies of 2008 Olympic hosts China. As the Olympic torch relay makes its only stop on U.S. soil in San Francisco today, we wanted to note Jay Weiner's brief history of the Olympic torch ceremony, HERE, from yesterday's edition of MinnPost.

In the piece, he notes THIS recent story on the torch ceremony from the BBC.

Radocaj, Cheever Earn Big Ten Accolades

University of Minnesota women's tracksters Ruby Radocaj and Jamie Cheever were accorded Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors after leading Minnesota to the team title at the Oregon Pepsi Team Invitational on Saturday, the program announced.

Radocaj shares the Big Ten Field Event Athlete of the Week with Indiana heptathlete Abbie Stechschulte, while Cheever is the co-Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week with Iowa distance runner Diane Nukuri.

For Radocaj, the award is the first of her career. Radocaj, a senior from Williamsport, Pennsylvania broke a 13-year old Minnesota record in the javelin with a throw of 187-6, a mark that ranks as the top throw in the nation this season and betters the Olympic Trials “A” standard. The Gopher All-American broke the long-standing record of 183-2 by Heather Berlin in 1995.

Cheever, a junior from Minneapolis, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:11.33. Cheever’s winning time cut nearly 10 seconds off her previous best and is the second-fastest steeplechase in Gopher history behind Emily Brown's 9:56.62. Cheever was honored as the conference Athlete of the Week once during the indoor season.

Grandma's Marathon Reaches Capacity

It took longer than it used to, but for the 14th consecutive year, Grandma's Marathon has filled to capacity. The 9,700 runner event scheduled for June 21 announced yesterday that it is now closed to registration.

This year marked the first year that race organizers used an on-line registration system for the 32nd annual event and its ancillary races. The marathon, which opened registration in January, had filled in a matter of weeks in the recent past, but has taken until April to reach capacity the last two years.

Race fields filled quickly for both the 18th annual Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and the 15th annual William A. Irvin 5K.

Scott Keenan's Comments ... Shortly after we posted the news item above, we heard from Grandma's Marathon executive director Scott Keenan. We'd asked him for his take on the slowed filling of Grandma's Marathon and the unique challenges of his event. Here's what he had to say ...

"To be honest with you, it really doesn’t matter to us in any way if the marathon fills up in two days or two months. In fact, the marathon filling at a little slower pace has allowed runners who were not chosen in the half-marathon lottery to have an option to sign up for the full marathon.

"It is challenging to host a major marathon in a smaller market as we have limited lodging, very few direct flights and a smaller population from which to recruit sponsors and volunteers. But, we wouldn’t exchange our situation with anyone. I learned many years ago to focus on our strengths and just make Grandma’s Marathon the best event we possible can. We believe our tag line speaks for what we are — a world-class event with small town charm."

Freshman Studt Clinches Gopher Victory

It came down to the discus in the University of Minnesota women's track and field team's neck-and-neck battle with Oregon at Saturday's Pepsi Team Invitational in Eugene, Oregon.

All of the running events and the rest of the field events at Oregon's storied Hayward Field were in the books, but the team score was still in doubt. The Gophers would need big finish in the disc to win the meet.

Entering the final round of throws in the discus, Gopher star Liz Podominick, who had already earned second-place points for the team in the shot put, held a comfortable lead at 161-8. But the Gophers needed more than Podominick's points to seal the win.

Enter freshman Hannah Studt, a Gopher thrower so anonymous she's just a name on the team's on-line roster -- no photo, no stats, no hometown. Studt stepped into the ring, though, and launched her final throw 155-10 to take second place in the event and seal a 193 to 192 victory for the #23-ranked Gophers over the #18-ranked Ducks.

The Gopher women had five event-winners at the meet: Podominick in the discus, Ruby Radocaj threw a school-record 187-6 in the javelin, Anna Arciszewska won the triple jump in a career-best 40-8 3/4, Heather Dorniden won the 800 meters with an outdoor season debut of 2:06.07, and Jamie Cheever splashed to a win in the steeplechase with a PR 10:11.33.

“We feel good about where we are right now as a team,” Golden Gopher head coach Matt Bingle said in a Gopher media release. “This was really our first solid test of the outdoor season and despite less than ideal weather conditions, we had some very good performances."

The Gopher men, who had "a bit of a lack-luster day" according to head coach Phil Lundin, finished third in the men's portion of the meet. Oregon won with 230 points, Penn State tallied 150, the Gophers had 140.5.

Ibrahim Kabia was the squad's only winner with a wind-aided 10.39 victory in the 100 meters.

Full results from the meet are HERE.

Short-Cut: Results Links for April 4-6

Are you ready?

Because, if there's been a lull in the sport recently due to the break between the collegiate track seasons and the recent holiday (notwithstanding all of the great action at World Cross), that quiet all comes to an end now.

It seems like anyone and everyone is back in action this weekend! That being the case, we've resurrected, the Short-Cut -- DtB's round-up of links to the weekend's important results.

We're especially eager to see: How Team USA Minnesota's Mandi Zemba fares against the always-stiff competition at the Carlsbad 5K .... How the Gopher squads compete against Washington, Penn State and the host Ducks at the team-scored Oregon Pepsi Invitational ... How steeplechase debuts by Ladia Albertson-Junkans (at Pepsi) and Brad Lowery (at Hamline) turn out ... And, how fast Minnesotans like Garrett and Elliott Heath, Luke and Jake Watson, Adam Steele, and Alex Gits run at the Stanford Invitational.

Strap yourselves in, I don't think the action will slow down until after the Olympic Games in August!

Friday:
Stanford Invitational: Startlists * Results
Update: Luke Watson 8:46 ... Elliott Heath 14:09 ... Garrett Heath 1:49

Saturday:
Oregon Pepsi Invitational: Startlists * Results
Update: Gopher women win, Radocaj throws school record 187-6.
Update: Gopher men third, Kabia runs 10.39w, Mead clocks 13:57.

Stanford Invitational: Startlists * Results
Update: Jake Watson clocks 3:43.39.

Augustana Invitational: Results
Update: Mokaya runs 3:49.25.

Hamline Invitational: Results
Update: Lowery debuts with 9:01 steeplechase.

Sunday:
More Marathon: Results
Update: Keeler Ramacier 3rd with 3:04:50

Carlsbad 5000: Results
Update: Mandi Zemba runs 16:49 for 11th.

Christensen Describes World Cross Experience

Stillwater High School boys track and cross country coach Scott Christensen served as team leader of the USA's Senior Men's team at last weekend's IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. DtB caught up with Christensen (pictured) upon his return to ask him about the experience.

DtB: For folks who've never attended a World Cross Country Championships, can you describe the atmosphere of the event?

Christensen: First of all 20,000 spectators! Drums and other percussion groups from several African nations playing constantly, a bagpipe player on the crest of Haggis Knoll, a English speaking announcer that gave a play by play like a North American hockey game, a Giant Screen monitor on the leaders keeping track of everything, a criterium style course so you can frequently see the athletes come by. The crowd itself was more in a frenzy then any meet I have ever attended including state and NCAA meets.

DtB: As the team leader, what was important for you to do (or not to do) to help your squad perform well at World Cross?

Christensen: I set up a to-do list right after the San Diego trials. A once a week e-mail to all of the athletes. These included our travel plans, weather situations, gear info, basically the nuts and bolts of the trip. I know most of their personal coaches and agents so I talked to all of them as frequently as I could about nagging injuries, what we should do in Scotland, and the like. I went into Google and brought up past interviews and race results on the 9 of them. I wanted to know their wives name, where they went to high school, if they are an Eagle Scout...things we could make small-talk about.

Once there, I met with the Senior Team each morning to set-up the daily workout times and determine what help they needed, I assisted in their pre-race (Friday) blood draw at drug testing. They elected a Captain through me. We went out to dinner together the night before the race at an Italian restaurant in Edinburgh and talked about the dynamics of our team, we spent time together Saturday at the course itself preparing. I brought spikes of all lengths from Run N Fun and we set up their shoes after we got back from the course.

On Sunday the 10 of us met at 1 pm in the Village for the 2:45 race and we bussed down together to the start. We pushed through security together and I led them to the US changing tent. They ran their warm-up and I led them to the Call room at 2:20. I then had access to the course and kept track of each of their places as they came by, hollered at them, and I guess was their coach for about 37-38 minutes! I then met them after the race for some slaps on the back.

DtB: How did you feel about the senior men's team's performance?

Christensen: We lost Dathan Ritzenhein due to a nagging IT band about 10 days before and replaced him with Stanford alum Jonathon Pierce. He was really pumped to get the call and raced well. There were three really exceptional performances: Jorge and Edwardo Torres and Scott Baughs. Max King ran pretty well. The others were a little disappointed. Josh Rohatinsky was a real gem to work with and was real open with me. He felt he may have started a little fast and had some breathing problems late. All in all we were the top non-African team and that is pretty good. We beat many good teams from throughout the world. Naturally, we wanted a medal, but without Dathan and Ryan Hall, who was 5th at the Trials but is preparing for the London Marathon, this is about where we should have been.

DtB: Are there things you can take from the World Cross experience that can help your Stillwater teams?

Christensen: I take things everyday of my life and try to apply them to my Stillwater team. These days provided me with an abundance of material. These 9 Senior Men are all champions at what they do...State, NCAA, USATF, you name it. Yet, they got along so well together all week. There was no arrogance or aloofness, even with each other, just good guys with a load of talent that prepare very well. Sport transcends generations, I want my boys at Stillwater to treat racing and preparation as professionally as these men do. The world is full of wannabees, these guys have done it.

Star-Tribune Previews HS Track Season

Back on the opening day of track and field practice for Minnesota high schoolers, DtB's Chris Marshall, HERE, offered his "Four Questions" that only the season itself could answer.

Last week, DtB took a look, HERE, at two-time defending MSHSL Class AA and True Team champions Mounds View's chances for three-peating in 2008.

Today, the Star-Tribune got into the action, HERE. Jim Paulsen offers his "Five Storylines," "Teams to Watch," and "By the Numbers" for the 2008 season.

Let the action begin!

Langenfeld wins 28th Masters High Jump Title

DtB sent a congratulatory note to Tom Langenfeld on Monday after he won yet another USA Masters high jump title. By our count, the victory in the M70 high jump was Langenfeld's 17th national title.

"Well, if you count indoor championships," Langenfeld gently corrected us, "I guess it’s actually my 28th masters high jump title —16 outdoor, 12 indoor. But that’s spread over almost 34 years."

Langenfeld (pictured), who cleared 4-7 for title #28 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on Sunday, won his first outdoor crown in 1975; his first indoor victory came in 1976.

"I’ve lost almost a foot and a half of altitude since then," he noted, "but I still get pumped for these things. And every once in a while I nail a jump that feels a little like old times. Can’t say I did that in Boston this year, though I felt pretty good about the jump that won it."

Langenfeld is noticing some wear and tear on his 72-year-old body.

"My training has been relatively limited since last summer because of a lower back/hip problem," he said, "which also seems to have cut my vertical jump by three to four inches. It may be that some of the moving parts are starting to wear out."

"I’ve only rarely let an injury keep from the national meets," he continued. "They’re just too much fun—and the addiction to competition is too strong. So I went – and managed to beat a couple of guys who were either coming down with or coming back from injuries themselves."

Langenfeld, the USATF-Minnesota Masters Track and Field Chairman, reported that other Minnesotans fared well at the event, which will move to Landover, Maryland next year after finding its home in Boston for eleven of the last twelve years:

"Ralph Maxwell, the 88-year-old retired judge who has divided his time between Richville, Minn., and Alamo, Texas, in recent years. He set two American age-group records while competing in the M85 indoor pentathlon on Friday—a record 3,626 points for that event, and a record 15.10 in the 60m hurdles. Also high jumped 1.07m/3’6”, long jumped 2.80m/9’2¼”, threw the 3kg shot 7.29m/23’11” and ran the 1,000 m in 7:06.43.

"He came back the next day to take seconds in the open 60m, shot put and long jump.

"It was a pretty good meet for Minnesota high jumpers generally. Valeriy Snezhko of Plymouth finished third and Rick Allen of Richfield sixth in the M50 high jump, both clearing 1.60m. Valeriy had fewer misses. Other Minnesotans:

"Multi-eventer Mike Moser skipped the pentathlon this year in favor of the M55 pole vault and came away with the third-place medal. He also ran legs on ad hoc 4x800 and 4x400 teams in M50-59 relay competition.

"Thom Weddle of Minneapolis – fourth in the 3000m (11:52.28) and fourth in the mile (5:56.95). At 69 he’s at the top of his age group and by far the oldest entrant in both events.

"Barb Spannous of Excelsior was forced to drop out of the W60 3000m with a foot injury with just two laps to go."

Photo by Thom Weddle, Langenfeld at the 2004 USA Masters Outdoor Championship.

A DtB World Cross Slide-Show ...

Although he's a cheesehead from Eau Claire (by way of Brookfield and Beloit), Sean Hartnett goes above and beyond the call to gather stories and photos of Minnesotans for Down the Backstretch. He just posted THIS great slide-show of the Minnesota women who competed at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships last weekend.

Sean is also putting some event-wide slide-shows together for Track and Field News as well, which will appear HERE later today.

Photo by Sean Hartnett, Alex Gits in action.

Brown Interviewed on Steeplechics.com

There's a new interview with Team USA Minnesota's Emily Brown on-line. Ann Gaffigan of the web-site Steeplechics.com talked briefly with the former Big Ten steeplechase champion after her fine run at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh.

You can read the interview HERE.

Keeler Ramacier to Run More Marathon

Kelly Keeler Ramacier would rather keep it a low-key thing, but the More Magazine Marathon is making a big deal out of her. Keeler Ramacier is the headliner for the marathon for women over 40 to take place Sunday in New York's Central Park.

"I have not told many people here that I am running," Keeler Ramacier told DtB recently. "I wanted to stay extremely low-key about it. I have a tendency to put WAY too much pressure on myself and I didn't want anyone to know in case I crashed and burned."

The race organizers are excited to get the word out about Keeler Ramacier, 46, however. Their release notes she did not begin running until she was 32 years old, and was a smoker until just months before her first 26.2-mile race in Columbus, Ohio in 1994.

Keeler Ramacier, as many Minnesotans already know, improved rapidly and went on to compete in two U.S. Olympic Trials marathons, including a 17th-place finish in 2000 at age 38. Keeler Ramacier, who is the former director of event and program development for the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, has a marathon personal best time of 2:42:25 seconds, which she ran in 1997 at Grandma’s.

"My goal is around 3 hours," Keeler Ramacier said. "I would love to break 3:00 but, honestly, this winter's training was tough and my knee did not hold up that well. Things are better now that the temps are up. I think 7 min. pace is very doable if I don't have any knee troubles. The course is hilly and it could be tough logistically."

Keeler Ramacier won't get to face three-time More Marathon champion Susan Loken, who has also won three straight USA Masters titles at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Loken, as part of her preparations for the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston on April 20, will participate with Beth Hawkins in the relay event at More.