H.S. Girls' All-Time Lists: 200-Meters

Here's the next installment of "Moorhead's Lists," Champlin Park coach Kevin Moorhead's compilation of the all-time best Minnesota high school girls' track and field performances.

Moorhead encourages corrections and amendments. He can be contacted at:

Kevin [DOT] Moorhead [AT] anoka [DOT] k12 [DOT] mn [DOT] us


All-Time Girls' 200m

Vanessa Clarida, Bloomington Kennedy 23.93 2001
Sasha Davis, Park Center 24.20 2010
Heather Van Norman, Windom 24.29 1986
Analisa Huschle, Bagley 24.51 2009
Jessica Mittelstadt, Mankato West 24.54 1999
Rosey Erickson, Alexandria 24.62 2009
Jennifer Bell, Bloomington Lincoln 24.65 1982
Liesa Brateng, Roseua 24.66 1987
Liza Conteh, Moorhead 24.66 1998
Kylie Peterson, Apple Valley 24.68 2008
(10)
Kadeshia Fortune, Mpls Washburn 24.71 2005
Amber James, Woodbury 24.72 2000
Shanda Larsen, Holdingford 24.72 2002
Antoinette Goodman, Burnsville 24.74 2009
Jane Oas, Mound Westonka 24.75 1972
Kim Watts, St. Paul Central 24.75 1978
Sade Pollard, St. Paul Harding 24.75 2007
Chichi Omeoga, Irondale 24.77 2004
Deborah Cordner, St. Louis Park 24.79 1998
Kelsey Conrad, Robbinsdale Cooper 24.79 2006
(20)
Paige Kuplic, Prior Lake 24.81 2009
Ashley Tingelstad, East Grand Forks 24.81 2009
Kou Lougon, Park Center 24.83 2001
Kim Troung, Apple Valley 24.83 2004
Jasmine Dittrich, Rochester John Marshall 24.86 2009
Taylor Anderson, Hopkins 24.89 2010
Anne Hillier, Blake 24.9 2002
Arteshia Knight, Minneapolis Washburn 24.9 2010
Jaylene Gerenz, Rosemount 24.91 1987
Kyndal Hargrow, Blake 24.91 2003
Leighton Lerum, Providence Academy 24.92 2009
(30)
Denitria Nichols, Owatonna 24.95 2006
Kristi Buerkle, Forset Lake 24.96 2007
Sophie Charlton, Rochester Mahyo 24.96 2009
Erica Rhodes, Mpls Edison 24.98 2004
Abby Berens, Shakopee 25.00 2009
Taylor Browning, Apple Valley 25.02 2010
Quina Davis, Mpls Henry 25.03 1990
Christy Vitze, Rochester Mayo 25.04 1976
Tara Kazemba, Winona 25.04 1977
Julie Kosowski, South St. Paul 25.04 1979
(40)
Shelly Johnson, Blue Earth 25.04 1985
Anuli Okonkwo, Osseo 25.04 2009
Akumoa Moeoga, Irondale 25.05 2009
Joy Krekelberg, Pelican Rapids 25.06 1995
Jummy Alowonle, Park Cottage Grove 25.08 2001
Ashley Magelssen, Concordia Academy 25.08 2010
Jaylon White, Blake 25.09 2000
Natasha Holt, Henry Sibley 25.11 1998
Nicole Ryan, Apple Valley 25.12 1995
Bri Fernholz, Willmar 25.12 2008
(50)
Emily VanHeel, Little Falls 25.12 2009
Megan Geyen, Watertown Mayer 25.13 2009
Kristin Mulrooney, Visitation 25.14 1987
Nikki Martineau, Park Cottage Grove 25.14 1993
Abbey Fischer, Stillwater 25.14 2001
Akuoma Omeoga, Irondale 25.14 2010
Jane Timm, St. Peter 25.17 1984
Megan Sartor, Faribault 25.17 2001
Linnea Johnson, Robbinsdale Armstrong 25.18 2006
Anuli Okonkwo, Osseo 25.18 2010
(60)
Alex McCannel, Delano 25.19 2002
Leah Hansen, Mounds View 25.19 2008
Sue Faus, Rocori 25.2 1987
Sue Chopskie, Park Cottage Grove 25.20 1988
Majik Reed, DeLasalle 25.2 2001
Dominique Thompson, Robbinsdale Armstrong 25.22 2009
Karen Ryan, Chaska 25.23 1987
Kalesha Taylor, Rochester Mayo 25.23 2009
Laura Lepsche, Hill Murray 25.24 1976
Sara Jones, Martin Cty West 25.24 1991
(70)
Camille Kyte, New Richmond 25.24 2002
Mel McClaskie, North Branch 25.25 1997
Jean Schuller, Prior Lake 25.26 1979
Sarah Mismash, Elk River 25.26 1996
Nicole Drangstveit, Andover 25.26 2008
Danielle Jones, Mpls Washburn 25.26 2009
Maureen Leonard, Minnetonka 25.27 1988
Sandy Jorgensen, Woodbury 25.27 2003
Amanda Darling, jackson Cnty Central 25.28 2007
Jennifer Newsom, Breck 25.29 1996
(80)
Dana Watts, St. Paul Central 25.31 1979
Angela Lindsay, Richfield 25.31 1993
Holly Gondeck, Foley 25.31 1996
Emily Bartusek, Albert Lea 25.31 2001
Erin Donnalley, Red Wing 25.34 1976
Teri Snoddy, Mpls North 25.34 1977
Julie Raub, Alexander Ramsey 25.34 1981
Becky Schwartz, Red Wing 25.34 1989
Karla Stromme, Bryon 25.34 1989
Jenni Porter, Champlin Park 25.34 1993
(90)
Kathy Novak Hopkins Lindbergh 25.35 1978
Anna Ratzloff Little Falls 25.35 1991
Nancy Golie Irondale 25.36 1984
Heather Dorniden Rosemount 25.36 2004
Janet Cullen Coon Rapids 25.37 1986
Janene Grutzmacher Shakopee 25.37 1988
Julie Hay Duluth East 25.38 1982
Tamara Webb Roseville 25.39 1988
Shyla McKibbon Hibbing 25.39 1996
Jennifer Hale Concordia Academy 25.40 1989
(100)

Hall of Fame Inductee: Harry Nash

Editor's Note: Here's our final installment in our profile series of the 2010 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame inductees.

Harry Nash

Nash's stellar sprinting career began in mythical fashion -- in his first 100-yard race he clocked a 10-flat and broke the Wheaton High school record. From that auspicious beginning, Nash went on to compete in three-straight MSHSL State Meets, culminating his prep career in 1951 with 100-yard dash victory and a runner-up finish at 220-yards.

Nash (pictured) attended the University of Minnesota where he got his college career started on the right foot by setting a freshman school record in the 100y with a 9.8 and leading the team in the 220y with a 21.8 clocking.

The four-time letter-winner at the U, Nash never placed worse than fourth at the Big Ten outdoor championships -- finishing 3rd (100y) and runner-up (220y) in 1953 as a sophomore, 2nd (100y) and 4th (220y) as a junior in 1954, and 2nd (100y) and 3rd (220y) as a senior in 1955.

Nash had the tough luck of racing in the Big Ten at the same time Northwestern's Jim Golliday ruled the sprinting world. Golliday set the world record for 100y at the 1955 Big Ten meet with a 9.3.

Nash ran 9.4 five times in his career.

Perhaps the best sprinter ever to don the maroon and gold, Nash graduated from Minnesota holding the school 100y (9.4) and 220y (21.1) records. He led the Gopher 440 relay team to a Drake Relays title (and school record 41.3) in 1955 and placed 4th in the 100y at the NCAA Championships later than year.

Find the profiles of all of the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees HERE.

Photo by Charlie Mahler.

H.S. Girls' All-Time Lists: 100-Meters

It's been a Down the Backstretch tradition to publish Minnesota high school all-time lists on our web-site. Beginning later this month, we'll post Tim and Bill Miles' annual and all-time boys lists for the fourth year in a row.

Kicking off the stats-fest this year are the all-time Minnesota high school girls' lists compiled by Kevin Moorhead, the Champlin Park cross country and distance coach. Moorhead, starting with lists fashioned by the Miles brothers compiling top girls' performances from 1972 until 1992, has brought those lists up-to-date and has added the 4 x800, triple jump and pole vault to the effort.

Moorhead stresses that the lists are "living documents," so he encourages corrections and amendments that come to light thanks to publication. Moorhead can be contacted at:

Kevin [DOT] Moorhead [AT] anoka [DOT] k12 [DOT] mn [DOT] us


All-Time Girls' 100m

Heather Van Norman, Windom 11.73 1986
Kylie Peterson, Apple Valley 11.79 2008
Kadeshia Fortune, Mpls Washburn 11.88 2003
Denitria Nichols, Owatonna 11.88 2007
Sasha Davis, Park Center 11.92 2010
Vanessa Clarida, Bloomington Kennedy 11.93 2002
Jessica Mittelstad,t Mankato West 11.94 2000
Jaylene Gerenz, Rosemount 11.96 1988
Paige Kuplic, Prior Lake 12.01 2009
Shai Nichols, Owatonna 12.02 2007
(10)
Tammy Robertson, Osseo 12.06 1990
Toni Lawshea, St. Paul Arlington 12.06 1998
Kim Troung, Apple Valley 12.07 2004
Amber James, Woodbury 12.08 2000
Ashley Tingelstad, East Grand Forks 12.08 2009
Sid'reshia Floyd, Armstrong 12.08 2010
Katie Dosch, Rochester John Marshall 12.09 2001
Analisa Huschle, Bagley Fosston 12.10 2010
Jennifer Bell, Bloomington Lincoln 12.11 1982
Nicole Ryan, Apple Valley 12.11 1995
(20)
Lisa Conteh, Moorhead 12.12 1998
Karolina Haraldsdottir, Rochester Mayo 12.13 2004
Caitlin Dhein, St. Cloud Tech 12.13 2007
Alex Beckman, Eastview 12.13 2010
Mary Tanoe, Hopkins 12.13 2010
Tamara Webb, Roseville 12.14 1988
Becky Schwartz, Red Wing 12.14 1989
Megan Sartor, Faribault 12.14 2001
Kelsey Conrad, Robbinsdale Cooper 12.14 2006
Stormy Nesbit, Park Center 12.14 2009
(30)
Liesa Brateng, Roseau 12.15 1987
Kristin Mulrooney, Visitation 12.15 1987
Carolyn Kruse, St. Croix Luthern 12.15 1988
Deborah Cordner, St. Louis Park 12.16 1996
Zoraa Quoie, Woodbury 12.17 2003
Erica Rhodes, Mpls Edison 12.17 2003
Sharon Kunz, Fergus Falls 12.18 1982
Kaitlyn Seberson, Waseca 12.18 2009
Tracy Eckert, Cretin Derham Hall 12.19 1995
Antonette Tanoe, Hopkins 12.19 2007
(40)
Tonnisha Bell, Mpls Washburn 12.20 2002
Taylor Browing, Apple Valley 12.20 2010
Sade Pollard, St. Paul Harding 12.21 2007
Jada Narveson, Lakeville South 12.22 2007
Quina Davis, Mpls Henry 12.23 1990
Jerry Domes, Albert Lea 12.24 1980
Rosalyn Smaller, S.t Paul Central 12.24 1981
Teresa Nelson, Spring Lake Park 12.24 1984
Karla Stromme, Bryon 12.24 1990
Cara Vetter, Redwood Falls 12.24 1990
(50)
Alycia Ashburn, MACCRAY 12.24 1992
Jordan Ojanpa, Mankato East 12.24 1997
Majik Reed, DeLaSalle 12.24 1999
Bobbi Jo Buyck, Tracy Milroy Balaton 12.24 2004
Amanda Beckman, Eastview 12.24 2009
Megan Geyen, Watertown Mayer 12.24 2009
Joy Krekelberg, Pelican Rapids 12.25 1996
Alex McCannel, Delano 12.25 2003
Amy Knudson, Mankato East 12.25 2005
Ashley Magelssen, Concordia Academy 12.26 2010
(60)
Kyndal Hargrow, Blake 12.27 2003
Ann Kiecker, Coon Rapids 12.28 1985
Charlene Butler, Bertha Hewitt Verndale 12.28 1996
Julia Rozman, Edina 12.28 2007
Samantha Zopfi, Providence Academy 12.28 2009
Sue Chopskie, Park Cottage Grove 12.29 1987
Paty Wilson, Silver Bay 12.29 1990
Jenny Newsome, Breck 12.29 1995
Becky Schwartz, Red Wing 12.30 1989
Angela Lindsey, Richfield 12.30 1992
(70)
Lauren Cochlin, Owatonna 12.30 2004
Leah Hanson, Mounds View 12.30 2008
Akuoma Omeoga, Irondale 12.30 2009
Claver Williams, St. Paul Como Park 12.31 1984
Carmen Richardson, Irondale 12.31 1994
Chichi Omeoga, Irondale 12.31 2003
Taylor Anderson, Hopkins 12.31 2009
Mary Tanoe, Hopkins 12.31 2009
Angela Klatt, Eagan 12.33 2000
Jessica Smith, Mankato East 12.33 2006
(80)
Dominique Thompson, Robbinsdale Armstrong 12.33 2008
Rosey Erickson, Alexandria 12.33 2009
Janet Knopik, St. Cloud Apollo 12.34 1979
Jandro, Owatonna 12.34 1980
Denise Bullocks, Mt. St. Ben 12.34 1981
S. Lawdermilt, East Grand Forks 12.34 1981
Shannon Rauch, St. Cloud Tech 12.34 1981
Linda Pachel, Park Rapids 12.34 1984
Deb Hoogeveen, Luverne 12.34 1989
Melissa Schuft, Watertown Mayer 12.34 1990
(90)
A Lindsay, Brooklyn Center 12.34 1991
Anne Parker, Mounds View 12.34 1992
Denise Bitz, Grey Eagle Swanville 12.34 1993
Kara Biesener, Henry Sibley 12.34 1995
Aspen James, Woodbury 12.34 2000
Lisa Peterson, Minn Valley Lutheran 12.34 2004
Kristen Haak, Mounds View 12.34 2005
Bri Fernholz, Willmar 12.34 2006
Jes Vork, Cloquet 12.34 2007
Julie Kosowski, South St. Paul 12.35 1979
(100)
Heidi Kjolhaur, Clearbrook Gonvick 12.35 2005
Antoinette Goodman, Burnsville 12.35 2009

Big Marathons Happy with Registration Pace

Officials at the Grandma's and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathons say they are happy with the pace of registration for their respective races.

Grandma's Marathon, which is scheduled for June 18, announced late last week that it was more than half-full -- registering more than 5000 runners for what will be the 35th anniversary of the Duluth event.

“We are very pleased with the rate of marathon registrations," Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma’s Marathon said in a media release. "Our numbers are well ahead of where we were last year at this point and we are seeing a steady pace of runners securing spots for our 35th marathon celebration."

Last year, the Grandma's field topped out at 7387 runners. In 2009, after filling to capacity for 15 straight years, Grandma's hosted 8377 marathoners. The race's capacity is 10,000 runners.

This morning, Twin Cities In Motion officials told DtB that registration for the 30th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon had gotten off to a good start. Nearly 3300 marathoners had registered through Monday for the race which has a capacity of 11,2o0. TCM opened registration last Wednesday.

The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon has filled for the past 23 years.

Also ... Last week, Twin Cities In Motion unveiled a new log for its signature event, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. The logo below will replace the "Leaf Man" logo that had been the icon for the race since 1985.

"Leaf Man" will live on, however, as part of Twin Cities In Motion's organizational logo.

Garrett Heath Miles 3:55.87 for 2nd in Boston

Winona native Garrett Heath ran an indoor PR 3:55.87 for second place in the mile at Saturday's New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.

Heath finished behind former Stanford University teammate Russell Brown who won in 3:54.81. New Zealand's Nick Willis, a University of Michigan alumnus, was 3rd in 3:56.29.

Minnetonka High School alumnus Will Leer finished sixth in the race, one place ahead of American outdoor mile record-holder Alan Webb, in 4:00.70.

You can read story's about the race HERE (Race Results Weekly) and HERE (Boston Globe)

Heath's mark puts him #17 on the U.S. all-time list in the indoor mile by our count, one place ahead of 1970's star Marty Liquori. Heath has a bit of local company on the list: Richfield High School grad Steve Holman is ranked #12 with a 3:55.41 from 1993 and Leer is ranked #14 with his 3:55.66 last year in Boston.

Bernard Lagat holds the American Record for the mile indoors at 3:49.89.

Hicham El Guerrouj holds the World Record at 3:48.45.

Lance Elliott is Master Runner-Up ... Edina resident Lance Elliott was the runner-up in the meet's masters mile. The Iowa State alum ran 4:23.72 to finish behind winner Charlie Kern's 4:19.73.

Find our more about Elliott HERE, thanks to MastersTrack.com.

Find complete results of the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix HERE.

Yes/No: Team USA Minn. at USA Cross Country

For the second week of Yes/No in 2011, we will again feature a question regarding Team USA Minnesota runners traveling to warm weather to compete with the best distance runners in the United States.

This time, five runners will travel to San Diego to run the USA Cross Country Championships. The races will occur Saturday afternoon at Mission Bay Park and feature names like Shalane Flanagan, Matt Tegenkamp, Abdi Abdirahman and Duluth native Kara Goucher.

Five athletes from Team USA Minnesota will make the trip: Matt Gabrielson, Emily Brown, Andrew Carlson, Jamie Cheever, and Meghan Armstrong. Runners that finish in the top six will automatically earn a berth to the World Cross Country Championships, and Team USA Minnesota seems to qualify runners every year for the world meet.

Will this year be any different? Let us know by answering this question...

Y/N: Will any Team USA Minnesota runners finish in the top six at the 2011 USA Cross Country Championships on Saturday?

Matt Gabrielson will attempt to qualify for his fourth Team USA squad. Gabrielson chose to compete at USA Cross Country after a strong performance at January's Bupa Great Edinburgh International cross country race where he finished 18th.

Andrew Carlson has two national road championships to his credit (8K and 25K) and competed on the U.S. team at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2010. Emily Brown won the 2009 USA Cross Country Championship and qualified for the national squad in 2010 as well.

Meghan Armstrong finished in the top fifteen at the USA Cross Country race in both 2009 and 2010. Jamie Cheever is making her professional debut at a USA Championship after earning three All-American awards at the University of Minnesota.

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 3:00 P.M. CST, Saturday, February 5th. 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 2011 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My answer: No

Last week's question was: Will Jason Lehmkuhle AND Katie McGregor finish among the top 6 Americans in their respective races at the USA Half Marathon Championship on Saturday in Houston? The answer was yes. McGregor was fourth and Lehmkuhle fifth. Twenty-five contestants answered correctly and tied for first place.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner.

State Champions Commit to Minnesota

State high school champions Sasha Davis, Alex Beckman, and Adam Zutz signed letters of intent yesterday to compete for the University of Minnesota as collegians.

Park Center's Davis (pictured) was the MSHSL Class AA girls' 100, 200, and 400-meter champion last spring, running 12.06, 24.44, and 55.09 en route to her historic triple.

Eastview's Beckman, who will be joined in maroon and gold by her sister Amanda, was the Class AA girls' triple jump champion in 2010. She also placed in the 100-meters. Amanda Beckman placed in the long jump and 200-meters.

The Gopher women also signed Dickinson, North Dakota javelin thrower Jess Herauf.

The Gopher men landed 2010 Class AA cross country champion Adam Zutz of St. Francis who out-kicked Burnsville's Cole O'Brien for the state harrier title last fall in Northfield.

The team also landed Owatonna thrower Jake Fenske, Rosemount sprinter/jumper Goaner Deng, and Minnetonka middle distance runner Christian Skaret.

Pole vaulter Zach Siegmeier of Lakewood, Illinois also intends to transfer to Minnesota from Cuesta College next season.

Follow the latest Gopher signings and U of M track news on the teams' Facebook pages HERE (women) and HERE (men).

Photo by Gene Niemi.

Twin Cities Marathon Opens Registration

Registration for October's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon opened today.

Runners interested in competing in the event can find information and register for the October 2 event HERE.

This year's race will represent the 30th running of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, which originated in 1982. Registration fees are $100 per entrant, plus a processing fee.

Last year, the Medtronic Twins Cities Marathon filled to capacity in early June, the 23rd consecutive year the field had filled. The race is limited to 11,200 runners.

USATF Minnesota to Honor 2010's Best

USA Track and Field Minnesota will honor the state's top athletes of 2010 at its annual Awards Celebration on Saturday, February 19 at the Braemar Country Club in Edina.

Ahead of the gathering, which is free to USATF-Minnesota members, award-winners, and their guest, and costs $10 for other attendees, the organization has announced its award winners.

They are:

Bantam Athletes of the Year - Ben Olson, J'ianna Cager
Midget Athletes of the Year - Jesse Delgado, Lauren Smith
Youth Athletes of the Year - Matthew Rosen, Elise Anderson
High School Athletes of the Year - Devin Crawford-Tufts, Jessica January, and Sasha Davis
Masters Runners of the Year - Patrick Billig, Sonya Anderson
Open Track & Field Athletes of the Year - Aaron Studt, Gabriele Anderson
Masters Track & Field Athletes of the Year - Ralph Maxwell, Tweety Wolf
Race Walker of the Year - Phil Rogosheske
Cross Country Runners of the Year - Patrick Parish, Amy Lyons
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Runners of the Year - Chris Lundstrom, Helen Lavin
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Contribution Award - Larry Pederson
Officials of the Year - Donna Zirgibel, Marc Hoyer
Life Time Contribution Award - Merrill Fischbein

Also honored will be Long Distance Runners of the Year Dan Greeno and Michelle Frey, and a host of age-group Runners of the Year, listed HERE.

Find more information on the Awards Celebration HERE.

McGregor 4th, Lehmkuhle 5th at USA Half

Defending USA Road Circuit champion Katie McGregor finished 4th at Saturday's USA Half Marathon Championships held in conjunction with the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Three-time Olympian Jen Rhines won the race, which kicked of the 2011 USARC season, in 1:11:14. McGregor ran 1:12:13, finishing behind Serena Burla and Nan Kennard.

McGregor's Team USA Minnesota teammate Jason Lehmkuhle finished 5th in the men's race in 1:02:49.

Mohamed Trafeh won the race in 1:02:17, followed by Ryan Hall, the American record-holder for the distance, former Team USA Minnesota runner Patrick Smyth, and Fasil Bizuneh.

Lehmkuhle has often found success at the USA Half Marathon, finishing 2nd in 2008, 3rd in 2005 and 5th in 2007.

Many of Minnesota's top long distance runners made the trip south for the race. Jennifer Houck, the 2009 Minnesota Runner of the Year finished 12th in the women's race in 1:15:02, while Robbinsdale Armstrong alumnus Leah Thorvilson finished 24th in 1:17:51.

In the men's race, Team USA Minnesota's Josh Moen finished 13th in 1:05:05; former St. John's University star Chris Erichsen was 18th in 1:05:42; Dan Greeno, the 2010 Minnesota Runner of the Year finished 34th in 1:07:37, and Donovan Fellows was 46th in 1:10:03.

Find complete results of the USA Half Marathon HERE.

Find video coverage of the race and interviews HERE.

USA Track & Field has a photo gallery from the race HERE.

Gophers' Schwecke Leads Iowa State Heptathlon

After yesterday's opening day of competition, University of Minnesota senior Joey Schwecke leads the heptathlon at Iowa State’s Bill Bergan Invitational.

Schwecke, the 2009 Big Ten heptathlon runner-up, kicked off the competition with career bests in the 60-meters and the long jump en route to scoring 3186 points, his highest first-day total of his Gopher career.

Schwecke clocked a time of 7.06 seconds in the 60m to start off the seven-event, two-day competition. The Gopher co-captain followed with a career-best 23-9 3/4 in the long jump. Schwecke maintained his lead with a throw of 42-0 in the shot put. He completed his opening day clearing a height of 6-6 in the high jump.

Michigan State's Kurt Schneider is currently in second place overall with 3127 points.

The Gophers' Brock Spandl is currently in sixth place with 2946 points. Spandl ran 7.23 in the 60m, marked 22-10 1/2 long jump, put the shot 35-11 1/4, and cleared 6-6 in the high jump.

Find Day 1 results HERE.

The event concludes today with the 60m high hurdles, pole vault, and 1000m.

TCM Contributed $336,702 to Charity in 2010

Twin Cities In Motion, the organizers of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and an array of other events, has announced that it raised $336,702 for charity in 2010.

TCM, together with its community partners and training teams, raised the money through entry fundraisers, individual donations, and contributions to the Friends of TCM program.

TCM focuses it charitable giving on promoting healthy youth through running events

“The energy the event creates inspires people to want to share the amazing feeling of the finish line with our youth - who have a lot to learn from the power of crossing a finish line,” Stephanie Leonard, Volunteer and Marketing Director for Bolder Options, a TCM-supported charity, said in a TCM media release. “The financial support is a great boost for us, but the spirit of the event is what really benefits Bolder Options and the youth involved in our program.”

In addition to monetary donations, goods were also donated to TCM’s In-Kind Community Partners, Hand-in-Hand Together, US’Again Clothes Collection System, and the Emergency Foodshelf Network, the organization said.

US’Again alone collected 3,000 pounds of clothing from this year’s race while the Emergency Foodshelf Network received 46,600 pounds of water, bananas, and potato chips from TCM.

Find more information about TCM's community outreach efforts HERE.

Yes/No: Team USA Minn. at the USA Half

Somehow, Yes/No is returning to Down the Backstretch for its third year in 2011!

You might think that since this is an otherwise respected running news site, we in the Fantasy Sports Department must possess incriminating photos of a certain DtB Publisher/Editor for shenanigans like Yes/No and Pick Ten (our other little game) to continue. We'll never tell. But, we will try to find new and exciting ways to keep the competitions fun in this new year.

It might be cold in Minnesota but the Aramco Houston Half Marathon always seems to boast good running weather. This year the race will again crown the USA Half Marathon Champion for men and women. The course will also feature a preview of the race course for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the Marathon.

Team USA Minnesota runners were front and center in the 2010 edition of this race. Antonio Vega took the top prize, followed by then-teammate Patrick Smyth, with Josh Moen and Matt Gabrielson also finishing in the top 10. This year, the training group will be represented by Jason Lehmkuhle, Josh Moen, and seven-time National Champion Katie McGregor.

Hence, our question ...

Y/N: Will Jason Lehmkuhle AND Katie McGregor finish among the top 6 Americans in their respective races at the USA Half Marathon Championship on Saturday in Houston?

Katie McGregor was the 2010 USATF Women's Long Distance Runner of the Year, winning three USA titles on the roads and securing the USA Running Circuit title. She has run 1:12:01 for half marathon as well as 31:21 for 10,000 meters.

Jason Lehmkuhle has finished in the top five at the USA Half Marathon Champs three times (2005, 2007 and 2008). His half P.R. is 1:02:32. Lehmkuhle ran a tune-up 3000 at the U of M last week in 8:12.

The fast course is attracting a strong domestic field, as usual. Top contenders include Ryan Hall, Abdi Abdirahman and Mo Trafeh on the men's side and Serena Burla, Jen Rhines and Magdelena Lewy Boulet for the women.

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 7:00 A.M. CST, Saturday, January 29th. Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail.

My answer: Yes

The 2010 Yes/No results are posted at DtB Fantasy Corner. You can also find the 2009 results at that site as well. Yes/No generously awards no prizes to its winners, so high school and collegiate athletes and coaches can play without fear of running afoul of anti-wagering regulations.

For the new year, we will continue to tally results and list the overall leaders. We are looking at crowning victors in various categories as well. Details to follow as the year progresses...

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner.

College Indoor Track Rankings Round-Up

Yesterday, as we noted on our Twitter and Facebook feeds (see sidebars), the University of Minnesota men's track team rose one place in the latest USTFCCCA Division I indoor rankings.

The Gopher men are now ranked #15 in the nation.

LSU leads the rankings. Indiana at #7 and Penn State at #10 top the Gopher men among Big Ten schools.

The Gopher women dropped six places in the latest rankings, falling to #51.

Oregon leads the women's ratings; Indiana is the top-ranked Big Ten school at #16

Find full Division I rankings HERE.

Division II ... Minnesota State, Mankato's men's team was ranked #19 in the latest D2 indoor track rankings, moving up a spot in the last edition of the ratings. The Maverick's are the lone Minnesota men's team in the rankings.

Winona State, at #16, leads the state's D2 women's teams. The Minnesota State, Mankato women are ranked #25.

Find full Division II rankings HERE.

Division III ... Rankings in NCAA Division III are scheduled to be released later today. Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook pages for updates.

The full Division III rankings will ultimately appear HERE.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Stephanie Herbst-Lucke

Editor's Note: Here's our penultimate installment in our profile series of the 2010 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame inductees.

Stephanie Herbst-Lucke

Stephanie Herbst-Lucke's unique and impressive running career began in her native Chaska. In high school, Herbst-Lucke won an MSHSL State title in cross country, back-to-back 3200-meter State crowns, as well as a State 1600-meter title.

Herbst-Lucke (pictured) attended the University of Wisconsin and soon established herself as the nation's top collegiate long-distance runner. She won seven individual Big Ten titles and was named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 1985-86.

Herbst-Lucke was a six-time NCAA All-American and winner of three NCAA titles. In 1986 she set NCAA records in her victories at 3000m indoors, and at 5000 and 10,000m outdoors. She set the collegiate all-time record in the 10,000m that year as well.

Herbst-Lucke competed in the 1985 and 1986 Olympic Festivals and in 1988 qualified for the Olympic Track and Field Trials. In 2000, author Frank Murphy made Herbst-Lucke the central figure in his book about women's long distance running, The Silence of Long Distance.

After a 20-year break from competition, Herbst-Lucke returned to racing as a masters runner. Unbeaten as a master and still competitive against open runners, Herbst-Lucke has made two USA World Half Marathon teams and two USA Ekiden teams.

Herbst-Lucke owns the American masters record for 30K -- 1:49:31 -- which she set in 2008 and for 10 Miles, which she established last fall at age 44 at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile, running 55:36 and finishing in 8th-place overall.

A resident of Atlanta, Herbst-Lucke is the chief marketing officer for Foot Solutions and, with husband Jim, parents children aged 15, 13, and 9-years-old.

Photo by Charlie Mahler.

Gophers Strong at Jack Johnson Classic

The University of Minnesota track teams looked strong in their first high-test meet of the 2011 indoor season.

The two-time defending Big Ten indoor and outdoor champion men won six events in the collegiate competition of the meet, which featured solid NCAA Division I adversaries.

The Gopher women netted five individual titles.

The men's victories were spread across the event areas, although the Gopher middle distance crew was especially successful -- Big Ten champion Harun Abda, senior Mike Torchia, and sophomore Nick Hutton all won titles.

Abda edged Iowa’s Steven Willey by .14 to win the 600m in 1:17.85. Torchia had a come from behind win in the mile in 4:08.90. Hutton ran a Jack Johnson record 1:51:04 in the 800m.

Also capturing titles for the Gopher men were Brock Spandl, who won the pole vault at 17-1, Micah Hegerle, who won the weight throw with 63-9 3/4, and Trey Davis, who captured the shot put title with 56-1 3/4.

Distance runners also powered the Gopher women.

Nikki Swenson won the mile by out-racing Iowa’s Betsy Flood on the event's final lap to win in 4:46.62. Cross country All-American Stephanie Price won the 3000m in 9:38.37, with teammate Missa Varpness second at 9:39.23.

Katie Hill led a Gopher sweepin the 800 meters: Hill won in 2:12.14, Jamie Dittmar was second in 2:14.51, and Jamie Vandenberg was third in 2:15.68.

On Friday night, Laura Docherty on the 5000m for the Gophers in 17:36.16.

Sprint star Chimerem Okoroji rounded out the triumphs, running the two fastest 60m races of her Gopher career on Saturday. She set the Jack Johnson record with a 7.46 in the prelims; the #3 performance in Minnesota history. Later, she won the final at 7.50.

Find results of the meet HERE (men) and HERE (women).

Flotrack has video coverage of the meet HERE ... including THIS heartening interview with Hassan Mead who is on the comeback trail.

Bemidji State to Drop Men's Track Program

Bemidji State University will drop its men's indoor and outdoor track and field programs at the end of this season, University officials announced yesterday.

In the school's media release on the subject, HERE, Bemidji State Athletic Director Rick Goeb highlighted the financial situation the school finds itself in -- an expected $5-million shortfall in the next two years.

In the Bemidji Pioneer's story on the campus-wide cuts being made at Bemidji State, HERE, University President Richard Hanson said eliminating men's track and field had more to do with Title IX compliance than the budget shortfall.

The programs were targeted for elimination two years ago, but were given a temporary reprieve in late 2008, according to the Bemidji State release.

Current members of the BSU men’s track and field teams will have the opportunity to complete the current indoor and outdoor competition seasons. NCAA rules will allow Bemidji State athletes who wish to transfer to another school to be eligible immediately at the new institution.

Bemidji State will continue to offer women's indoor and outdoor track and field as well as cross country. Bemidji State does not offer men's cross country.

Season Hits Full Stride at Jack Johnson

The University of Minnesota indoor season hits full stride this weekend when the Gophers host the Jack Johnson Classic at the University Fieldhouse today and tomorrow.

The Gopher teams will host Iowa, Northern Iowa, North Dakota State, University of South Florida, South Dakota State, and Manitoba as well as a handful of open athletes in the meet in which the Gophers typically pull out all the early-season stops.

Competition begins today at 3:00 p.m., with multi-event athletes taking center stage. Saturday's program begins at 10:00 a.m.

Find the full order of events HERE.

The Gopher coaches offer video previews of the meet HERE (men's coach Steve Plasencia) and HERE (women's coach Matt Bingle.)

Team USA Minn. at Jack Johnson ... Three Team USA Minnesota distance runners – Matt Gabrielson, Meghan Armstrong and Jamie Cheever – will race the 3000-meter distance at the meet. All three are using the indoor track meet as a final tune-up before they compete at the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego on February 5.

Gabrielson most recently placed 18th at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Men’s Cross Country Team Challenge in Scotland on January 8. Armstrong’s recently finished 7th in the Bay Area Cross Challenge in San Francisco on January 16. Last Saturday. Cheever ran a 4:47.87 to win the women’s mile race at the Minnesota Open.

St. Olaf Indoor Marathon Makes the WSJ

The Wall Street Journal ran a feature on the Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon on St. Olaf's indoor track yesterday. Complete with a video. You can see it HERE.

Place, Delgado, Olson Honored by USATF-Minn.

The Minnesota Association of USA Track & Field announced yesterday that Morgan Place, Jesse Delgado, and Connor Olson are USATF Minnesota's Athletes of the Month for January 2011.

Place, a junior at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, was recognized for her 5th place finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships held in Louisville, Kentucky in December. Place ran the 6-kilometer race in 21:14, making her third-straight finish in the top-10 at the meet.

Delgado and Olson were recognized for runner-up finishes in their respective divisions of the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Hoover, Alabama last month.

Delgado, a Waseca resident, ran 10:17 in the 3-kilometer Midget Boys race for 11 and 12-year-olds. Olson, of Maple Grove, ran the 4-kilometer Youth Boys race for 13 and 14-year-olds in 13:02.

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.

Hegerle Named Big Ten Athlete of the Week

University of Minnesota thrower Micah Hegerle was named the Big Ten's Field Event Athlete of the Week after winning the weight throw at the Minnesota Open on Saturday.

The Kasson-Mantorville alumnus marked a career-best 66-2 1/4, the fifth-best throw in Gopher history.

The Big Ten weekly award is the second of the sophomore's University of Minnesota career.

Photo of Hegerle by Becky Miller.

Team USA Minnesota Adds Jamie Cheever

Jamie Cheever, the former Minneapolis Southwest and University of Minnesota star, is Team USA Minnesota's newest member.

The elite long distance training center announced the addition of the three-time All-American yesterday.

Cheever earned All-American distinction three times as a Gopher: she was a member of the school's 3rd-place NCAA DMR in 2006, finished 33rd at the 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships, and was 11th in the NCAA 3000m steeplechase in 2008.

Cheever, who played soccer for the Gophers her freshman year, also held the second fastest times at Minnesota in the 800-meters (indoor and outdoor), steeplechase, and 6K cross country. Cheever ran track her freshman year and became a full-time runner in both cross country and track her sophomore year. Cheever graduated from the U of M in December 2009 with a double major in sociology and family social services.

Cheever kicked off her professional career over the weekend, winning the mile in 4:47.87 at the Minnesota Open. She will compete next at the Jack Johnson Classic meet at the U of M on Saturday, where she will run the 3000 meters.

Cheever is preparing to compete at the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Feb. 5.

MEADP Supports Three Team USA Athletes ... Three Team USA Minnesota athletes -- Meghan Armstrong, Chris Rombough and Emily Brown -- have earned grants from the Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program for 2011.

The awards were announced last weekend at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Distance Running Association. Armstrong and Rombough each received a grant of $1000, and Brown was awarded $750.

The Minnesota Elite Athlete Development Program provides financial assistance to elite Minnesota distance runners who have completed their collegiate running careers. It is funded by contributions from Grandma's Marathon, Twin Cities In Motion, and the Minnesota Distance Running Association.

Photo courtesy of Team USA Minnesota.

Weekend Racing Wrap-Up

Lots of Minnesotans were in action over the weekend. Here's our wrap-up of the action ...

Goucher Runner-Up in Return ... Kara Goucher finished second at the Rock n Roll Arizona Half Marathon on Sunday in her first race after giving birth to her son Colton. The Duluth native ran 1:14:02; Mexico's Madai Perez won the race in 1:11:48.

The Duluth News-Tribune's Kevin Pates has the full story HERE.

Armstrong 7th in Bay Area Cross ... Team USA Minnesota's Meghan Armstrong finished 7th at the Bay Area Cross Challenge, held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Sunday. Armstrong, who is preparing for the USA Cross Country Championships next month, ran 20:26 over the 6k course.

American 5000-meter record-holder Molly Huddle won the race in 19:19. Find complete results HERE.

Okoroji a Double Winner for Gophers ... Chimerem Okoroji sprinted to a pair of wins at the Minnesota Open on Saturday. The Gopher junior clocked a PR 7.51 in the 60-meter dash -- good for #4 all-time at the U of M -- and 25.13 for 200m.

In all, the Gopher women won six events at the meet. Find a wrap-up HERE and full results HERE.

Hegerle paces Gopher Men ... Micah Hegerle won the weight throw in a PR 66-2 1/4 to pace the University of Minnesota men's track team to a 10-victory showing at the Minnesota Open. The Kasson-Mantorville alum's mark was the #5 weight throw in Gopher history.

Find a meet wrap-up HERE and full results HERE.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Merrill Fischbein

Editor's Note: Here's the fourth installment in our profile series of the 2010 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame inductees.

Merrill Fischbein

Since 1967, while the name of the governing body of the sport changed from the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), The Athletics Congress (TAC), to USA Track & Field, Merrill Fischbein has served as a master official for athletes of all ages and abilities.

For the last thirty years, Fischbein (pictured) has served as the Chair of Officials' Certification in Minnesota, overseeing the training and evaluation of the state's track and field umpires, judges, referees, and starters.

Over the years, Fischbein has held many board and chairmanship positions with USA Track and Field Minnesota, including serving as USATF-Minnesota president from 1994-1998.

Fischebein has coordinated and supervised officials for the University of Minnesota track and field program since 1985. He's been a Minnesota State High School League official for 37 years, in many of those yeas serving as head starter at the State Meet.

Beginning in 1992, Fischbein has served as the Coordinator of the International Special Olympics, helping to create a memorable experience for athletes and participants in that program.

Fischbein was inducted into the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame in the administrator and coach category

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Favor-Hamilton, Winckler Key Coaches' Clinic

Three-time Olympian Suzy Favor-Hamilton and three-time NCAA Coach of the Year Gary Winckler will headline the revamped Minnesota Track & Field Coaches Association Clinic set for Friday and Saturday, January 28-29 at the Bloomington Sheraton Convention Center.

Favor-Hamilton, a Stevens Point, Wisconsin native who raced to nine NCAA middle distance titles for the University of Wisconsin, will discuss motivation at a clinic session, make the keynote address to the Minnesota State Track and Field Coaches' Association meeting and banquet, and lead a fun run during the weekend.

Winckler, who has mentored 13 Olympians and coached USA teams at the IAAF World Indoor and World Outdoor Championships, will give four separate talks on hurdling and sprinting during the clinic.

More than three-dozen coaches and athletes will offer their insights at the clinic, including Olympic shot putter Ron Backes, University of Minnesota men's throws coach Lynden Reder, and U.S. Military Academy coach Troy Engle.

General information on the coaching clinic can be found HERE.

A roster of speakers and their biographies can be found HERE.

A clinic schedule is HERE.

Gabrielson Switches to USA Cross Championships

Happy with his race last Saturday at the Bupa Great Edinburgh International cross country race, Team USA Minnesota's Matt Gabrielson has decided to compete at the USA Cross Country Championships on February 5 in San Diego, rather than the USA Half Marathon Championships a week earlier in Houston.

Gabrielson announced the decision is THIS Team USA Minnesota media release.

The Drake University alumnus finished in 18th place in the men's 8.2K in Scotland, helping the USA team to a runner-up finish in team competition.

"I was very pleased with my race, Gabrielson said. "While it wasn't a total peak performance, based on how I felt, not getting any side stitches for the first time in a long while in a race and my positive competitive mindset, I would say it was the best start to a year of racing that I have had in a long, long time. I was very fired up for the coming year afterwards."

Gabrielson original plan was to compete in the USA Half Marathon Championships on January 29.

By competing at the USA Cross Country Championships instead, Gabrielson hopes to qualify for the fourth IAAF World Cross Country Championships in his career. Gabrielson made the USA team in 2006, 2006, and 2007.

In 2010, with the two events a month apart, Gabrielson finished ninth at the USA Half Marathon in a personal best 1:03:43 and 10th at USA Cross Country.

"I have never had a great race in the three times I have represented the U.S. at World Cross," Gabrielson said. "My career is nearing the end, and it would be wonderful if I could have one more shot at a top-40 finish or even better at this event."

"I had such a fantastic time last weekend and felt very happy with my result, so I just want to run another cross country event rather than 13.1 miles at this point," he added. "That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I finished in Edinburgh."

McGregor Headlines USA Half ... 2010 USA Running Circuit champion Katie McGregor will compete at the USA Half Marathon in Houston, race organizers announced earlier this week.

McGregor, who won three USA Championships on the roads last year, will face Olympians Jen Rhines and Magdalene Lewy Boulet and 2010 USA Half runner-up Serena Burla at the event.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Tom Heinonen

Editor's Note: Here's our third installment in our profile series of the 2010 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame inductees.

Tom Heinonen

A graduate of Robbinsdale High School, Tom Heinonen first showed his athletic talent by finishing 5th at the MSHSL Cross Country State Meet and runner-up in the State mile. After graduation, he became a member of Roy Griak's first recruiting class at the University of Minnesota in 1963.

As a Gopher, Heinonen was a member of the 1964 Big Ten champion cross country team, finishing fourth individually. Before his U of M career was over, Heinonen would win a Big Ten title at three-miles and earn All-American distinction at three-miles and six-miles.

Heinonen continued racing after college, clocking the fastest marathon time by an American in 1968 (2:18:30), representing the USA at the World Cross Country Championships the same year, and winning the 1969 AAU Marathon title.

Heinonen made his deepest mark in the sport as coach of the University of Oregon women's cross country and track program from 1975 until 2002. His teams won two NCAA cross country titles (1983 and 1987) and an NCAA outdoor track crown (1985).

At Oregon, Heinonen coached NCAA champions and collegiate record-holders at every distance from 800-meters to 10,000-meters. He coached Annette Peters in college and beyond, leading her to an NCAA 5000m title in 1988, a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 1992, and an American Record in the 5000m in 1993, when she became the first American woman to break 15:00.

Heinonen retired from the University of Oregon in 2003, but now volunteers as coach of the UO Running Club, a student-organized club team on campus.

Photo by Charlie Mahler.

Vaulters Headline Gopher Home Opener

Gopher pole vault stars Ben Peterson and Samantha Sonnenberg headlined action at the University of Minnesota's home opening Northwest Open on Saturday.

Peterson, the defending Big Ten indoor champion in the event -- and the 2008 winner as well -- cleared 16-8 3/4 to open his season. Peterson was one of seven Gopher men to win events at the meet.

There's a round-up of the men's meet, HERE, at Gophersports.com. Find men's results HERE.

Sonnenberg, the Big Ten runner-up last year and an NCAA All-American, cleared 13-3 1/2 to better former teammate Alicia Rue who cleared 13-1 1/2.

A round-up of the women's meet is HERE. Find women's results HERE.

Find photos from the meet, HERE, at Becky Miller's Gopher Track Shots web-page.

Photo of Becca Pilkerton by Becky Miller/gophertrackshots.com.

Gopher Men #16 in NCAA Indoor Rankings

The University of Minnesota men's track and field team is ranked #16 in the NCAA Division I preseason indoor poll released yesterday.

The defending Big Ten indoor and outdoor champions find themselves ranked behind #8 Penn State and #10 Indiana, among conference teams, however.

Florida tops the rankings, followed by LSU and Texas A&M.

The Gopher women are ranked #45 in the women's rankings. Penn State leads Big Ten teams at #19.

Oregon tops the women's rankings, followed by Texas A&M and LSU.

Find complete rankings HERE.

Gabrielson to Represent USA in Edinburgh

Team USA Minnesota's Matt Gabrielson will compete as a member of the USA men's team at tomorrow's Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country meet in Scotland.

The IAAF web-site has a preview of the meet HERE. American Track and Field has its preview of the event HERE.

Gabrielson has represented the USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships on three occasions -- in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Last February, he placed 10th at the USA Cross Country Championships in Spokane.

Gabrielson also was a member of the USA team at the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships where he competed in the marathon.

Vega Out, Moen In ... Correcting a post we published earlier this week, Team USA Minnesota's Pat Goodwin informed us that 2010 USA Running Circuit champion Antonio Vega will not defend his USA Half Marathon title in Houston later this month. The University of Minnesota alumnus is still recovering from November hernia surgery.

Teammate Josh Moen, however, the 2009 USA 10 Mile runner-up, will join Gabrielson and Team USA Minnesota's Jason Lehmkuhle at the race.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Larry Russ

Editor's Note: Here's our second installment in our profile series of the 2010 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame inductees.

Larry Russ

Larry Russ was hired to coach cross country and track and field at the College of St. Thomas in 1969. The practicing chiropractor had only limited coaching experience at the time, but soon built the St. Thomas program into an MIAC and NCAA Division III power.

Russ' 1974 team won the school's first MIAC harrier title in 29 years. Shortly thereafter, the Tommies won three-straight MIAC titles from 1978 to 1980, and then rattled off 10-straight conference victories under Russ from 1984 until 1993.

Russ' teams won two Division III cross country titles -- in 1984 and 1986 -- and found themselves in the D3 top-7 eleven times from 1978 until 1992. Russ' teams got to the national championships in 17 of his 18 years as coach.

Russ coached 23 All-Americans during his St. Thomas tenure, including 1982 Division III cross country champion Nic Manciu.

Russ served as the St. Thomas track coach from 1969 until 1990.

Photo of Larry Russ by Charlie Mahler.

Minnesotans Eying USA Half Marathon

It looks like there will again be a large and important Minnesota presence at the USA Half Marathon Championships hosted later this month by the organizers of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

Six Minnesota men, including defending USA Half Marathon champion Antonio Vega are signed up for the event, according to USA Track and Field's "Status of Entries" web-page for the event, HERE.

Surprisingly, no elite Minnesota women are currently listed in the entry rolls.

Preparing to join Vega on the starting line are Team USA Minnesota teammates Jason Lehmkuhle, the runner-up at the 2008 USA Half Marathon, and Matt Gabrielson, Olympic Trials marathoner Donovan Fellows, former St. John's University All-American Chris Erichsen, and recent Bethel Univeristy alum and All-American Dan Greeno.

Other notables in the race include 2010 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon champ Sergio Reyes and former Team USA Minnesota athlete Patrick Smyth, who finished second to Vega last year.

Result of last year's USA Half Marathon can be found HERE. This year's race is scheduled for Saturday, January 29.

In 2012, Houston will host the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials for men and women.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Bill Huyck

[Editor's Note: Here, finally, is the first of six profiles of the most recent inductees to the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame. We'll kick things off with former Carleton College coach Bill Huyck (pictured). We'll post profiles of the rest of the Hall's 2010 inductees in the next two weeks.

The story we wrote on the Hall of Fame ceremony last November is HERE.]

Bill Huyck

Bill Huyck, one of three coaches inducted to the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2010, is a 1953 graduate of Carleton College who returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach after four years in naval aviation. By 1958, he was the Northfield school's head track coach.

In his tenure as head coach at Carleton, which lasted until 1984 when he became the athletic director at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, he lead the Knights to 12 Midwest Conference indoor and outdoor track titles and another dozen cross country crowns.

His 1980 Carleton cross country squad won the NCAA Division III title -- one of eight Huyck-coached harrier squads to finish in the top-10 at D3.

Notable individual athletes that had the honor of Huyck's tutelage include miler Mike Steiner, the fastest college division miler in the NCAA in 1969; Dale Kramer, a four-time Division III champion at 5000-meters and cross country; and Rick Bollin, a two-time D3 runner-up in the decathlon.

Huyck was a frequent contributor to track and field technical journals. He also served as the chairman of the NCAA Division III Track Committee, as well as president of the D3 cross country coaches association.

Huyck continues to coach javelin throwers at Carleton.

Photo by Charlie Mahler.

Lehmkuhle, Nicolini Close 2010 in NYC

Team USA Minnesota's Kristen Nicolini and Jason Lehmkuhle sneaked one last race into their 2010 seasons, participating in the Emerald Nuts Midnight run in New York City on New Year's Eve.

The married couple finished 5th and 7th, respectively in the 4-mile race through Central Park hosted by the New York Road Runners.

Nicolini ran 22:01 for the distance in the women's division won by Desiree Davila. Lehmkuhle ran 18:50 in men's competition. Stephen Furst won that division in 18:11.

Complete results of the race race be found HERE.