TCM Highlight Show Tonight on FSN

Olympian Carrie Tollefson and, yours truly, DtB editor/publisher Charlie Mahler will host tonight's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Race Weekend Highlight Show.

The show will air at 7:00 p.m. tonight on Fox Sports North.

I haven't seen the final cut, but Carrie and I talked with Jason Hartmann and Ilsa Paulson, the men's and women's marathon winners, as well as Abdi Abdirahman and Josh Moen who waged a stirring battle for the USA title in the TC 10 Mile.

There should be race footage as well. And, you can also expect features on Team USA Minnesota and a package on TCM's storied 28-year history.

TCM Changes Name, but Keeps Initials; Adds Summer Half-Marathon to Line-Up

Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. has changed its name to Twin Cities In Motion.

The non-profit entity that organizes the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and its related events, says the name change better reflects the full scope of its activities. Twin Cities in Motion's tagline is “Plan. Organize. Manage. Run.”

“The running community recognizes the importance of quality running events, and the history of our brand promises to deliver a top notch experience at any distance,” Twin Cities in Motion executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said in a media release. “The name Twin Cities Marathon has dually represented our world class running event and the group of dedicated staff and volunteers who have made each marathon spectacular for the past 28 years."

"Over this time, the organization behind the event has changed," she continued. "We’ve grown in size, added new events, and built a solid reputation as fitness event planners. Our new name is a positive reflection of our past and a foundation for our future, as we continue to serve our community by promoting health and fitness through the inspiration and achievements of people of all ages and abilities."

Read the full media release HERE.

New Half Marathon ... In a separate announcement, TCM announced that it will host an inaugural half marathon event -- the "Red, White, and Boom TC Half Marathon" -- on July 4, 2010.

The event was created to meet the growing interest in that distance and to offer runners a major event that can be included in holiday weekend plans surrounding July 4th, the organization said.

A four-mile race as well as kids events, will be part of the event, allowing walkers and runners of all ages and abilities to join in the festivities. The half-marathon is planned for the Minneapolis area surrounding Boom Island.

Read the full media release HERE.

Gopher Teams #8 and #30 in Latest Polls

The University of Minnesota women's cross country team rose one place to #8 in the latest NCAA Division I rankings, while the Golden Gopher men dropped one spot to #30 in the poll.

You can find the the full national rankings, released yesterday, HERE (women) and HERE (men).

The defending champion University of Washington Huskies lead the women's poll. Stanford Univeristy, where Winona High School graduate Elliott Heath competes and where his older brother Garrett is an assistant coach, tops the men's poll.

The Gopher women are the #2-ranked team in the Midwest Regional, behind Griak Invitational champions Iowa State. The Gopher men are ranked #4 in the Midwest behind, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Oklahoma.

Winner's at SDSU ... The Gopher women raced at the SDSU Classic in Brookings, South Dakota last weekend. Minnesota, competing for the fourth time this season, topped Kansas State 24-50. North Dakota State tallied 112 in the 10-team meet.

Megan Duwell led the team with the 2nd place finish in the race, behind K-State's Beverly Ramos.

Results of the meet are HERE.

The Gopher men, who've raced only once as a full varsity squad, were idle last week. Both Gopher teams will race again on October 17 at the Pre-NCAA meet in Terre Haute, Indiana.

St. Francis' Zutz Tops Class AA Boys' Poll

Adam Zutz, the top-finishing Minnesotan in the Gold Division of the Griak Inviational two weekends ago, is the new #1-ranked Class AA boys harrier in Minnesota.

The St. Francis junior (pictured) assumed the top spot in the latest coaches poll, replacing Red Wing's Bryant Blahnik, who fell to #9 after a third place finish at his home invitational last week.
Eden Prairie junior Aaron Bartnik and Bloomington Jefferson senior Jake Sandry round out the top-three.

The top spots in the rankings remained unchanged this week: Eden Prairie's boys and girls' squads top Class AA; the Perham teams top Class A; and Jamie Piepenburg of Alexandria (Class AA girls), Paul Koullick of Blake (Class A boys), and Maddie McClellan of Perham (Class A girls), still rule their respective divisions.

Full Class A rankings are HERE.

Full Class AA rankings are below.

Boys

Teams:
1 Eden Prairie
2 Wayzata
3 White Bear Lake
4 Stillwater
5 Edina
6 Moorhead
7 Burnsville
8 Lakeville North
9 Rosemount
11 Eastview
10 Willmar
12 Alexandria

Individuals:
1 Adam Zutz, 11, St. Francis
2 Aaron Bartnik, 11, Eden Prairie
3 Jake Sandry, 12, Bloomington Jefferson
4 Besufekad Shannon-Tamrat, 12, Hopkins
5 Jon-Michael Brandt, 12, Winona
6 Marty Joyce, 12, Woodbury
7 Chris Mueller, 12, Eden Prairie
8 Trent Lusignan, 11, Shakopee
9 Bryant Blahnik, 11, Redwing
10 Alex Johnson, 11, Maple Grove
11 Lukas Gemar, 11, Moorhead
12 Andy Fenske, 12, Park Center
12 Landon Lozano, 12, Wayzata


Girls

Teams:
1 Eden Prairie
2 Andover
3 Shakopee
4 Lakeville South
5 Prior Lake
6 Roseville
7 Monticello
8 Wayzata
9 Elk River
10 Moorhead
11 Hopkins
12 Lakeville North

Individuals:
1 Jamie Piepenburg, 10 Alexandria
2 Maria Hauger, 9 Shakopee
3 Cassidy Soli, 9, Champlin Park
4 Heidi Peterson, 11, Sartell
5 Emma Bates, 12 Elk River
6 Abbi Asprengren, 11, Elk River
7 Megan Platner, 11, Eden Prairie
8 Allison Cordes, 9, Roseville
9 Sharmila Amed, 11, Burnsville
10 Erica Seidenkranz, 10 Monticello
11 Julia Harrison, 11, Mound Westonka
12 Carrie Donohue, 12, Bloomington Kennedy

Photo by Gene Niemi.

A Dozen Views of Twin Cities Marathon Sunday

Here's our comprehensive collection of stories, photos, and impressions from a scintillating Sunday of Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and TC 10 Mile action.

(Top: Josh Moen leads the USA 10 Mile up the Franklin Bridge hill, photo by Paul Phillips/Competitive Image.)

-- You can read my Running USA Wire story on the USA 10 Mile Championship -- one of the most exciting races I've ever witnessed! -- HERE.

-- You can read my Running USA Wire story on the USA Women's Marathon Championship and Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon HERE.

-- The StarTribune's coverage of the men's marathon race is HERE.

-- Their coverage of the women's marathon is HERE.

-- The Pioneer Press' marathon coverage is HERE.

-- Find details and quotes from Team USA Minnesota athletes -- who had a huge day at Twin Cities! -- HERE.

Finally, enjoy these race-day photos ...

The men's lead pack during early-going to the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. (Photo by Paul Phillips/Competitive Image.)

Patrick Smyth (right) and Jason Lehmkuhle going 3-4 in the TC 10 Mile.

Luke Watson, 7th in his marathon debut, exhorts the finish-line crowd.

Antonio Vega en route to an 8th place finish at TCM.

Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle finishing 3rd in her marathon debut.

Photos by Gene Niemi except where noted.

Twin Cities in a Nutshell ...

Our other duties today will keep us from posting at length before Monday morning, but here's the scoop on the Sunday races at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon ... in 100 words or less (not that we have time to actually count):

TC Ten Mile ... Team USA Minnesota's Josh Moen gave three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman (pictured leading Moen) all he could handle in this morning's TC 10 Mile/USA Championship. Moen withstood Abdirahman's surges, surged on the six-time USA champion himself, and held the lead in the race's final mile ... but ultimately finished second -- 46:35 to 46:38 -- to the defending USA 10 Mile champ.

Kicking off a banner day for Team USA Minnesota, Patrick Smyth finished 3rd and Jason Lehmkuhle was 4th.

Rachel Booth of Mountain View, California won the women's TC-10 Mile (not a USA Championship for women) in 57:33.

Photo by Gene Niemi.

Men's Marathon ... At the 22-mile mark, 2004 Twin Cities Marathon Champion Augustus Kavutu of Kenya looked like he was in good position to win a second TCM title. But Jason Hartmann of Grand Rapids, Michigan (pictured) came off the pace to catch Kavutu and countryman John Njoroge, a Coon Rapids resident, and pull away for the win in 2:12:09.

Stillwater native Luke Watson finished 7th with a 2:15:29 debut; Team USA Minnesota's Antonio Vega was a place behind in 2:15:45.

Photo by Paul Phillips/Competitive Image.

Women's Marathon ... On a day many expected TCM to crown it's oldest champion -- 45-year-old Colleen De Reuck -- the race saw it's youngest winner ever as 20-year-old Ilsa Paulson (pictured) stole the show. De Reuck had a 1:40 lead on Paulson at 20 miles, but the elfin New York City resident motored by De Reuck on Summit Avenue and cruised to victory -- and a USA title -- in 2:31:49. De Reuck won the USA Masters title and finished second overall in 2:32:37.

Putting the exclamation point on the Team USA Minnesota effort was Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle who finished third with 2:35:06 debut..

Photo by Gene Niemi.

Sunday Twin Cities Marathon Links ...

Keep up with the runners -- from right in front of your computer -- with the links below:

Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile Results will be posted HERE.

Update: Abdirahman beats Moen 46:35 to 46:38 ... Smyth 3rd, Lehmkuhle 4th!

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Results will be posted HERE.

Update: Hartmann wins men's title in 2:12:09 ... Ilsa Paulson wins USA women's title in 2:31:49.

Also, WCCO 830 AM will have live "cut-in" coverage of both races starting at 7:00 a.m.

We'll post news and updates on DtB sometime Sunday afternoon ... after our other TCM duties are completed.

Team USA Minn's Armstrong Wins TC 5K

Team USA Minnesota's Meghan Armstrong won the women's title at this morning's TC 5K.

The University of Iowa alum clocked 16:45 for a runaway victory. Matthew Chesang of Olathe, Kansas, the 2008 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon champ, won the men's race in 15:30, just ahead of the University of Minnesota's Andy Richardson who clocked 15:32.

"It's a hilly course and it was very windy coming downhill toward the finish line but it was a good tune-up for me," Armstrong said in a Team USA Minnesota media release. "This is my first race back after taking some time off this summer."

Armstrong will race again next week and the USA Women's 10K Championships in Boston.

Evgeny Beletskiy of Minneapolis won men's division of the inaugural TC 10K in 33:59; Ariella Gottfried, also of Minneapolis won the women's race in 36:43.

Nearly 2000 runners participated in the inaugural TC 10K. More than 3000 people participated in the TC 5K.

Find full results HERE.

Twin Cities Marathon Grab-Bag III

The 2016 Olympics monopolized our afternoon coverage yesterday, so we'll use this morning's post to bring you up-to-date on the 2009 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon news being made at the yesterday's media events ...

De Reuck Could Make History ... 45-year-old, Four-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck made late entrance to the marathon media event, but not because she's a prima donna. Her travel, like that of many elite athletes making their way to Minneapolis/St. Paul, was delayed by the rainy weather.

Upon arrival, we learned from the affable former South African that here longevity in the sport is powered mainly by a love of running and racing.

"I'm just enjoying running, and I think that's why I'm still running races," De Reuck, who won the USA 20K Championship in September, said. "I like the racing aspect of it. Sometimes the training gets a bit hard to do, squashing it in and everything. But it's just great going out there."

A win by de Reuck on Sunday would make easily make her the oldest USA Women's Marathon champion and the oldest winner of the Twin Cities Marathon. She coud pocket a cool $34,000 with an Open, USA Championship, and USA Masters Championship victory on Sunday.

"I just go to a race to run as hard as I can," the mother of two said. "Every race I go to, I just give it everything I have. Some days I have a great race, other days you don't."

Abdirahman is 100% Fit ... You can be forgiven for thinking otherwise, but when Abdi Abdirahman won the 2007 USA 10 Mile Championship at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile in record-setting fashion he was only 60% fit.

That's what the three-time Olympian said yesterday, adding that he's 100% fit this year and look to smash the 47:34 record he established on that muggy day in 2007.

"Being 100%, I think I can run 46 [minutes]," he said matter-of-factly. "I'm fit and I'm ready to go."

Abdirahman recalled that a hip injury slowed him down in 2007, but that his training this summer, pointed ultimately for the New York City Marathon in November, is on target.

"I've been training well, everything's been going well," the Somali-born Abdirahman said. "I was injured in the beginning of the year, which I think was a blessing, because I didn't train as hard as I normally do."

Lehmkuhle on Target ... Team USA Minnesota's Jason Lehmkuhle, who finished second to Abdirahman in 2007, said he's "similarly fit" this year.

In 2007, Lehmkuhle clocked a PR 47:48 at the TC-10 and then went on to finish 5th in 2:12:54 at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trails a month later.

"The build-up has been a little bit different, " Lehmkuhle explained. "I haven't done the exact same workouts, the exact same series, so it's hard to say exactly where I compare, but I'd say, generally, the training's similarly good to what turned out to be a good race for me in 2007."

Like Abdirahman, Lehmkuhle will race the NYC Marathon next month.

Akor is Cold ... Three-time defending Grandma's Marathon champion Mary Akor wasn't part of the media conference line-up yesterday, but we ran into her in the lobby of the TCM headquarters hotel Friday evening.

Her first words: "It's so cold!"

Akor, who has used her ability to race well in warm weather to dominate Grandma's, would prefer race-day weather warmer than Sunday's predicted mid-40 degree temperatures.

Akor was the Twin Cities Marathon runner-up in 2006 and, perhaps, missed her best chance to win Twin Cities in 2007 when the weather was hot but she was battling a cold.

Ahead ... Later today, look to DtB for news and results from today's TC 5K and TC 10K.

On Sunday morning, we'll post links directly to TCM's results pages. (Your editor will be busy doing radio and TV work Sunday morning -- WCCO radio will have live cut-ins beginning at 6:30 a.m., FSN will air a highlight package hosted by Carrie Tollefson and me on Thursday night.) Look for updates and photos to appear on DtB in the afternoon or early evening.

We'll have complete coverage of the event on Monday moring.

Logan: Rio Pick Costs USATF $10 Million

USA Track and Field CEO Doug Logan, in St. Paul today ahead of Sunday's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, said the International Olympic Committee's choice of Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Summer Olympics will cost USA Track and Field $10 Million in revenue from partnerships based on the Games coming to Chicago.

Chicago was the first of the four finalist cities eliminated in voting this morning.

Logan (pictured) told a small group of media, USATF officials, and TCM organizers, however, that this morning's decision not to award the Games to Chicago wasn't a "death blow" to the sport he directs.

Logan, who will leave the Twin Cities prior to Sunday's race to participate in USA Track and Field law and legislation meetings in Indianapolis over the weekend, discussed the politics behind the IOC vote, the ramifications of the Olympic decision for USA Track and Field, and the future of the track and field during a wide-ranging forty-minute conversation.

A full audio recording of the event is here ...





Photo courtesy of USA Track & Field.

Samba Anybody?

Perhaps it was prescient that at Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion block party last Saturday, they had a samba dancing contest. It's Rio. The International Olympic Committee announced today that they had chosen Rio de Janeiro as host for the Summer Olympics in 2016. It's the right choice.

It was not my choice. For sentimental reasons, I had hoped that Chicago would win the vote among the four finalists--Rio, Madrid, Tokyo, and Chicago. I grew up in Ohio and my first plane ride was to visit my aunt in the Windy City. She lived in an apartment and worked at Michael Reese Hospital. That area was my "second home" in Chicago and would have been the site of the Olympic Village had Chicago's bid been successful. My son also lives in Chicago. I have friends who worked for the bid.

In retrospect, I believe Chicago's bid failed because it was marketed and sold on money. The US, the most powerful nation in the world, wanted to welcome those less economically fortunate to its core for a lucrative opportunity to enrich the city, the US, and the IOC. The President and First Lady lobbied in person, along with Oprah, for Chicago. Their message was that we are a diverse nation that wanted to welcome the world to visit us for the 2016 Games. We're rich. We're powerful. We'll be good for the IOC.

Rio countered with a message that has won the day in the last three Games bid contests, not what we are, but what we can do for you. It's widely believed that London's message of a Games that would leave a lasting legacy of promoting sport among all carried the day for the 2012 bid. The opening up of the world to China for 2008 triumphed. Rio combined those messages in selling their bid. Come to South America, Pele said. Be international. Be Olympian.

As a representative from the sports marketing firm IMG, David Abrutyn, said the Games in South America can be good for business as well. Just like Beijing, it is an opportunity for companies to have high profile access to an emerging market economy. But that was not the leading pitch by the boys from Brazil. Their president did not fly in at the last minute or send letters, he had traveled to Africa and elsewhere long before to lobby in person for votes.

As in most political processes, it's personal. Most of the countries voting and part of the "Olympic family" are more like Brazil than the US. They are not super powers. They don't have lucrative TV deals from corporate operations that pitch the financial rewards of their relationships. They don't have the albatross of what is viewed as the "Ugly American" syndrome of revenue sharing on those television contracts. If anything, Chicago's, and New York's before that in the last bid process, is another wake up call that, despite inroads made by the Obama administration, the US still has a lot of work to do to repair damaged relations with the rest of the world.

And, as Team USA Minnesota's Chris Lundstrom discovered when he competed in the Pan Am Games in Rio, the Brazilians can deliver on putting on an international sporting event. There will be a lot of analysis and aftershocks reverberating from today's vote. Those very different "games" will continue. But Rio is the right choice for the right reasons and has the potential of enhancing the Olympic "brand." With all it's other baggage, that brand survives because the underpinning of the Olympics is that it was created as an opportunity for the youth of the world to come together.

In 2016 the Olympic "party"/gathering will be in Rio. And, as the revelers at every year's Carnival can tell you, Rio knows how to party.

Charlie vs. Abdi and the Rest of the 10M Field

What do Olympian Abdi Abdiraham and Down the Backstretch editor/publisher Charlie Mahler have in common? (Don't worry, that's not this week's Yes/No question.)

The answer relates to the Medtronic Twin Cities 10 Mile, however, which is taking place this Sunday. In 1999, the race's inaugural year, Mahler climbed to the top of the proverbial podium, running 52:01 to earn a hard-fought TC-10 victory over Sean Mulheron. Our theory is that Abdiraham was so inspired by that race that he toed the line in 2007 -- the first time the race hosted the USA Men's 10 mile championship -- to follow in the DtB founder's footsteps.

Since the TC-10 is again hosting the USA Men's 10 Mile Championships, we would like to know how you think Charlie's 1999 race time will hold up against the 2009 competition. So ...

Yes/No: Will more than 40 runners in the USA 10 Mile Championship run faster than 52:01, Charlie Mahler's winning time of the first TC 10 Mile in 1999?

Abdirahman is back to defend his 2007 TC 10 Mile/USA Championship on Sunday. He'll be challenged by 8:17 steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti and 2007 TC-10 runner-up Jason Lehmkuhle of Team USA Minnesota. Because it's a USA Championship, the race has attracted a great field and large purse including $10,000 for the winner and $25,000 overall. (Mahler won only a trophy in 1999, we're told.)

Other top runners include Scott Bauhs, Thomas Morgan, Josh Eberly, Team USA Minnesota members Patrick Smyth, and Josh Moen, as well as recent U of M graduate Chris Rombough. Top local elites include Jeremy Polson, Chris Erichsen, Michael Reneau, and Chris Lundstrom.

The full elite list can be found HERE.

The last time the TC 10 Miler was a USA Championship was in 2007. In that race, Abdirahman ran 47:34 and 31 athletes ran faster than 52 minutes.

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. CDT, Sunday, October 4th. Please put your answer in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail. We will continue to offer a bonus for participants making their debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for any first-time players.

My answer: Yes

The Roy Griak Invitational Pick 10 contest was won by -- there he is again! -- Charlie Mahler with 70 points in a tight battle over Jake Marotz who tallied 68 points.

You can find the all of DtB's contest results and leaderboards at DtB Fantasy Corner.

Good luck and thanks for playing Yes/No on DtB!

Twin Cities Marathon Grab-Bag II

There's no stopping the 2009 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon now!

Things really start heating up today with media conferences and the final preparation for TCM's Saturday events -- the 5K, the new 10K, and the kids' races -- and then it's on to Sunday's marathon and ten mile races.

Before DtB makes the drive to St. Paul to get in on all the media action today, here's another collection of Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon notes and news items.

The USA Championships ... USA Track & Field put THIS succinct race preview together for all of the USA Championships being contested at TCM this weekend. The event will host the USA Women's Marathon Championship, the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship, and the USA Masters Marathon Championships for men and women.

Note: The USATF preview incorrectly lists Mohamed Trafeh in the USA 10 Mile field; he is a late scratch.

The Local Men's Marathon ... The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon men's race, which isn't a USA Championship this year, still features an uniquely local elite field. Along with Stillwater native Luke Watson and Team USA Minnesota's Antonio Vega, the Coon Rapids-based Duma Runners' Club has five runners in the elite mix.

Duma, a team of Kenyan-born athletes led by William Segei, features 2008 Grandma's Marathon runner-up David Tuwei. Tuwei was third at Grandma's earlier this year. Also competing for the squad are 2:10 marathoner and Bahrainian Olympian Stephan Lorou, Armen Kemei, Jacob Kendagor, and John Njoroge.

Advice from Team USA Minnesota ... Team USA Minnesota athletes Katie McGregor, Emily Brown, and Patrick Smyth will answer questions and discuss training, race strategy, nutrition, goal setting and injuries at a panel discussion starting at 4:00 p.m. today at the Target Health & Fitness Expo in the St. Paul River Centre.

McGregor is a five-time winner of the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. Brown, the reigning USA Cross Country champion, won the 2007 TC 5K. Smyth makes his Twin Cities 10 Mile debut on Sunday.

Facebook Film Festival ... If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out DtB's Facebook Film Festival, HERE. DtB co-founder Pete Miller has been posting his favorite running videos on DtB's Facebook page for some marathon-week inspiration and entertainment.

Watch the films and then become a Facebook fan of DtB! (All the kids are doing it!)

Weekend Coverage ... Stay tuned to DtB throughout marathon weekend for the latest on all the Twin Cities action. We'll post more news by Saturday morning off of today's media conferences. Later in the day, we'll have news and results from the TC 5K and 10K races.

On Sunday, we'll post top results and news about marathon and 10 mile.

And, by Monday morning, have our complete wrap-up of Minnesota's busiest weekend of racing.

UMD Women Surge in Division II Poll

The University of Minnesota - Duluth cross country team jumped up four spots in the latest NCAA Division II women's cross country rankings released yesterday.

The Bulldog women (pictured) won the Maroon II division of the Griak Invitational, topping then-#3-ranked Augustana, the defending NSIC champions. Augustana dropped to #10 this week.

In the newly released D2 men's poll, Minnesota State - Mankato fell nine places to #20 after their 4th place finish at Griak in the Maroon II division.

The complete Division II women's poll is HERE, the men's poll is HERE.

In Division III rankings, the Bethel University women, the top-ranked MIAC team in the D3 rankings, fell two spots to #12 in rankings also released yesterday. Carleton rose three places to #16, leap-frogging St. Thomas which fell five spots to #19.

Bethel finished 4th in the Griak Maroon III race with 136 points; Carleton was 6th with 174; St. Thomas was 7th with 176.

Among D3 men, St. John's remained #23 in the latest poll. St. Thomas entered the rankings for the first time this season at #35. Neither sqaud raced at Griak.

Complete Division III women's poll is HERE, the men's poll is HERE.

Photo by Taylor Marble.

Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Grab-Bag

Down the Backstretch has learned that the 28th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon will take place this weekend! Really.

To keep readers up-to-date on important matters relating to the event which will host the USA Women's Marathon Championships, the USA Men's 10 Mile Championships, and the USA Masters Marathon Championships for men and women, we've collected the following news items.

Late Scratches ... Marathon week always brings some late scratches. TCM has lost the following athletes to illness or injury in recent days: Olympian Elva Dryer and Samia Akbar from the USA Women's Marathon field; Kenya James Rotich and Ethiopian Genna Tufa from the men's marathon field, and Josh Rohatinsky from the USA Men's 10 Mile field.

We're expecting updated startlists later today, which we'll post as soon as possible. We posted THIS story on the TCM elite fields last week.

The Home Team ... Team USA Minnesota has a large contingent in this year's TCM events. Michelle Lilienthal and Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle will compete in the USA Women's Marathon Championship. Lilienthal placed 4th at the 2006 USA Women's Marathon hosted by Twin Cities and has a PR of 2:35:51. Nicolini Lehmkuhle is making her debut in the marathon.

Former Gopher star Antonio Vega will compete in the men's marathon. This will be Vega's second attempt at the distance, having run his first marathon at Twin Cities in 2008 in 2:23:41.

Jason Lehmkuhle, Josh Moen and Patrick Smyth will be among the competitors in the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship. Lehmkuhle was the runner-up in the event in 2007. He and Moen are preparing for the USA Men's Marathon Championships in November in New York.

Meghan Armstrong will run the TC 5K.

Team USA Minnesota's TCM complete press release is HERE.

Higdon on Marathon ... Carleton College alum Hal Higdon, a contributing editor for Runner's World and the author of some 35 books, will discuss his brand new novel Marathon at 2:00 p.m. Friday and 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Target Health & Fitness Expo and Packet Pick-up at the River Centre in St. Paul.

Higdon's first novel counts down the final 72 hours before a major Midwestern marathon. While the event itself is styled after the Chicago Marathon, Higdon's Minnesota background still works itself into the book. Several characters in the book run for a team based at "Northland College," located 40 miles from the Twin Cities. A women's favorite in the race is a Hmong from St. Paul.

The Kindle edition of the book is available now, HERE. The "dead-tree" version of the book is due to ship shortly.

Minnesota Women Drop to #9, Men to #29

The Golden Gopher teams dropped a little and a lot, respectively, in the latest NCAA Division I cross country polls released today.

The Minnesota women, who lost 31-48 to Iowa State at last Saturday's Griak Invitational, dropped one spot in the rankings to #9. The Gopher women remain the top-ranked Big Ten team in the poll, although Illinois looms at #10.

The Gopher men, who finished 4th at Griak while running without injured Mike Torchia, dropped 12 places in to poll to #29. The Gophers are the third-ranked Big Ten team in the poll, behind #4 Wisconsin and #23 Michigan.

Find the full women's rankings HERE and the men's HERE.

Duwell, Mead Honored ... Gopher stars Megan Duwell and Hassan Mead were named Big Ten Cross Country Runners of the Week, the conference announced today.

Duwell, a senior from West Bend, Wisconsin, won the Griak Invitational title in the women's Gold Division race in 21:01. Duwell topped Iowa State's Lisa Koll -- the fastest American collegian ever at 10,000 meters on the track -- by 12 seconds in the race.

Mead won the Griak title in the men's Gold Division with a 24:38 clocking, winning by 13 seconds over Iowa State's Guor Majak.

The paired Gopher victories were unprecedented in the 24-year Griak Invitational history, Until last Saturday, Rasa Michnoivaite had been the lone Gopher titlist at the meet.

Eden Prairie Returns to Rankings ... on Top

Like a yo-yo on a string, the Eden Prairie girls' cross country team rose in this week's coaches' poll as fast as it dropped last week.

The Eagles, who opened the season at the #1-ranked Class AA team, dropped out of the top-12 last week after a 4th-place finish at the Metro Invite. This week, the defending MSHSL Class AA champions are atop the rankings again, after their win Saturday at the Apple Valley Eagle Invitational over the #1, #3, and #4-ranked teams in Class AA.

The Eden Prairie boys', winners as well at Apple Valley, continue their ride atop the Class AA boys' rankings. Jamie Piepenburg of Alexandria remains at the top Class AA girls' individual ranks. Red Wings junior Bryant Blahnik assumes the top ranking in boys' Class AA.

In Class A, the top teams -- the Perham boys and girls -- and the top individuals -- Paul Koullick of Blake and Maddie McClellan of Perham -- remain in place in the rankings.

Find full Class A rankings HERE.

Find complete Class AA rankings below ...

Class AA Girls

Teams:
1 Eden Prairie
2 Andover
3 Shakopee
4 Lakeville South
5 Prior Lake
6 Roseville
7 Monticello
8 Wayzata
9 Elk River
10 Moorhead
11 Hopkins
12 Lakeville North

Individuals:
1 Jamie Piepenburg, 10 Alexandria
2 Maria Hauger, 9 Shakopee
3 Cassidy Soli, 9, Champlin Park
4 Heidi Peterson, 11, Sartell
5 Emma Bates, 12 Elk River
6 Abbi Asprengren, 11, Elk River
7 Megan Platner, 11, Eden Prairie
8 Allison Cordes, 9, Roseville
9 Sharmila Amed, 11, Burnsville
10 Carrie Donohue, 12, Kennedy
11 Erica Seidenkranz, 10 Monticello
12 Kaila Urick, 11, Chaska

Class AA Boys

Teams:
1 Eden Prairie
2 Wayzata
3 White Bear Lake
4 Stillwater
5 Edina
6 Moorhead
7 Burnsville
8 Lakeville North
9 Rosemount
10 Willmar
11 Eastview
12 Alexandria

Individuals:
1 Bryant Blahnik, 11, Redwing
2 Adam Zutz, 11, St. Francis
3 Aaron Bartnik, 11, Eden Prairie
4 Jake Sandry, 12, Bloomington Jefferson
5 Besufekad Shannon-Tamrat, 12, Hopkins
6 Jon-Michael Brandt, 12, Winona
7 Marty Joyce, 12, Woodbury
8 Chris Mueller, 12, Eden Prairie
9 Alex Johnson, 11, Maple Grove
10 Lukas Gemar, 1,1 Moorhead
11 Trent Lusignan, 11, Shakopee
12 Landon Lozano, 12, Wayzata

Griak Invitational Photos -- By Gene Niemi

Gold division men's champ Hassan Mead running free.

Gold division women's champ Megan Duwell.

Elizabeth Yetzer and Amy Laskowske scoring for the runner-up Gophers.


Ben Blankenship used a furious kick to grab 4th place individually for the 4th place Gophers.

James Krajsa of Minnesota State Mankato leading the Maroon II field.

Maroon III women's champion Marie Borner of Bethel.

Maroon II women's champion Morgan Place describes her victory.

Photos by Gene Niemi.

The Marathon Week Facebook Film Festival

Join us on Facebook to get ready for this weekend's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon events. Each day this week we'll post a running video on the DtB Facebook page. Some will be inspirational, while others will just be entertaining. Click the Facebook button at the top of the left column, or use this link to get started.

Be sure to let us know if you have any favorite videos on youtube or anywhere else online.

Short-Cut: Results' Links for September 25-27

There's lots -- LOTS! -- going on this weekend.

Find links to the results from it all below ...

Friday:
Mustang Invitational: Results

Saturday:
Griak Invitational: Results

D1 Update: Gopher women 2nd, men 4th; Duwell and Mead win.

D2 Update: UMD women win over #3 Augustana, Mankato men 4th; UMD's Place wins women's title, Mankato's Krajsa 2nd.

D3 Update: Bethel's Borner wins, Greeno runner-up; Bethel women 4th, St. Olaf men 7th.

HS Update: Wayzata boys win; St. Francis' Zutz 2nd overall.

Milaca Mega-Meet: Results
Update: AAAA ... #7 WBL boys tip #4 Stillwater; #8 Andover beats #2 Prior Lake.

Eagle Invitational: Results
Update: Eden Prairie sweeps team titles; Hauger, Bartnik winners.

Cow Harbor 10K: Results
Update: McGregor wins, Lehmkuhle 2nd in Long Island race.

Sunday:
Twin Cities Running XClassic: Results
Women Run the Cities 10M: Results
Update: DePrenger-Gott wins in 59:44.