MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Fernando Cabada (Boulder, Colo.) topped a
competitive men's field to win the USA Men's Marathon Championship in
2:16:32 at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday in Minneapolis,
Minn. The weekend's events also included the USA Women's 10 Mile
Championship where 2008 Olympian and 2007 World Outdoor 10,000m bronze
medalist Kara Goucher (Portland, Ore.) cruised to her first USA road
title in 53:44.
The weather turned out to be a major factor in the race for Cabada and
the field as light showers turned to a driving rain at eight miles to
combine with light winds and 48 degree temperatures that quickly chilled
the air in the middle miles of the race.
Nearly 30 men passed the first mile in a leisurely 5:30 when Chris
Lundstrom (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Justin Young (Boulder, Colo.) took
charge and pulled the field through the next two miles in 5:20 and 4:50.
At four miles Simon Sawe (Santa Fe, N.M.) and Celedonio Rodriguez
(Flagstaff, Ariz.) joined the leaders to share the pacing duties in an
attempt to keep the pace honest. However, the worsening conditions
caused the leaders to maintain caution.
At 14 miles, Cabada, the American Record holder at 25 km moved to the
front of the lead pack where he waited to make his move which came on a
short uphill just before 18 miles. By 19 miles he had opened a 60 meter
lead which would grow to 1:07 by the finish despite being on his own to
battle the wind and rain.
Behind Cabada, Rodriguez and Sawe looked to be on their own to fight for
second and third but Mike Morgan (Rochester Hills, Mich.) overtook the
pair just past the 21 mile mark and although he seemed to have momentum
on his side, Ed Torres (Boulder, Colo.) and Matt Gabrielson
(Minneapolis, Minn.) were on the move, steadily closing the gap to
eventually pass Morgan during the last mile.
Gabrielson won the duel for second, running 2:17:38 to finish 16 seconds
ahead of Torres. Morgan held on to finish fourth in 2:17:54 and Mike
Sayenko (Bellevue, Wash.) moved up to finish fifth in 2:19:18.
Additionally, the championship offered a one-day qualifying opportunity
for the 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon with the top-ten men meeting the
qualifying standards.
Cabada and Gabrielson also earned berths on the U.S. team for the 2009
IAAF World Championships marathon in Berlin, Germany next August.
The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon offered a prize purse for the 2008
USA Men's Marathon Championship of $72,500 with Cabada earning $25,000
for the win, plus an additional $7,000 in incentives and bonuses.
Women's 10 Mile Championship
With a 7:05 a.m. start, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile field managed to stay
ahead of the weather that would plague the marathon, providing more
favorable conditions for the USA Women's 10 Mile Championship with an
invitation-only women's wave start.
As anticipated Goucher and hometown favorite Katie McGregor (St. Louis
Park, Minn.) made their way to the front early. Going through an aid
station near three miles, Goucher went to take water and unexpectedly
found herself alone in the lead but maintained the tempo to carry on to
a 1:48 win and a new course record.
McGregor easily took second in 55:04 and Kelly Liljeblad (Niwot, Colo.)
rounded out the top-three in 57:06.
The championship offered a total of $25,000 in prize money with Goucher
earning $10,000 for the win.
Masters Marathon
For the 18th consecutive year, the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon hosted
the USA Masters Marathon Championship where Dennis Simonaitis (Draper,
Utah) won his second masters marathon title in 2:27:23 over Carl Rundell
(Birmingham, Mich.) by 44 seconds. Defending champion Tracy Lokken
(Marquette, Mich.) finished third in 2:30:24.
The women's masters division was won by Susan Empey (Mercer Island,
Wash.) in 2:50:05 with Meghan Arbogast (Corvallis, Ore.) taking second
in 2:51:34 and Doreen McCourbrie (Malvern, Pa.), taking third in
2:53:29.
The USA Masters Marathon Championships offered over $50,000 in prize
money with Simonaitis and Empey earning $7,500 each.
About the USARC
The USA Men's Marathon Championship, hosted by the Medtronic Twin Cities
Marathon was the final stop for men, and the USA Women's 10 Mile
Championships was the eighth stop for women on the 2008 USA Running
Circuit (USARC). Cabada's win in the marathon moved him from third to
take the circuit title with 65 points. Deena Kastor currently leads the
women with 45 points.
The USARC is a USA Track & Field road series that features USA
Championships from 5 km to the marathon and attracts the best U.S.
distance runners. The thirteenth edition for the men and twelfth for the
women, the 2008 circuit has nine events for men and seven events for
women.
The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first,
12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final
$12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three
men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA
Marathon Championships will be doubled.
The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and
promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its
races have provided over $4 million dollars to U.S. distance runners.
For more information on the 2008 USARC visit USATF.org.
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
