Number of area runners keep pace in one of event’s distance run choices
A number of area runners kept pace in one of the races that comprise the 2015 Mankato Marathon. The Mankato Marathon, held this year on Sunday, October 18, is the Midwest’s boldest race, with a course that features a countryside run at the beginning and culminates in the beautiful, yet challenging Minnesota River Valley.
There’s a race for every runner – including a full 26.2 mile marathon, relay, half, 10K, 5K, KidsK, Toddler Trot and Diaper Dash. The Mankato Marathon is a USATF (USA Track and Field) certified course, making it a Boston Marathon qualifier. Be bold.
The idea for a marathon in Mankato was whispered by local runners for a long time. But the seed that was planted by local marathoner, Chris Schull, finally took root with Greater Mankato Growth and the City of Mankato. In 2008, representatives from the Verizon Civic Center, City of Mankato, Greater Mankato Growth, Visit Mankato and Twin Rivers Council for the Arts met to discuss a new event that would be brought to the newly-developed Riverfront Park. The event would include arts, music and a marathon. However, through the planning meetings it became evident that an arts event, now known as Arts by the River, and a marathon could not live together because neither component could become very large on its own. At that point it was decided that Visit Mankato would take responsibility for figuring out how to put on the marathon.
Marathon Results
(373 Runners)
First Five Male Runners – Tim Hardy, 2:41:16; Eddie Stenger, 2:55:41; Luis Leonardo, 2:57:32; Derek Harstad, 2:58:00 and Brad Pederson, 2:58:11.
First Five Female Runners – Suzie Fox, 3:18:58; Melanie Moriarty, 3:22:11; Paula Johnson, 3:23:19; Stephanie Struck, 3:33:19 and Sarah Leonardo, 3:33:20.
Runner With Local Roots –
+ Ericka (Wentzlaff) Friesen, 3:34:41, 51st overall, 4th of 54 in age division, 6th of 146 female runners.
Windom Female Runners –
+ Meredith Hentges, 4:05:19, 142nd overall, 15th of 38 in her age division, 40th of 146 female runners.
+ Kylie Nielsen, 4:05:42, 143rd overall, 15th of 54 in her age division, 41st of 146 female runners.
Comfrey Female Runner –
+ Jessica Nachreiner, 4:42:13, 251st overall, 32nd of 54 in her age division, 83rd of 146 female runners.
Half-Marathon
(1,444 Runners)
Five Five Male Runners – Dan Greeno, 1:07:46; Josiah Swanson, 1:10:58; Nick Ross, 1:11:15; John Heitzman, 1:12:31 and Lance Elliott, 1:15:21.
Five Five Female Runners – Lindsay Henkels, 1:21:55; Kristen Mullen, 1:30:47; Janet Smith, 1:31:07; Joyce Bourassa, 1:31:41 and Claire Walling, 1:33:45.
Mountain Lake Male Runners –
+ Cory Fast, 1:39:07, 97th overall, 13th of 46 in his age division, 82nd of 545 male runners.
+ Kenneth Classen, 1:42:37, 149th overall, 23rd of 100 in his age division, 119th of 545 male runners.
+ Nick Naxay, 1:42:55, 160th overall, 24th of 87 in his age division, 125th of 545 male runners.
Mountain Lake Female Runners –
+ Kathy Fast, 1:48:51, 246th overall, 9th of 86 in her age division, 66th of 899 female runners.
+ Amy Kufahl, 2:07:50, 740th overall, 53rd of 129 in her age division, 351st of 899 female runners.
+ Krista Swoboda, 2:35:44, 1,266th overall, 113rd of 127 in her age division, 757th of 899 female runners.
Butterfield Male Runners –
+ Kyle Blair, 1:52:09, 331st overall, 32nd of 72 in his age division, 232nd of 545 male runners.
+ Joseph Steinle, 2:42:27, 1,320nd overall, 45th of 46 in his age division, 520nd of 545 male runners.
Windom Male Runners –
+ Jay Grandprey, 1:35:28, 59th overall, 2nd of 39 in his age division, 54th of 545 male runners.
+ Kelly Vlieger, 2:12:46, 901st overall, 84th of 100 in his age division, 431st of 545 male runners.
Windom Female Runners –
+ Jinyeene Neumann, 2:01:20, 574th overall, 37th of 129 in her age division, 241st of 899 female runners.
+ Lynn Peterson, 2:21:21, 1,064th overall, 66th of 86 in her age division, 599th of 899 female runners.
+ Kathryn Ralston, 2:25:25, 1,125th overall, 123rd of 167 in her age division, 643rd of 899 female runners.
+ Erin Purrington, 2:27:30, 1,164th overall, 133rd of 157 in her age division, 675th of 899 female runners.
Runner With Local Roots –
+ Gregg Falk, 1:29:09, 24th overall, 2nd of 52 in his age group, 23rd of 545 male runners.
10K
(746 Runners)
First Five Male Runners – Brian Sames, 33:00; Morcelli Kombo, 34:44; David Dickey, 35:17; Brian Dahl, 35:25 and Riley Bauer, 35:53.
Five Five Female Runners – Katie Weber, 39:15; Allison Greenwood, 40:13; McKenzie Colby, 40:25; Owen Dickey, 41:03 and Ashley Soper, 42:43.
Mountain Lake Female Runners –
+ Jacquelyn Strom, 54:59, 206th overall, 37th of 176 in her age division, 98th of 525 female runners.
+ Jacci Classen, 57:00, 276th overall, 55th of 175 in her age division, 145th of 525 female runners.
Mountain Lake Male Runner –
+ Bill Janzen, 59:11, 341st overall, 22nd of 28 in his age division, 158th of 223 male runners.
Butterfield Female Runners –
+ Laura Penner, 55:43, 232nd overall, 45th of 176 in her age division, 116th of 525 female runners.
+ Sheila Pierson, 58:18, 307th overall, 24th of 109 in her age division, 163rd of 525 female runners.
Comfrey Female Runner –
+ Kim Patzlaff, 53:11, 164th overall, 25th of 176 in her age division, 71st of 525 female runners.
Windom Male Runner –
+ David Carroll, 1:06:12, 516th overall, 64th of 188 in his age division, 188th of 223 male runners.
Power Pork 5K
(603 Runners)
First Five Male Runners – Joe Broze, 18:48; Kyle Ziemer, 20:02; Andrew Ferguson, 20:07; Joshua Landgraff, 20:16 and Jordan Wesely, 20:45.
First Five Female Runners – Carrie Tollefson, 22:38; Bonnie Barnhardt, 22:41; Arcadia Teel, 23:30; Heather Kick-Abrahamson, 23:40 and Jadee Pals, 24;21.
Comfrey Female Runners –
+ Abby Simon, 25:51, 55th overall, 1st of 59 in her age division, 15th of 430 female runners.
+ Connie Kelly, 29:20, 138th overall, 13th of 76 in her age division, 70th of 430 female runners.
+ Katie Longerbone, 41:37, 443rd overall, 64th of 77 in her age division, 299th of 430 female runners.
+ Lindsay Stancomb, 43:23, 461st overall, 45th of 59 in her age division, 314th of 430 female runners.
+ Angie Longerbone, 52:36, 568th overall, 132nd of 141 in her age division, 402nd of 430 female runners.
Windom Male Runner –
+ Richard Koch, 25:51, 54th overall, 3rd of 21 in his age division, 40th of 173 male runners.
(+ If anyone was missed, let me know and I will recognize his/her achievement.)