Cabada and Glok take Twin Cities titles

On a cool Sunday morning, 5 October, with 10 C at the start, Fernando Cabano from Boulder, USA and Olga Glok from Novosibirsk, Russia ran through the steady non- stop rain from Minneapolis to their victorious finish in St. Paul to claim respective top overall men’s and women’s titles of the 27th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, crossing in 2:16:31and 2:32:27.

This year the marathon hosted USA Men’s Marathon Championship and USA Masters’ Marathon Champs and attracted a number of the fastest U.S. runners. However, they did not improve the men’s course record 2:10:05, set by Phil Coppess in 1985, and women’s record of 2:26:51 set by Zinaida Semenova in 2001, and repeated by Irina Permitina in 2004.

The field of about 11 thousand runners from 50 U.S. states and from around the world toed the start line at 8 a.m. at the huge Metrodome Stadium, home of Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Golden Gophers, to set on the scenic course past several lakes, tree-lined boulevards, along the Mississippi River embankment to the finish line at State Capitol in St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota. The course, hilly and challenging at places, connects Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul, divided by Mississippi River. About an hour before the marathon start, 6 thousand participants in the popular 10 Mile Race, hosting this year the US Women’s 10 Mile Champs, went off the same start line to join the marathon course for the rest 7 mile stretch. The total prize purse this year reached $300,000

MEN

The men’s race for the top title in USA Men’s Marathon Championship promised to be very tough, as it attracted a strong field of over 20 US runners that qualified for the last November’s Olympic Trials Marathon, including 6 runners who finished in the top 25: Dan Browne, Mike Morgan, Fasil Bizuneh, Christopher Raabe, Chad Johnson and Josh Ordway.

While temperatures were ideal at the start, much of the race passed in a steady rain and headwind. A large group of runners took of from the starting gun and kept like this till the half point. Cabada, 26, who set his personal best 2:27:12 in Fukuoka, Japan in 2006, led the pack of 15 after half point. Then he broke away together with Simon Sawe and Celedonio Rodriguez, but then made a bold move forward and continued as a solo runner. He extend his lead to a minute by mile 24, when passing by the Governor’s Mansion. He finished first in 2:16:31, a glorious victory after a whole year of low running performances.

“I worked hard and I told myself I’d take the lead at mile 17,” said Cabada, “I wanted to get a good rhythm and not think too much. I just don’t want to wake up and have it be a dream. I had my heart set on winning. I don't want to mess around anymore.”

Matt Gabrielson, 30, Team USA Minnesota member, left two other competitors behind in the final mile stretch, going past the beautiful St. Paul cathedral, and finished second in 2:17:38. Third came Edwardo Torres (2:17:54).

WOMEN

As the women’s race did not host the U.S. championship, it attracted more of an international field. Five Russian runners joined the pack– Glok, Skvortsova, Kireeva, including experienced and familiar with the course record-holders Permitina and Semenova. Olga Glok set her personal best (2:30:40) in Paris this year and was third in Novosibirsk Half Marathon (1:10:24) on 13 September.

Glok, 25 and Skvortsova, 33 ran together for much of the race. However, Glok worked hard to pull away and did this with about 5 miles left to go, after crossing the Mississippi river on stretch climbing East River Road Hill to the University of St. Thomas, where another challenging part of the course starts- legendary climb to Summit Avenue.  Glok finished in 2:32:38, just 11 seconds ahead of Skvortsova- 2:32:39. Elza Kireeva was seven minutes behind the runner-up in 2:39:49.

"It was difficult in these conditions. But I'm very happy I won.” Glok said – “I’ve never run in such steady rain. It’s the first time I’ve run when it rained all through the race….It’s a nice course with some small hills. As long as you’re prepared, the course is very manageable.”

Ten Miles

U.S. Olympian Kara Goucher, 30 finished first among women in 53:16 and set the new course record, taking first place in the USA Women’s 10 Mile Championship and winning her first USA title on the roads. Goucher improved the course record set by Katie McGregor’s in 2006 by 32 seconds. McGregor, five-time champion of the Twin Cities 10 Mile, finished second in 55:04. 

Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada for the IAAF

RESULTS
 
MEN
1. Fernando Cabada USA 2:16:32
2. Matt Gabrielson USA 2:17:38
3. Edwardo Torres USA 2:17:54
4. Mike Morgan USA 2:17:58
5. Mike Sayenko USA 2:19:18
6. Trent Briney USA 2:19:57
7. Chad Johnson USA 2:20:47
8. Fazil Bizuneh USA 2:20:52

WOMEN
1. Olga Glok RUS 2:32:28
2. Silvia Skvortsova RUS 2:32:39
3. Elza Kireeva RUS 2:39:49
4. Mary Akor USA 2:40:00
5. Stephanie Rothstein USA 2:40:07
6. Zinaida Semenova RUS 2:40:19
7. Irina Permitina RUS 2:41:43
8. Camille Herron  USA 2:42:40

10 MILE RACE

MEN
1. Josh Glaab   USA 50:29
2. Chris Erichsen  USA 51:16
3. Justin Grunewald  USA  51:20

WOMEN
1. Kara Goucher  USA 53:16
2. Katie McGregor USA  55:04
3. Kelly Liljeblad USA  57:06