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Sep-19-2008
Browne Headlines Twin Cities Marathon
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Returning to the race where he began his marathon career, Dan Browne will try to win his second USA marathon title at the 27th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5. It was at this race in 2002 where Browne ran his first --and still fastest-- marathon in 2:11:35, winning both the U.S. and overall race titles.
His key challengers in Minneapolis this year include Justin Young (2:13:54), Fernando Cabada (2:12:27), Matt Downin (2:14:35) and Fasil Bizuneh (2:16:47). Organizers reported that six of the top-25 finishers at last November's Olympic Trials marathon in New York are in the field.
The women's race is an international competition this year, and the top entrant is Russia's Silvia Skvortsova (2:27:07 PB). However, American Mary Akor could also win the race (2:33:50 PB), and become the first woman to win both of Minnesota's primary marathons, Grandma's and Twin Cities, in the same year. Russian Olga Glok is also in the field (2:30:40 PB), and could contend for the win.
Twin Cities has a very strong tradition of supporting masters running, and for the the 18th consecutive year the race will host the U.S. men's and women's masters marathon championships. The top entrant is the evergreen Susan Loken, 45, the three-time defending women's champion (2:41:31).
The race offers a prize money purse of $302,000, with a number of prize money categories. The winners of both the U.S. Men's Championship and the overall women's titles will receive $25,000. However, the overall men's winner also earns $3,000, so should an American man win the race he would receive $28,000. The race also has a special development fund for under-30 U.S. athletes.
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