(Duluth, Minn.) A premier class of one-mile runners is assembled for Sunday's Grandma's Minnesota Mile in downtown Duluth.
The Grandma's Minnesota Mile elite division features a $12,500 prize purse with the men's and women's winners each receiving $2,000.
"We have compiled an outstanding group of athletes coming here to compete. We anticipate fantastic races on Sunday with exceptional times," said Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma's Marathon.
Among those in the men's field is eight-time All American (Stanford University) and Winona High School graduate Garrett Heath. Earlier this year, the 24-year-old placed 7th in the 1500-meters at the World Indoor Championships (3 minutes, 43.81 seconds) and took 5th place at the USA One Mile Road Championships in Minneapolis (4:06.4). Heath also took 5th at the 2010 Boston Indoor Games Reebok Men's Mile with a personal best 3:57.34.
Will Leer (Pomona College, Minnetonka, Minn., High School) also competed in the 2010 Reebok Men's Mile, placing second in 3:55.66. He was 11th at the 2009 Fifth Avenue Mile 3:56.6.
Kenyans Philip Lagat (3:57.55, 2nd place 2010 Drake Relays), Richard Kandie (3:53.70, 1st place 2010 Main Street Mile, St. Charles, Ill.) and Moses Waweru (4:01, 2nd place 2009 Grandma's Minnesota Mile) are also entered in the men's field.
On the women's side, Amy Mortimer of Leonardville, Kan., (4:33.96, 1st place 2010 Nashville Distance Carnival; 4:32.90, 1st place 2008 Falmouth Mile) headlines the group.
Also in the field are Team USA Minnesota teammates Heather Dorniden (4:42.3, 6th place 2010 USA One Mile Road Championships) and Gabriele Anderson, both former standouts at the University of Minnesota.
The races begin one block east of Fitger's on Superior Street and finish near the Holiday Center. In addition to the elite race, the event includes races for children, recreational and semi-elite runners, as well as the St. Luke's Walk-a-Mile for Breast Cancer.
For more information, visit GrandmasMarathon.com or call (218) 727-0947.
Grandma's Minnesota Mile
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Duluth, MinnesotaElite Division - $12,500 Purse
Open Division -- Men and Women
1st Place: $2,000
2nd Place: $1,250
3rd Place: $1,000
4th Place: $750
5th Place: $500
6th Place: $250
Masters Division -- Men and Women
1st Place: $500
Schedule of Events
9:00 a.m. Verizon Wireless Kids Mile - Children ages 8 to 14
9:20 a.m. All City Mile - Recreational Runners
10:00 a.m. Duluth Mile - Semi-Elite Runners
10:20 a.m. Grandma's Minnesota Mile -- Elite Runners ($12,500 prize purse)
10:40 a.m. St. Luke's Walk A Mile For Breast Cancer
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
