For the second year in a row, I didn’t make it to Duluth for Grandma’s Marathon. My local housing contact has moved and the thought of $500/night hotel rooms has scared me away. I do miss it, though–maybe next year…

Finisher totals for 2008: 6,874 (4342 male, 2532 female) out of 7,103 starters (229 DNF)
Average Time: 4:34:01
Weather: sunny, 59 degrees and humid at start, 72 degrees at noon

Here are the top three finishers for each of the events:

Grandma’s Marathon – Male

• 1, Lamech Mokono, Kenya, 2:13:39
• 2, David Tuwei, Kenya, 2:13:44
• 3, Benson Cheruiyot, 2:14:20

Grandma’s Marathon – Female

• 1, Mary Akor, Hawthorne, CA, 2:38:50
• 2, Margaret Toroitich, Kenya, 2:41:43
• 3, Sally Meyerhoff, Scottsdale, AZ, 2:42:58

Wheelchair Marathon – Male

• 1, Krige Schabort, South Africa, 1:29:33
• 2, Ernst Van Dyk, South Africa, 1:29:35
• 3, Mark Ledo, Maple, ON, 1:35:25

Wheelchair Marathon – Female

• 1, Amanda McGrory, Champaign, IL, 1:49:59
• 2, Tricia Downing, Denver, CO, 2:26:16
• 3, Jacqui Kapinowski, Point Pleasant, NJ, 2:48:37

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon – Male

• 1, Mathew Chesang, Kenya, 1:04:48
• 2, Fernando Cabada, Gray, TN, 1:05:07
• 3, Michael Reneau, Rochester Hills, MI, 1:05:21

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon – Female

• 1, Liza Hunter-Galvan, New Zealand, 1:13:29
• 2, Caroline Rotich, Kenya, 1:14:40
• 3, Kate Smyth, Australia, 1:16:32

William A. Irvin 5K – Male

• 1, Jordan Tucker, Omaha, NE, 16:22
• 2, Mike Kramer, Cloquet, MN, 16:23
• 3, Adam Zais, Hudson, WI, 16:36

William A. Irvin 5K – Female

• 1, Michelle Oman, Mankato, MN, 18:35
• 2, Raynee Degrio, St Paul, MN, 19:14
• 3, Laura Hughes, Mankato, MN, 19:29

The 2009 Grandma’s Marathon (the 33rd) will be held Saturday, June 20, 2009.