Kenyans Sweep Titles on Chilly Morning in Duluth

By Scott Bush

Kenyan Domnic Ondoro won the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota Saturday, breaking the course record by nearly 30 seconds and crossing the finish line victorously in 2:09:06. Ondoro broke free from the lead back just before mile 19, putting in a strong surge the field could not match, then dominating the finish. Ondoro's mark, which was nearly three minutes ahead of runner-up Betram Keter's 2:11:57 runner-up performance, was a 2014 best after he finished the Houston Marathon earlier this year in 2:11:43 and just off his 2:08:00 personal best set last year in France.  

On the women's side, Kenyan Pasca Myers won by nearly a minute over runner-up Brianne Nelson. Myers won her first marathon, along with setting a new personal best of 2:33:43. Nelson's performance, also a PR, led three Americans among the top five finishers, as Lauren Jimison and Marci Gage finished fourth and fifth in 2:35:17 and 2:35:38.

Nicholas Arciniaga finished as top American on the men's side in ninth place with a 2:14:31 finish. Fellow Flagstaff resident Jordan Chipangama, who's working towards becoming an American citizen, finished fourth overall in a new personal best of 2:12:22.

Men's Top Ten Results - Grandma's Marathon

Women's Top Ten Results - Grandma's Marathon