a mile & a shot at Grandma's Half Marathon.

Dig this:

Minnesota Mile St. Paul Set for July 22

2009 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Entries to 250 Finishers

( Duluth , Minn. ) Some of the world’s fastest athletes will showcase their speed July 22 in St. Paul . They will be among hundreds of runners competing in the 2nd annual Minnesota Mile St. Paul, a Grandma’s Marathon race held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

The event has four separate running divisions (see division schedules below) with the elite athletes competing in the feature race ― Grandma’s Minnesota Mile. A $5,700 prize purse is being offered to the top finishers with the male and female champions each receiving $1,250.

Among the top male runners registered is Kenya ’s David Tuwei, runner-up in last month’s Grandma’s Marathon . Matt Downin of Minneapolis and Ethiopia ’s Abiyot Abebe are others who are expected to contend for the men’s title.

Katie McGregor, who finished second in the inaugural Minnesota Mile St. Paul in 2007, is among the top females, as is Caroline Rotich of Kenya . Rotich placed second in the 2008 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon.

This race is the first of two events which comprise the Grandma’s Minnesota Mile series. The second event, Grandma’s Minnesota Mile Duluth, will be run in downtown Duluth on Sunday, September 7.

One special feature of the event is the distribution of 250 guaranteed entries to next June’s Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon. Names of the finishers from all four divisions will be collected and 250 runners will be randomly selected to receive the half-marathon entries. The same opportunity will be offered during the September Grandma’s Minnesota Mile Duluth.

Grandma’s Minnesota Mile St. Paul is presented by Verizon Wireless and Advantage Emblem. For more information, visit www.TSLevents.com or www.GrandmasMarathon.com or call (218) 727-0947.

Grandma’s Minnesota Mile St. Paul

Tuesday, July 22

Minnesota State Fairgrounds

6:30 p.m. Kids Mile For children ages 8 to 14

6:50 p.m. All-City Mile For Recreational Runners with the following projected finishing times:
Men - 5:46 or longer; Women - 6:46 or longer

7:30 p.m. St. Paul Mile For Semi-Elite Runners with the following projected finishing times:
Men - between 4:41 and 5:45; Women - between 5:41 and 6:45

7:50 p.m. Grandma’s Minnesota Mile For Elite Runners with the following projected finishing times:
Men - 4:40 or faster; Women - 5:40 or faster