Park Rapids' Kenny Miller and Angie Walther had the best times among local runners at last Saturday's 17th annual Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and 31st annual Grandma's Marathon in Duluth.
Miller finished 19th overall in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes, 38 seconds. Miller, 30, had an average mile pace of 5:29 over the 13.1-mile course to finish 17th out of 887 runners in his division and 17th out of the 2,328 men. Chad Johnson of Rochester Hills, MI, had the winning time of 1:05:18.
Walther clocked a 4:02:49 to finish No. 2,070 overall in the 26.2-mile Grandma's Marathon. Walther, 39, finished 76th out of 382 runners in her division and 490th out of the 2,557 women. Walther had a mile pace of 9:16.
Mary Akor of Lomita, CA, had the fastest time among the women with a 2:35:40. Wesly Ngetich of Kenya won the overall title in 2:15:55. A total of 6,967 runners completed the marathon.
Nevis' Amy Schroeder, 43, finished No. 2,182 overall with a time of 4:05:23. Schroeder placed 69th in her division and was No. 527 out of 2,557 women. Her pace was a 9:22.
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Diane O'Hern of Park Rapids clocked a 4:37:22 to place No. 3,910 overall. O'Hern, 38 who had a 10:35 pace, was No. 192 out of 382 runners in her division and No. 1,185 overall in the women's field.
Park Rapids' Rosie Pope, 60, finished 17th out of 29 runners in her division, No. 2,319 in the women's field and No. 6,531 overall with a time of 5:48:08 for a pace of 13:17.
Six other runners competed in the Half Marathon.
Craig Brand, 36, of Nevis clocked a 1:31:45 to finish 19th out of 334 runners in his age division, No. 176 in the men's field and No. 207 overall. Brand set a pace of 6:59.
Park Rapids' Kerry Johnson, 42, was runner No. 1,000 to cross the finish line with a time of 1:51:21. John-son was No. 38 out of 345 runners in her division and No. 286 in the women's field. She set a pace of 8:26 per mile.
Nevis' Paul Schroeder, 43, finished No. 1,278 overall and No. 109 out of 281 runners in his age group with a time of 1:55:19. Schroeder, who set an 8:42 pace, was No. 878 in the men's field.
Maggie Kading, 21 of Park Rapids, finished in 1:54:27 for an 8:41 mile pace. Kading was No. 1,240 overall, No. 220 out of 1,539 runners in her division and No. 387 in the women's field.
Nevis' Bruce Babler, 48, finished in the No. 1,687 spot overall with a time of 1:58:58. Babler, who set a 9:02 pace, was No. 131 out of 255 in his age group and No. 1,098 in the men's field.
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Park Rapids' Kathy Grell, 43, was 40th out of 160 runners in her age group with a time of 2:12:01. Grell, who set a pace of 9:52 per mile, was No. 2,749 overall and No. 1,191 in the women's field.
Paige Higgins of Little-ton, CO, won the women's title in 1:14:47.
Runners battled hot, humid conditions as the temperature was 66 degrees at the start and rose into the mid-80s.
