• Multiple Top 10 finisher at Grandma’s and Twin Cities Marathon, Stephen Muturi on pace for a 2:17:13 through 5k.

• Dan Greeno on 2:17:54 through 5k.
• Former Twin Cities Marathon Champion Mbarak Hussein on pace for 2:22:27.
• Jeff Metzdorff on pace for 2:24:04.
• Tim Branigan on pace for 2:24:20.
• Ben Kampf is on 2:24:46 pace.
• Phil Richert on pace for 2:26:31.
• Chris Grossinger and Mike Little on pace for 2:29:35.
• Katie Koski on pace for 2:44:48 through 5k.
• Grant Johnson on pace for a 2:52:51 through 5k.
• Muturi on 2:17:50 pace through 10k.
• Dan Greeno on 2:17:57 pace through 10k.
• Hussein on pace for 2:21:39.
• Richert on pace for 2:24:26.
• Metzdorff on pace for 2:24:46.
• Branigan on pace for 2:25:35 through 10k.
• Ben Kampf on pace for 2:27:01.
• Grossinger and Little on pace for 2:30:27.
• Katie Koski on 2:44:28 pace through 10k.
• Grant Johnson on pace for a 2:52:51 through 10k.
• Dan Vogel on pace for 2:54:33.
• Muturi on 2:18:15 pace through half.
• Greeno at 2:18:16 for the half.
• Hussein on pace for 2:20:20 at the half.
• Metzdorff on pace for 2:25:42 for the half.
• Branigan on pace for 2:25:44 through halfway.
• Richert on 2:26:20 pace through the half.
• Mike Little is on pace for 2:30:50 at the half.
• Chris Grossinger on pace for 2:32:16 at the half.
• Ben Kampf on pace for 2:35:04 at the half.
• Katie Koski is on Olympic Trials Qualifying 2:43:46 pace at the half.
• Grant Johnson on pace for 2:50:06 at the half.
• Kirt Goetzke on pace for 2:52:27 at the half.
• Dan Vogel on pace for 2:52:38 at the half.
• Maren Eberly on pace for 2:53:36 at the half.
• Muturi on 2:18:25 pace through 30k.
• Greeno on 2:20:03 pace at 30k.
• Metzdorff on 2:26:40 pace for 30k.
• Richert on 2:30:31 pace at 30k.
• Mike Little is on pace for 2:31:48 at 30k.
• Grossinger is on 2:34:31 pace at the 30k.
• Kampf on pace for 2:38:36 at 30k.
• Katie Koski still on pace to qualify for the Olympic Trials at 30k.  She is on pace to run 2:44:06 with 12k to go.
• Grant Johnson on pace for 2:50:28 at 30k.
• Muturi is on 2:19:28 pace through 24 miles.
• Dan Greeno on pace for 2:25:42 pace at 24 miles.
• Metzdorff on pace for 2:29:21 at 24 miles.
• Richert at 2:34:43 pace at 24 miles.
• Katie Koski still on Olympic Trials 2:43:28 pace at 24 miles.
• Dan Greeno finishes in 2:28:04.
• Stephen Muturi finishes in 2:20:20.
• Jeff Metzdorff finishes in 2:30:22.
• Phil Richert finishes in 2:36:26.
• Mike Little finishes in 2:35:01.
• Chris Grossinger finishes in 2:40:57.
• KATIE KOSKI QUALIFIES FOR THE OLYMPIC TRIALS IN THE MARATHON WITH A 2:42:54!
• Grant Johnson finishes in 2:52:47.
• Dan Vogel on pace for 3:07:38 at 24 miles.
• Allsion and Angie Mumbleau on pace for 3:28:58 at halfway.
• Kirt Goetzke on pace for 3:30:26 at 30k.
• Maren Eberly finishes in 3:02:38.
• Allison and Angie Mumbleau on pace for 3:27:38 at 30k.
• Allison and Angie Mumbleau pick it up a bit through 24 miles and are now on pace to run 3:25:18.
• Dan Vogel finishes in 3:10:10.
• Allison and Angie Mumbleau finish in 3:23:27.

We are sad to report the untimely death of quite possibly the greatest marathoner the world has ever seen.

2008 Olympic Marathon Champion, Sammy Wanjiru, has died after a fall from a balcony at his home in Kenya.

Not only was Wanjiru the first Kenyan to win Olympic Gold in the Marathon, he is also the Olympic Record holder for the marathon.  On a hot, pollution filled summer day in Beijing, China, Sammy Wanjiru broke the 24 year old Olympic Record of 2:09:21 (Carlos Lopes) by almost 3 minutes, running a 2:06:32.  A record that was set before Wanjiru was even born.

Sammy finished 6 marathons in his short lifetime, winning 5 of them.  He is the youngest man ever to win 4 major marathons, claiming victory at the Olympics, the London marathon, as well as the Chicago Marathon, which he won twice.

Wanjiru’s slowest marathon ever, was his first, running a 2:06:39 at the Fukuoka Marathon.  Wanjiru went on to finish 2nd at London in 2:05:24, 1st at the Olympics in 2:06:32,  1st at London in 2:05:10, 1st at Chicago in 2:05:41 (breaking the course record), did not finish London in 2010, and 1st place at Chicago in 2:06:24.

Wanjiru also broke the World Record in the half marathon 3 times.  He ran a 59:16 when he was just 18 years old.  He further lowered the world record, running 58:53 in 2007, and then again one month later running a 58:33.

Read More About Hall’s Upcoming Mile Here

• Huge tailwind blowing down the course today!
• The women are off!
• Kim Smith off to a fast start for the downhill first mile in 5:13.  Just this past February, Smith ran the fastest half marathon ever on US soil, clocking a 1:07:36 in New Orleans.  Des Davila and Blake Russell lead the chase pack.
• Smith through 2 miles in 10:39.  She leads the race by 30 seconds now.
• Smith through 5k in 16:41.  Chase pack back at 17:11 with Kara Goucher and Des Davila.  Jen Houck at 17:43.
• Smith is on pace for a 2:21 marathon right now.
• The chase pack has made up about 3 seconds on Smith.  Are they making a move to go after her now?
• Goucher and Davila are joined by Hellen Mugo, Yolanda Caballero, Caroline Kilel, Woynishet Girma, Teyba Erkesso, Tirfi Tsegaye, and Dire Tune.
• Smith on course record pace.

• The men are off!
• Ryan Hall takes an early lead in the men’s race.
• Juan Carlos Cardona moves up with Hall.
• Kim Smith reaches 5 miles in 26:57.
• Smith through 10k in 33:29.  She now leads the race by 25 seconds.
• Hall on 2:04 marathon pace very early in the race.
• Des Davila behind the women’s chase pack with Goucher just ahead of her.
• Smith still on pace to run a 2:21.
• Blake Russel about a minute behind smith at 10k.
• Goucher 33:55 at 10k with Des at 33:57.  Both on pace to run 2:23 right now.
• Houck goes through 10k at 35:38… on pace for a 2:30.
• Hall has opened up an early gap on the men’s field.
• Smith through 7 miles in 37:36 with Goucher’s pack back at 38:09.
• Hall’s first few mile splits are 4:36, 4:42, 4:40.
• Hall through 5k in 14:29… On pace to run a world record 2:02 right now.
• Smith has a 40 second lead on the women’s field.
• Smith still on pace for a 2:21 as she passes the 15k mark. Goucher is 41 seconds back from the lead and Davila is another 12 seconds behind Kara.  Both still on 2:23 pace.
• Hall runs a 4:32 for his 4th mile.
• Men’s pack through 5 miles in 23:17!
• Smith through 10 miles in 53:55.
• Smith’s 5k splits so far = 16:41, 16:48, 16:40
• Pack’s 5k splits so far = 17:11, 16:44, 16:55
• Houck still on 2:30 pace through 15k.
• Hall goes through 10k on pace to run a 2:03 marathon.
• Chase pack catches Hall.
• Smith has increased her lead to 53 seconds on the women’s field.
• Smith goes through 20k, still on pace to run a 2:21.  Davila 49 seconds back with Goucher one second behind her… both still on pace to run a 2:23.
• Smith through the halfway mark at 1:10:52.
• Goucher and Davila through the half at 1:11:42.
• Jen Houck on 2:31 pace now as she runs through 20k.
• Hall and the lead pack of 12 still on pace to run a world record as they pass the 15k mark.
• Through 10 miles, the men are over a minute faster than last year’s course record pace.  The last two miles were 4:49 and 4:39.
• Houck through the half at 1:15:37.
• 13 women under course record pace and 14 men under world record pace right now.
• Hall takes the lead pack of men through 11 miles in 51:53.  Accompanying Hall are Gebregziabher Gebremariam, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Robert Kipchumba, Bekana Daba, Geoffrey Mutai, Gilbert Yegon, Moses Mosop, and Tadese Tola.
• Smith through 25k on pace to run a 2:22.  Goucher is 47 seconds back with Davila 48 seconds off of the lead.  They remain at 2:23 pace.
• Smith runs a 5:23 for mile 17.
• Men through halfway in 1:01:54!!!
• Smith stumbled and stopped, grabbing her leg.  She started running again… limping a little.
• The women’s chase pack has shredded the lead from 45 seconds to 18 seconds.
• The pack just caught and passed Smith.
• Kilel of Ethiopia surges and takes a 5 second lead in the women’s race.
• Bekana Daba of Ethiopia pushes the pace in the men’s race.  Ryan Hall has fallen off of the lead pack.  Men’s lead pack down to 6.
• Houck through 25k at 2:31 pace.
• Goucher and Davila still on 2:23 pace at 30k.
• Kilel, Sharon Cherop, Dire Tune, and Alice Timbilili lead the women’s race.
• Men pass 16 miles in 1:15:20.
• Ryan Hall catches up to the lead pack.
• Des Davila catches the lead women’s pack as they reach Heartbreak Hill.
• Hall retakes the lead in the men’s race.  They pass 17 miles in 1:20:14.
• Women go through 20 miles in 1:49:08.
• Women run a 5:37 mile up Heartbreak Hill.
• Desiree stays up in the lead pack of just 3!  It is Davila with with Sharon Cherop and Caroline Rotich of Kenya.
• Mutai takes the lead from Hall.
• Men go through 19 miles in 1:30:03.
• Mutai makes a strong move, putting a 10 meter gap on Bekana Daba of Ethiopia.
• Des goes through 35k on pace to run a 2:23!
• Goucher 1 minute behind Des now.  Goucher is still on pace to run a 2:24 marathon PR.  Houck goes through 35k on pace to run a 2:33.
• Ryan Hall on pace to run a 2:04 through 30k.
• Kilel puts in a surge to lead the women’s race.
• Des retakes the lead in the women’s race!!!
• Mutai increasing his lead in the men’s race.  He ran a 4:46 mile leading into heartbreak hill.
• Davila still in the lead!
• Hall still on 2:04 pace through 35k.
• Mutai continues to lead the men’s race.  Mosop is 7 seconds back.
• Des surges to the lead as the women head onto Hereford Street!!!
• Des on 2:22 pace at 40k!
• Kilel takes the lead.
• Des kicks past Kilel!
• Kilel makes another move and surges past Desi.
• Kara 2 minutes behind Des at 40k… still on pace to run her PR in the marathon… 2:24 pace.
• Kilel wins in 2:22:36.  Desiree in 2nd at 2:22:38!!!
• Goucher finishes 5th with a new PR of 2:24:52!
• Des and Kara now the 3rd and 4th fastest US Women’s Marathoners in history.
• Houck finishes 18th with a time of 2:34:28.
• Mosop and Mutai are shoulder to shoulder in the men’s race at mile 24… running through at 1:52:49!
• Mutai smashes the Boston Marathon course record running a 2:03:01!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• RYAN HALL RUNS 2:04:58!!!