In yesterday’s column I declared incorrectly that the 2005 Swamp Stomp was the very first USATF Nebraska Association Champs. It was, but for cross country. The Lincoln Half Marathon actually holds the distinction for road races. As a primer and educative tool I offer the following reprint from the OWH:
Omaha World Herald
Wednesday May 4, 2005
LINCOLN PUMPS UP PURSES OF RACES
-The marathon was the USATF Nebraska Association’s first championships event.
By John Martin Fey
When Mike and Gina Morgan were awarded trophies as winners of the Lincoln Marathon half marathon, the siblings also collected some nice prize money.
The former Nebraska Wesleyan standouts each won $500 for being the fastest on the 13.1 mile course. They also benefited from the race being the first championship event in the USATF Nebraska Association’s Grand Prix Series.
The Lincoln Marathon chipped in $2,500 in prize money for USATF Nebraska members. The Morgan’s each pocketed an extra $325 as USATF members.
They also earned an expenses-paid trip to Grand Rapids, Mich., to represent Nebraska at the national 25K championships on May 14.
Making Lincoln’s marathon the first state championship event was the brainchild of Omahan Will Lindgren, USATF Long Distance Race chairman of the Nebraska Association.
“Lincoln gave these athletes an opportunity to elevate their commitment to the sport,” said Lindgren, who is also chairman of USA Track & Field’s Women’s LDR Subcommittee.
Lindgren said the support of the marathon’s race directors, Nancy Sutton and Gary Bredehoft, exceeded his expectations.
“It was equal to anything I’ve ever experienced–even on the national level,” Lindgren said. “These people are committed to distance running in Nebraska.”
Lindgren is also the founder and president of Team Nebraska Brooks, which is made up of some of the top long-distance runners in the Midwest, including the Morgans.
Team Nebraska Brooks took home all but $300 of the $2,500 prize fund.
“I was very proud of the finishes of Mike and Gina,” Lindgren said.
Lindgren said USATF members aren’t necessarily elite runners. He said the sate association added new members at the Lincoln Marathon’s exposition the day before the event.
To learn more about USATF, go to www.usatf.org.
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So to all you cats that are out there training your butts off in hopes of fine showings at the Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon, I’ll be watching and smiling. And hoping someone, anyone, can duplicate Mike’s 1:05:48 and Gina’s 1:21:11. Giddyup!
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