By Zach Schneider

Defending men’s champion Boniface Kongin is slated to return after outdueling the field in 2019, running a 2:11:56 to beat out four-time champion Elisha Barno and event record holder Dominic Ondoro. Kongin ran much of that 2019 race in record pace, but he was slowed in the final 10K as he dealt with severe cramping.

Sarah Kiptoo is also expected to return this year, and she will be trying to join Mary Akor (2007-09) and Lorraine Moller (1979-81) as the only three-time women’s winners of Grandma’s Marathon. The Kenya native won titles in 2013 and 2016 and also finished third in 2014 and 2015. She finished 10th the last time out on this course in 2019, finishing with a time of 2:38:46.

Kiptoo’s 2013 winning time of 2:26:32 was then an event record and only recently broken when Kellyn Taylor ran a 2:24:28 in 2018.

2014 champion Pasca Myers is also expected to compete in the women’s elite field, and she will be trying to become just the eighth woman to win at least two Grandma’s Marathon titles. She also ran here in 2019, finishing in eighth place with a time of 2:36:13.

Zac White and Mike Boeve had two hits each to lead the Duluth Huskies to a 10-6 victory against the Waterloo Bucks in a Northwoods League college baseball game before 393 at historic Wade Stadium on Tuesday night.

Duluth (1-1) begins a two-game series at Bismarck at 6:35 p.m. today.

The University of Minnesota Duluth and women's hockey head coach Maura Crowell have agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep her behind the Bulldogs bench through the 2025-26 season.

"I would like to thank UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo and UMD Chancellor Lendley Black for their continued confidence in my leadership of this elite hockey program," said Crowell. "Everyone in our program is proud to call themselves Bulldogs and represent UMD both in the WCHA and NCAA. It is an honor to develop our young women into strong students, athletes, and community members through the game of hockey. I am eager to build on our successful Frozen Four run this past season and bring more trophies to Amsoil Arena."

"We could not be more pleased to have Maura Crowell continue to lead our storied Bulldog women's hockey program," Berlo said. "This extension furthers the incredible leadership and mentorship for Bulldog women's hockey by Coach Crowell and her staff. UMD women's hockey has reestablished itself as one of the top programs in the country as evidenced with this year's trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. She is a great leader, motivator, and mentor to the exceptional young women in our program. Off the ice, her team has excelled academically in the classroom."

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs student-athletes posted a 3.43 semester GPA this past spring. Overall, UMD's almost 400 student-athletes -- which includes redshirt freshmen -- collectively posted an all-time high GPA of 3.45 this past fall and followed it up with an impressive 3.43 GPA this spring. The women's tennis team registered the best overall team GPA with a 3.73 semester, while the top men's program was the men's cross country team with a 3.50 semester GPA.

Trailhead parking remains open and signage for this closure are posted at affected trails. For more details on Mission Creek trails, please view our online trails map: https://duluthmn.gov/parks/trails-bikeways/online-parks-and-trails-map. The Parks and Recreation Natural Surface Trails page will also list the open/closed status of the St. Louis River Trail, and Valley West Trail: https://duluthmn.gov/parks/trails-bikeways/natural-surface-trails/. The closure is expected to last through the end of June 2021.