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May 8, 2009
Six former IUP cross country runners turned in outstanding performances at the Pittsburgh Marathon Sunday. Five women who competed at IUP finished among the top 11 in a field of 1,286 runners who completed the course. The group was led by Nicole Blaesser, who was third with a time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, 57 seconds. Blaesser was immediately followed by Mindy Sawtelle, who was fourth in 2:48.41. Blaesser won $1,500 for her third-place finish and Sawtelle took home $500. Gina McGee was seventh (2:58.02), Sara Raschiatore was ninth (2:59.09) and Tammy Slusser was 11th (3:02.52). In the men's race, Mike McGee, Gina's husband, was first of 244 runners in the men's 45-49 age group, covering the course in a time of 2:49.05. His time was good for 29th place overall among the 2,168 men's participants. Slusser, Blaesser, Sawtelle and Raschiatore each earned All-America honors during their careers at IUP, and Slusser was inducted into the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Gina and Mike McGee were also standouts in both cross country and track and field. |
