Cabada Captures USA Men's Marathon Crown at Twin Cities

October 6, 2008 by Charlie Mahler, Running USA wire (MINNEAPOLIS MN) Fernando Cabada , the U.S. record holder at 25K, won the 2008 USA Men's Marathon title on Sunday with an emotional victory that redeemed 22 months of frustration for the 26-year-old long distance running talent. Cabada won the national title, contested in chilly temperature and steady rain at the 27th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in 2:16:32. The Boulder, CO, resident pulled away from the lead pack of four after the 17-mile mark and was never seriously challenged to capture his second USA road crown.

Minnesota favorite-son Matt Gabrielson , a member of Team USA Minnesota, finished second in 2:17:38. Edwardo Torres of Boulder was third in 2:17:54.

Cabada and Gabrielson earned spots on the USA team for the marathon at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Berlin next summer.

Cabada, whose father has spent his life drifting in and out of prison and whose mother and younger brother had recently moved into his apartment with him, was tearful in victory.

"I was taking care of them and I don't make much income and we're living in an apartment and I said, I want to buy my mom a house," said Cabada who earned $32,000. "I just thought of my mom and my brother."

"I don't want to wake up and have it be a dream," Cabada added, choking up. "I haven't had any glory for the past 22 months and I missed it and I don't ever want to go back. When I took the lead I said, this is where I belong, I'm strong. I'm not giving up for anything."

As a 24-year-old, Cabada set the U.S. 25K record in 2006 with his 1:14:21 at the Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Mich. In December of that year, he ran a promising 2:12:27 marathon debut at Japan's storied Fukuoka Marathon .

Cabada attributed the nearly two years of poor racing that followed the accomplishments to immaturity, his unfamiliarity with the success he experienced, and mistakes he made with his training.

"I partied for five weeks and didn't run," he admitted, "I went to Vegas, I went to Europe. It also was a lack of experience with me and my coach. I didn't do the proper things you're supposed to do after a marathon."

Cabada, who didn't drink during his eight-week build-up for the USA Championship, seems determined to avoid the pitfalls of his past.

"I struggle now-days, I'm not prefect," Cabada admitted. "But, I've grown wise the last two years."

Twin Cities again served as the USA Master Marathon Championship for men and women. 46-year-old Dennis Simonaitis of Draper, UT earned another USA Masters Marathon title running 2:27:23 (also 2004). In the distaff competition, Susan Empey , 40, from Mercer Island, Wash. ended Susan Loken 's streak of USA Masters Marathon titles at three, winning in 2:50:08.

In the non-championship women's marathon at Twin Cities, Russia's Olga Glok passed compatriot Silvia Skvortsova with 600 meters left in the race to win in 2:32:28, while Skvortsova ran 2:32:39. Elza Kireeva , also of Russia, was third in 2:39:49.

27th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon: USA Men's and Masters Championships
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN, Sunday, October 5, 2008

MEN
1) Fernando Cabada (CO), 2:16:32, $32,000
2) Matt Gabrielson (MN), 2:17:38, $20,750
3) Edwardo Torres (CO), 2:17:54, $13,750
4) Mike Morgan (MI), 2:17:58, $9750
5) Mike Sayenko (WA), 2:19:18, $5500
6) Trent Briney (AZ), 2:19:57, $4500
7) Chad Johnson (MI), 2:20:47, $3250
8) Fasil Bizuneh (CO), 2:20:52, $2250
9) Josh Eberly (CO), 2:21:41, $1125
10) Celedonio Rodriguez (AZ), 2:21:55, $625
11) Chris Lundstrom (MN), 2:22:09, $400

USA MASTERS Men (40+)
1) Dennis Simonaitis, 46, UT, 2:27:23, $7500
2) Carl Rundell, 40, MI, 2:28:09, $4800
3) Tracy Lokken, 43, MI, 2:30:24, $3500

WOMEN
1) Olga Glok (RUS), 2:32:28, $25,000
2) Silvia Skvortsova (RUS), 2:32:39, $15,000
3) Elza Kireeva (RUS), 2:39:49, $10,000
4) Mary Akor (USA / CA), 2:40:00, $7000
5) Stephanie Rothstein (USA / OR), 2:40:07, $5000
6) Zinaida Semenova, 45, RUS, 2:40:19, $5500
7) Irina Permitina, 40, RUS, 2:41:43, $4000
8) Camille Herron (USA / IN), 2:42:40, $2000
9) Kim Duclos, (USA / MA), 2:44:45, $1000
10) Zeddy Chepkoech (KEN), 2:47:08, $500

USA MASTERS Women (40+)
1) Susan Empey, 40, WA, 2:50:08, $7500
2) Meghan Arbogast, 47, OR, 2:51:36, $4800
3) Doreen McCourbrie, 46, PA, 2:53:32, $3500

Complete results at: MTCMarathon.org