BROOKINGS – Josh Monson had never finished a marathon without stopping.
The third time was the charm.
The 29-year-old Yankton resident won the Brookings Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, 8.43 seconds on a chilly, breezy and drizzly Saturday morning.
“It was pretty good – perfect weather, a little windy, but it’s still good. I was glad it was cold out,” said Monson, who maintained a 6:25 pace. “My first mile was like 6:50 and then I just kept going. I felt good so I figured I might as well try it.”
He won by more than 8 minutes.
Added Monson about the course, “It was fun. I was glad the front biker was there; he talked to me quite a bit so that was awesome.”
Tim Fryer returned to “long” racing after an injury-filled 2017 and was runner-up with a 2:56:21.83 clocking.
“It was good,” the 2014 champion said. “There were some stretches it got a little windy for a guy.
“Last year, I was pretty much hurt all summer. Running a 2:56:30 for me today was good; I’m getting older and fatter every year.”
The 39-year-old from Hendricks, Minn., said depending on how his training goes this summer, he plans to run the Lean Horse 100 in the Black Hills in August.
Declan Curley, 46, of Chanhassen, Minn., placed third in 3:04:01.14.
Laura Docherty made the most of her first marathon, finishing as the top female and placing fourth overall with a time of 3:05:43.69.
“I did pretty well; I just tried to go steady for as much of it as I could,” said Docherty, who is 29 and from Minneapolis. “I didn’t know how it was going to feel because it was my first marathon.
“It’s pretty cool. It was a nice little tour of Brookings – big fan.
“(The course) was good. It was really helpful having Marlene, the lead bike, with me guiding me along.”
As for running another marathon, we’ll see.
“I’m going to give myself a little time to decide because it’s uncomfortable, I would say; but yeah, I’m sure I’ll try another one.”
Melissa Brancato, 35, of Overland Park, Kan., was the second female to cross and took fifth overall in 3:10:31.16.
The half marathon featured a dual between a pair of past champions – Thomas Madut (2011) and Kyle Rosseau (2015).
Madut, 32, of Mitchell, had the upper hand Saturday, pulling away late to win in 1 hour, 17 minutes, 57.15 seconds.
Rosseau, 30, of Grand Forks, N.D., was second with a 1:19:39.42 clocking.
“I thought it was really good given the wind conditions, which is about 11 miles per hour and it was kind of an east wind,” said Madut. “The roads were a little slick, so you had to be careful when you turned; but other than that it was good – I felt good.”
Madut said he ran with Rosseau until Mile 10, when he took control.
“I felt pretty good and I thought I needed to make my move; that’s when I made the move and continued doing the same thing,” he added.
Next up for Madut is an ultra marathon in September.
Rounding out the top five were Josh Scholten, 35, of Marshall, Minn., in third in 1:23:25.45; Donald Van Raalte, 35, of Sioux Falls in fourth with a time of 1:28:43.72; and Dan Hansen, 37, of Brookings in fifth at 1:30:31.25.
Former South Dakota State soccer standout Katie McNeary was the top female finisher and ended up sixth overall with a 1:32:10.34 clocking.
“It was really fun; it was good weather,” said the 24-year-old who currently lives in Sioux Falls. “I just thought that I was going to have fun with it and enjoy the fans that are along the side and waving; and thank all the volunteers for their time helping us out. It was a fun race.”
McNeary was the lead female runner throughout.
“I hung out with Roy (White) for the last, I’d say, five miles so that was good to have him and chat with him for a bit,” added McNeary. “And then we had our cyclist, Jeff, the volunteer who helped keep me going too, so that was fun.”
White, 54, of Omaha, Neb., placed seventh in a time of 1:32:12.67.
McNeary ran the Boston Marathon last month and thought this was her fourth half marathon.
“I like to do them in between my marathon training and use them as marathon training, so yeah, I’d say I’m a pretty avid runner with marathons and half marathons.”
She ran the marathon relay in college, but this was her first solo go in Brookings.
McNeary was a four-year starter for the Jackrabbits from 2012-15, starting 75 of the team’s 76 games over that span. She’s originally from Aberdeen.
The Band of Brothers – Ryan Blomgren, Dalton Piotter, Nathan Runck, Logan Pankonin, Emilio Garcia de le Cruz and Paxton Morin – from Butterfield, Minn., prevailed in the marathon relay in 2:53:53.88.
Register photos:
Above: Josh Monson, of Yankton, crosses the finish line at Pioneer Park to win the Brookings Marathon on Saturday morning in 2 hours, 48 minutes, 8.43 seconds.
Below 1: Laura Docherty, of Minneapolis, was the top female finisher and took fourth overall, clocking a time of 3:04:01.14 in her first career marathon.
Below 2: Tim Fryer, who is from Hendricks, Minn., placed second in his return from injuries to “long” racing with a time of 2:56:21.83.
Below 3: Thomas Madut, of Mitchell, crosses the finish line in 1 hour, 17 minutes, 57.15 seconds to take first in the Brookings Half Marathon on Saturday at Pioneer Park. He also won the event in 2011.
Below 4: Kyle Rosseau, of Grand Forks, N.D., was second in the half marathon with a 1:19:39.42 clocking.
Below 5: Katie McNeary, now of Sioux Falls, was the top female finisher and took sixth overall. The former South Dakota State soccer standout had a time of 1:32:10.34.
