Press Release - Twin Cities Marathon - 4/9/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 TWIN CITIES MARATHON, INC. AWARDS TWO 
               $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS

      Top students selected from talented collection of candidates

(Minneapolis, MN) –Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. proudly announces McKenzie 
Melander (18) of Apple Valley and Pieter Gagnon (18) of Minneapolis, as its 
2008 college scholarship program winners.  Melander and Gagnon were 
selected for the $5,000 awards from more than 100 applicants, all top track 
and cross-country runners at their high schools in the greater Twin Cities 
Metro area.  

Melander is a senior at Eastview High School in Eagan.  She was an 
All-State Cross Country athlete as a sophomore and finished 3rd in the 
Minnesota State Cross Country Meet her junior year.  In addition, Melander 
is a two-time All-State Track athlete and has earned 8 All-Conference 
awards.  Melander volunteers in her community and said she plans to attend 
University of Iowa, where she will run cross country and track

Gagnon is a senior at Washburn High School in Minneapolis.  He is a 
four-time captain, 5 Eyewitness News Athlete of the Week, Star Tribune 
Athlete of the Week, three-time Most Valuable Player for Washburn High 
School and has numerous state and regional running titles including first 
place in Minnesota State Cross Country Regionals in 2007.  In March, Gagnon 
set a meet record of 9:26:49 to win the 3200m run at the University of 
Minnesota/ROTC Indoor meet, also a personal best for him.  Currently ranked 
second in his class academically, Gagnon says he plans to study engineering 
at the University of Minnesota and to continue to pursue his love of 
running.

"We value the running spirit these two individuals exemplify," said Twin 
Cities Marathon, Inc. executive director Virginia Brophy Achman.  "It was a 
difficult decision because of the tremendous quality of those who applied.  
But McKenzie and Pieter's leadership and athletic determination and ability 
make them the perfect recipients of this year's scholarships.  We 
congratulate them on all of their accomplishments."

The recipients were selected based on academic achievements, community 
service, running accomplishments (in either cross-country or track) as well 
as a personal essay.

For more information about this year's winners and the scholarship program, 
visit www.mtcmarathon.org.

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