Wolfgram is top American finisher in marathon debut, fastest female teenager in meet history

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Tierney Wolfgram, a sophomore at Math & Science Academy in Minnesota was the top American finisher and placed sixth overall Sunday at the 37th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, which begins in Minneapolis and concludes in St. Paul.

Wolfgram, 15, covered the 26.2-mile distance in her marathon debut in 2 hours, 40 minutes, 3 seconds, the fastest time produced by a teenage girl in race history. Her performance was the fastest by any teenager at the event since 2014.

Tierney Wolfgram, 15 years old, leading the #tcmarathon women's race at mile 7. pic.twitter.com/CeQKZwq4fA

— TwinCities In Motion (@tcmarathon) October 7, 2018

Ethiopia’s Sinke Biyadgilgn, 23, won the race in 2:33:04.

Wolfgram was the leader through 5 kilometers in 17:32 and 10 kilometers in 35:42. Although she came through the half marathon in a personal-best 1:16.35, by then, the lead pack of five athletes had gapped Wolfgram by 20 seconds.

Wolfgram’s half marathon performance is the fastest all-time by a Minnesota teenager. The fastest marathon performance by a Minnesota teenager remains 2:33:52 by 19-year-old Jenny Spangler in 1983.

The American Junior marathon record of 2:34:24 belonging to Cathy Schiro has stood since 1984. The world record for a 15-year-old female of 2:29:41 was set in 2002 by China’s Mei-yu Shen.

Wolfgram’s effort Sunday ranks her No. 20 among all American female athletes in the marathon this year.

Wolfgram, who placed second Sept. 29 in the girls 5-kilometer high school gold race in 17:50.7 at the Roy Griak Invitational, will return to cross country in search of a third consecutive Class A state title Nov. 3 at St. Olaf College.