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Dominic Ondoro and Julia Kohnen won the men's and women's titles under sunny skies Sunday at the 2019 Twin Cities Marathon.

It's the fourth title for Ondoro, of Kenya, who also won the event in 2015, 2016 and 2017. His winning time Sunday was 2 hours, 12 minutes, 23 seconds. Runner-up Denis Chirchir crossed the finish line in 2:13:50; Danny Docherty, a St. Paul native who now lives in Minneapolis, was third in 2:15:55.

Kohnen, of Florissant, Mo., finished with an unofficial time of 2:31:29. Dakotah Lindwurm of Burnsville was runner-up in 2:32:49, and Heather Lieberg finished third in 2:34:07.

"It’s a really good feeling to have a fast time under my belt now," Kohnen, who was making her Twin Cities debut, said in written comments provided by race organizers. "The weather plays a huge factor, and we couldn’t have gotten luckier today. It’s so fun, the neighborhoods are absolutely gorgeous."

Ondoro said he thought about trying to break his course record of 2:08:51, set in 2016.

"I was running easily, but around 20K, I felt something in my (lower back), so no record," he said. “I hope next year I can try my best.”

Sunday's weather — sunshine, temperatures around 50 — was a welcome change from the deluge on Saturday that forced the cancellation of several other running events. Runners started at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and followed winding courses to reach the State Capitol grounds in St. Paul.

More than 8,000 runners were registered to run Sunday's marathon; 6,735 finished the race. A record 11,042 runners finished the accompanying TC 10-Mile race.

Kimani Allen of Minneapolis ran the 10-mile race to mark his 10th anniversary of living in the Twin Cities and completing the full marathon.

"I'm more interested in running the shorter distances," he said. "I ran well over 20 full marathons. I have a goal of running a marathon in every state. (But) since I ran the full here already, (I was) more interested in running the half instead."

Shirley Venz of Butternet, Wis., decided to run the 10-mile race while visiting family in the Twin Cities.  

"I just like the challenge," she said. "I love the course."

Ondoro said he likes the Twin Cities course, too -- and the cheering spectators who line the streets.

About 300,000 people were expected to watch the runners on Sunday.

"We have the reputation as a race of having the entire course supported," Mike Logan, president of Twin Cities in Motion — the organization that puts on the event — said before the race. "When we get people in from out of town, one of the comments we most often get is, 'I was just amazed by the level of crowd support.'"

In the TC 10-Mile race — held in conjunction with the USA Track and Field 10-Mile Championships — Sara Hall of Flagstaff, Ariz., won her third straight title in 53:11. That was six seconds ahead of Mekena Morley of Boulder, Colo. Katy Jermann of Burnsville was third in 53:44.

Futsum Zienasellassie of Flagstaff won the men’s title in 46:55, just two seconds ahead of former Minnesota resident Abbabiya Simbassa of Colorado Springs, Colo. Connor McMillan of Provo, Utah, finished third in 46:58.

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Martin Moylan

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Dominic Ondoro and Julia Kohnen won the men's and women's titles under sunny skies Sunday at the 2019 Twin Cities Marathon. It's the fourth title for Ondoro.

Dominic Ondoro crosses the finish line to win

Martin Moylan | MPR News

Kimani Allen of Minneapolis finished the TC 10-Mile race

Shirley Venz of Butternut, Wis., ran the TC 10-Mile race

Ondoro, Kohnen win titles at Twin Cities Marathon

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