MSUM alum Yusuf, NDSU alum Van Beek win Essentia Fargo Half Marathon

FARGO — Nadir Yusuf made things look easy out there in the Essentia Fargo Half Marathon Saturday morning.

Beneath beautiful blue skies and 50-degree temperatures, the Willmar, Minn. native and Minnesota State Moorhead track and field alumnus blazed through the 13.1 mile course and returned to the Fargodome in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 10 seconds to claim first place overall.

North Dakota State alumnae and Concordia cross country head coach Maddie Van Beek was the women's division winner, clocking in at 1:17:40 in her third attempt at a half marathon.

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Yusuf's time was nearly three minutes faster than last year's half marathon winner, Brendan Sage of St. Michael, Minn.

"It was good," Yusuf said. "Good weather out there, minimal wind and we had some really good crowds."

Yusuf said it was his third attempt at a half marathon and he'll possibly return next year to defend his title.

"Possibly," Yusuf said. "It was a great crowd, a great environment and great weather."

Van Beek said it was her third attempt at the Fargo half.

"It wasn't close to my personal best, but I'm happy with it," Van Beek said. "I've been training for Grandma's Full Marathon and (today) was really special because I live in Fargo and I can hear so many people cheering for me."

David Samson/The Forum

Van Beek added that she didn't wake up early Saturday morning feeling the greatest, but pulled through anwyay.

"I honestly did not feel good going into this morning," Van Beek said. "So I went into it knowing that it was going to be really tough. But I started to feel great, so I was like, 'I'll just see if what it is.'

"The first several miles felt pretty good. Once I was out on my own, I started to pick up the pace and started to get pretty warm. The breathing was pretty tough I think because of the air quality. That was hard. But great support. Lots of people cheering."

Duluth, Minn.'s John Curley finished second overall behind Yusuf with a 1:10 flat while Superior, Wis.'s Mark Laughlin rounded out the podium in 1:12:47.

Fargo's Johnathan Dean was fourth overall at 1:16:47 while Van Beek was the fifth overall finisher.

Burlington, N.D.'s Danielle Turk-Bly finished second in the women's division in 1:21:32. Following Turk-Bly was Minnetonka, Minn.'s Stephanie Steenhoek, who clocked in at 1:24:08.