KARA GOUCHER THIRD IN BOSTON

With all due respect to our wonderful local event, they don't get much bigger than the Boston Marathon.

Every April, the city comes to a standstill for this great race, which has been run over 100 times. It's been over 20 years since an American woman won this event, and the track record (no pun intended) of success for Americans is simply not very good.

Enter Duluth's own Kara Goucher.

The former Duluth East Greyhound ran in the Olympics last year in the middle distances, then began the transition to marathons. I'd say that transition has gone quite well.

Goucher has run two competitive marathons, and she's finished in the top three of both of them. Despite leading for a time Monday in Boston, she had to "settle" for a third-place finish.

Goucher's voice cracked repeatedly in the postrace news conference.

"I just wanted it for everybody that wanted it for me," she said. "I'm proud of how I did. I just wanted to be the one that won for everybody."

An emotional Goucher does have a good understanding of the significance involved with having Americans in the top three of both the men's and women's races.

"People were so proud to see an American up front, and there was a lot of 'U.S.A.!' cheering," Goucher said. "Two Americans in the top three is fantastic. I think once things settle in a bit, it'll be a really great day. We'll be really proud of this."

No need to apologize for this accomplishment. It was a great day for Goucher, and the area she grew up in couldn't be more proud of her.