DULUTH, Minn. — Acer Iverson and Kasandra Parker arrived at the 36th annual Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as talented contenders in fields packed with proven champions, Olympians and established road-racing stars. By Saturday morning's end, both had transformed from overlooked challengers into first-time champions on one of Minnesota's premier racing stages.
Iverson outdueled a men's field that included 2020 U.S. Olympian Joe Klecker, emerging contender Aidan Reed and former Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon and Grandma's Marathon champion Joel Reichow to capture the men's title in 1 hour, 1 minute, 15 seconds.
The Roseville, Minnesota, native stayed near the front throughout the race, battling Klecker and Reed for much of the morning before making his decisive move during the closing miles along Duluth's scenic North Shore course.
“I’m on top of the world,” said Iverson, who spent most of the race in a three-way battle for the lead with Klecker and Reed before pulling away in the final mile.
Reed finished second in 1:01:26, while Klecker placed third in 1:01:56. Reichow crossed the finish line sixth in a race that featured one of the deepest men's fields in recent event history.
For Iverson, the victory carried added significance. He first competed in the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as a 14-year-old and has longstanding ties to the region through family connections. He has often described the Duluth area as a second home, making Saturday's breakthrough performance especially meaningful.
Parker delivered an equally impressive victory in the women's race, continuing what has already been a standout 2026 season. Running in her first Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, Parker crossed the finish line in 1:10:16 to secure the title after earlier victories at the Naples Half Marathon and a fourth-place finish at the Atlanta Half Marathon.
“I knew I wanted to run a [personal record],” Parker said. “I was comfortable with what I needed to do, what times I need to run.”
Parker seized control early and led for much of the race. Her path to victory became clearer when two-time defending champion Annie Frisbie was forced to withdraw, ending her bid for a third consecutive Garry Bjorklund title.
Madey Dickson finished second in 1:11:35, while Rebecca Schmitt placed third in 1:12:11.
Joe Morris captured the non-binary division title, finishing in 1:50:21.
The race also produced one of the largest fields in event history. A total of 7,832 runners completed the 2026 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, including 2,988 men, 4,820 women and 18 non-binary participants. The total made this year's race the third-largest in the event's 36-year history, underscoring the continued growth and popularity of race weekend in Duluth.
