DONNA GATHJE MUELLER: SUPPORT YOUR TEAM, SUPPORT YOUR COACH

April 26, 2022 Donna Gathje (pronounced get-key) believes she was blessed with great support and coaches.  Today, she promotes the healthy benefits of running and encourages the families of runners to support runners and their coaches. The Gathje family of Rochester, Minnesota, is known statewide and beyond for their running prowess, but parents Ron and

Tina Bahr Ostroot: WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS TO REMEMBER WHERE WE COME FROM AND TO OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS

Raised in International Falls, Minnesota, Tina Bahr was familiar with the many state hockey championships the town on the Canadian border had earned, but she probably had little inkling that she would bring not one, but two, individual cross country titles to her hometown.  Born in 1961, Tina is the oldest of four children of

THE GATHJE FAMILY: CHERISHED MEMORIES OF MIAC TEAMMATES, COACHES, AND OTHER RUNNERS

Remember, the 1960s running community was miniscule compared to the broad appeal it enjoys today. Ron Gathje (pictured below with John Gathje, Steve, Jim Gathje, and Mike), a sheet metal worker originally from Stewartville, Minnesota, was perplexed when his son Steve started long distance running, but he and his wife, Helen, became huge fans of

ELIZABETH YETZER SPEHAR: NO MATTER HOW I PERFORM, I AM LOVED

With older siblings following their mother’s footsteps, Elizabeth Yetzer says, “It [running] was a big part of my parents’ lives and we saw that modeled.  Naturally, you just kind of hop in.”  Jake, Rebekah, and Annie were the older siblings and Mary Stepka, the state runner-up in the mile run to future World Cross Country

Megan Daymont Thomas: GRATEFUL FOR OPPORTUNITIES

When your early baby-sitters are Suzy Wilson, spouse of University of Minnesota women’s track and field coach Gary Wilson, and Leslie Seymour, a qualifier for two Cross County World Championships, and your mother, Chris Daymont, is a St. Olaf College Hall of Fame coach, and your father, Dick, is a longtime coach and track official,

In More Minnesota Gold: Speedskaters, Wrestlers, Runners, Ski Jumpers, Hockey Players, Swimmers

Please excuse this departure from highlighting Minnesota athletes and their lives and achievements to an invitation to meet some of your fellow athletes and coaches. Yes, after three years of research, interviews, writing (and more writing) and editing (and more and more editing!), More Minnesota Gold is printed and available! Please see the invitation with

Part II of Summer Minnesota Sports Series

Thanks to wrestler Jim Martinez (Osseo), rower Dave Krmpotich (Duluth), hockey player Jack Morrison (Wayzata), and runners Jan Ettle (Freeport and Albany HS), and Leslie Seymour (Minneapolis) for taking time to share their lives, achievements, challenges, and stories with conversations this past month for volume two of Minnesota Gold scheduled for publication in December 2019.