Annie Frisbie is a two-time Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Champion

Annie Frisbie of Hopkins, Minnesota has added a repeat title to her name, crossing the finish line of the 2025 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon on Saturday with an unofficial time of 1:09:05.

Frisbie says she put more pressure on herself to come back and defend her title.

Annie Frisbie is the 2025 Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon Women’s Champ

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“With the humid conditions, the pace felt about ten times harder than it did last year, and we went out just as fast,” she said. “I definitely faded in the second half.” Frisbie says her friend and teammate, Dakotah Lindwurm Popehn passed her at mile six or seven. “I was able to fight my way back and pass her in the last mile,” she added. ” I was shocked honestly, like that was just a battle mentally and physically.”

Frisbie said she is really proud of this win.

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“I told myself, don’t give up. I actually heard my coach say that at some point,” she said. “So I kept telling myself, don’t give up. The race isn’t over.”

Annie says when Dakotah passed her, Dakotah said “Let’s give this city a show.” And the two friends did just that. Dakotah is a two time champion of Grandma’s Marathon. She finished the 2025 Half Marathon with an unofficial time of 1:09:13.

“I never gave up, and yeah, it was literally in the last half mile that I was able to pass her (Popehn), but yeah, I feel like we’re both just, you never know whose day it’s going to be, and we both just push each other so much,” said Frisbie at the post-race press conference.

In 2024, her debut Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, Frisbie set a new course record with a time of 1:07:34. . The Wisconsin native crossed the finish line with an unofficial time of 1:07:32.

The previous course record for the Half Marathon of 1:09:26, was set by Maggie Montoya. It was Montoya’s debut Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon as well. She was 20 seconds faster than Duluth native Kara Goucher who had held the record since 2012.

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