U Of I’s McFadden Completes Marathon ‘Grand Slam’

University of Illinois wheelchair athlete Tatyana McFadden has completed an unprecedented marathon 'Grand Slam.'

 The 24-year-old Maryland resident won the New York City Marathon women's wheelchair race Sunday after taking the titles in Boston, London and Chicago in 2013. No other athlete has won those four races in the same year.

McFadden's time was just under two hours, or 1:59:13. That's more than three minutes faster that 2nd place women's wheelchair finisher Wakako Tsuchida of Japan, who finished at 2:02:54.

McFadden also was the 2010 champion in New York.

Born with a spinal defect and left at a Russian orphanage as a baby, McFadden was adopted by an American family and got involved in swimming, basketball and track. She's a senior at the University of Illinois.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland won the men's wheelchair race on Sunday.

Other U of I wheelchair athletes also placed among the top finishers at the NYC Marathon. Among the women, Amanda McGrory finished 4th at 2:05:06. Susannah Scaroni placed 5th at 2:05:07. And Chelsea McClammer was 9th, with a time of 2:20:55.

In the Men's Wheelchair division, Aaron Pike was the top Illini competitor, finishing 8th with a time of 1:44:54. Josh George was 10th at 1:46:43. Senior James Senbeta placed 15th, with a time of 1:50:46. Coach Adam Bleakney finished in 17th place, at 1:54:48. Senior Brian Siemann came in 21st, at 2:02:13.Gyu Dae Kim finished in 22nd place at 2:02:13. And Peter Park was in 23rd place at 2:03:10.