SU alumna Jamie Stensland finished in 108th place in the women’s division — 60th among American women — at the New York City Marathon Nov. 1.

“I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am,” Stensland said. “I don’t consider myself a great runner. I’m not out to break records.”

Stensland, a 1988 ISU graduate in journalism and mass communication, competed with 34,703 runners in her trek through the Big Apple.

The strong showing was something Stensland wasn’t expecting — she is still recovering from tendonitis.

“To finish 60th is a blessing,” she said. “I’m still not sure where the speed comes from. There is a lot of adrenaline flowing through me — it’s an absolute thrill.”

Stensland lives in Waverly with her husband Robert — also an ISU graduate — and their three children. She owns her own communications consulting business that she operates from their home.

Stensland finished the race in 3:17:29 and was the only Iowan, man or woman, to finish in the top 100 U. S. runners in the race.

The time was a little better then Stensland had been shooting for, as her health was still not back to 100 percent after her injury.

“My expectations were lowered [due to the injury],” Stensland said. “Last fall I ran 3:04 at the Marine Corps Marathon, and I wanted to run about a 3:20 [in New York], so I was about where I wanted to be.”

More than 2 million spectators turned out to watch the race, many of them coming out to see rapper P. Diddy run. Stensland never saw the hip-hop mogul during the race, but did notice the increased number of people his presence gathered.

Stensland called his entry a “neat addition to the race.”

The New York City Marathon has always been on Stensland’s to-do list, and after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the desire to run grew stronger.

“The [New York City Marathon] is very prestigious and world-renowned,” Stensland said.

“I had never been to New York and I wanted to go, especially after 9/11, and show my support for the city and to be a part of the event.”

Stensland tries to compete in two or three marathons each year. Most recently, she ran in the Boston Marathon in April and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. and the Des Moines Marathon last October, pushing her race total to 13.

Stensland’s goal right now is to run a marathon in each of the 50 states. She has a long way to go, having run races in six states so far. Stensland discovered her love for running in college, logging six to eight miles a day.

“Running is a great mental private time,” Stensland said.

“It’s my time, with no kids and where I can have the freedom [of getting out and running].

“I go [running] early when it’s quiet and it’s my time. It’s a great time to think about the day, to clear my head and get ready for the day.”