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- Jeff Crumbaugh
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Race morning was cool with temperatures in the low 40s but abundant sunshine warmed the air to the low 70s by race finish. Runners from ten states assembled for the start for both the 50K and 27K races. The gently rolling single track featured over 4000 ft of vertical in the 50K distance. Race results are now available for viewing.
Ryan Smith looking strong crossing the finish of the 27K in 2:28:33.
Kaleb Klopfenstein of Florissant, CO led from start to finish in the 50K and was the only runner to dip under five hours on the deceptively challenging Rock River Canyon course. Klopfenstein who lives at 9000 ft in Colorado certainly had the altitude training to excel on the Rock River course. Jennifer Zettner of Detroit captured the women’s 50K title in an outstanding time of 5:15:57. It was Zettner’s first 50K and prepared her well for an upcoming 50K in Slovenia. Joining Klopfenstein on the podium for the men’s race were Mika Byer of Marquette, MI (5:12:12) and Levi Latulip of Negaunee, MI (5:23:49). Latulip ran most of the race with the 2024 winner, James Lilly of Trenary, MI before just edging him at the finish. In the women’s race, Zettner was followed by Liz Armstrong (5:50:59) and Lynn Marowske (6:18:53), both of Marquette, MI.
Catherine Zettner and Kaleb Klopfenstein, winners of the 50K.
Ryan Smith of Dexter, MI ran solo from the start to capture the men’s 27K title in 2:28:33, 30 minutes faster than his victory in the event two years ago. Kate Kuntze of Cedar River, MI finished 2nd overall and 1st in the women’s race (3:05:04). Kuntze was the 2024 50K winner, but dropped down to the 27K for this year’s race. Joe Jankowski (3:07:04) of McMillan, MI and Tom Hayward (3:10:10) of Negaunee, MI joined Smith on the men’s podium. Evie Rosen Cushman (3:27:03) of Alanson, MI and Anna Bertram (3:33:38) of Wixom, MI completed the top three positions in the women’s 27K.
Ryan Smith and Kate Kuntze, winners of the 27K.
Much appreciation goes to athletes from Superior Central High School who staffed the aid stations and to the Alger Amateur Radio Association who provided communications during the event.
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- Jeff Crumbaugh
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Over 150 runners from 21 states and 3 countries competed in the 2024 Waugoshance Trail Run, which included 50K, Marathon and Half Marathon distances. Complete results are now available for viewing.
The vast majority of the Waugoshance Trail Run travels through Wilderness State Park with its large, contiguous and diverse forests along Lake Michigan. That rich habitat provided runners a symphony of bird song. Joelle Gehring, who competed in the marathon, heard 27 different species along the way including the uncommon and beautiful Black throated blue warbler. Trail running brings many rewards and the experience of listening and seeing wildlife are among the best.
Nick Gapp of Highland, MI captured the overall 50K title in 4:01:22. The women’s victor was Margaret Retsema of Grand Haven, MI (4:56:21). In the men’s race Gapp was followed by Sean Munro of Northville, MI n(4:22:44) and Mitchell Vermet of Royal Oak, MI (4:32:33). Also achieving podium spots for the women were Shannon McNammara-Smith of Sterling, IL (5:00:34) and Roxanne Carr of Rochester, MI (5:16:52).
In the marathon it was Jackson Fowler of Lowell, MI who crossed the line in first in 3:24:12). He was the only runner to crack the 4 hour barrier. The women’s champ, and second overall was Salena Clohisy of Negaunee, MI (4:00:27). Michael Nelson of Grand Rapids, MI (4:24:37) and Zachary Rodgers of Beacon, NY (4:43:31) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Among the women marathoners, Trisha Berry of Grand Ledge, MI (4:38:09) and Joie Falcon of Columbia, SC (5:38:20) completed the top finish trio.
Consistent with a long tradition at Waugoshance, a high school cross country star earned the overall title. Caden Hostetler captured the lead early and never looked back, crossing the line in 1:35:45. More than 10 minutes back in 2nd was Nathan Koch of Eagle River, WI (1:46:27). Koch was more than two decades older, however. Parker Ethridge of Manhattan, IL completed the half marathon podium in 1:51:34. In the women’s race it was Amanda George of Davison, MI leading the way in 1:54:54, the only woman to break 2 hours on the challenging half marathon course. Emily Scott of Lansing, MI captured the runner up spot in 2:00:18. Traci Ethridge of Manhattan, IL earned the 3rd podium spot with her 2:03:43.
Amanda George, women's half marathon winner crosses the finish in Mackinaw City (Photo: Connor Corgard)
We thank our volunteers including the Mackinaw City High School students and parents who staffed the aid stations, the Carp Lake Fire Department who provided medical and radio communications, Jim Engel who assisted with course marking and our finish line crew of Kent Walker, Larry Grow, Paul and Julie Hartman and Connor Corgard.
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- Jeff Crumbaugh
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Runners at Rock River Canyon enjoyed miles of flowing single track in the beach and pine forests from Valley Spur to the Rock River Canyon in the 5th edition of the race. They were greeted with a wide range of weather including breezy winds, intermittant clouds and sunshine, and a few fast moving rain cells that flew over the course. With start temps in the high 40s and finish temps in the low 60s conditions were ideal for trail racing.
Complete results are now available for viewing.
Caleb Jay of Gwinn, Michigan crosses Buck Bay Creek on his way to a 6:03:31 performance in the 50K. Photo: Scott Lawrence
A total of 64 racers registered for this year's Rock River Canyon Trail Run, hailing from 12 states and Ontario. The race had a remarkable age range for the participants, form 17 year old Natalie Schetter in the 27K to 72 year old Steven Borcherding in the 50K.
Andrew Phillips of Howell, MI raced to victory in the Men's 27K, finishing in under three hours (2:56:54). Second overall and the first female was Chelsea Atterbery of Munising (3:03:44).
In the 50K Cory Fries of Blufton, SC was the first to cross the line (4:56:04) and was the official winner, however, James Lilly of nearby Trenary, who started the race late, actually had the fastest time (4:50:08). Fries and Lilly were the only two racers to finish in under 5 hours. Fries was also the 2023 overall winner (4:31:24). Kate Kuntze of Cedar River, MI was the female winner, crossing the line in 5:26:16.
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Treetops Resort in Gaylord welcomed trail runners to their Alpine Ski Area with freshly made snow and bright sunshine. If you have never visited the Treetops Resort and the rolling highlands of Northern Lower Michigan, the Treetops Trifecta is perhaps the best opportunity. Held over the weekend of November 4-5 the Treetops Trifecta featured a 5K, Hill Climb and a Half Marathon. It was the final trail race on the Great Lakes Endurance trail racing calendar for 2023. Complete results and photos are now available for all three races and for the Trifecta, where runners compete in all three events for the overall title.
Treetops Trifecta Results
Race Recap
Cadillac High School student Matthew Stilson started the weekend with a new course record in the 5K (18:47) and then did the same with the Hill Climb (4:16.5). Finishing 2nd in both races was Paul Hagan, an accomplished ultra runner from Petoskey. The question leading into Sunday's half marathon was whether the remarkable trail speed of the younger Stilson was sufficient to carry him to victory in the half marathon, his first attempt at the distance. Or, would the title go to the more seasoned Hagan, with many years of long distance trail racing under his belt. Although the lead was exchanged several times, ultimately it was Hagan who captured the half marathon title, charging hard up the last hill to the finish in 1:29:05, the only runner to crack the 90 minute barrier. Stilson was 2nd in 1:34:44. In the Trifecta standings, Stilson held on to his overall title, edging Hagan by just one point, 4 to 5. Nicholas Daum of Lansing, MI captured the 3rd podium spot in the Trifecta with a total of 15 points.
Amanda Brindley of West Branch, MI took overall honors in the Women's Trifecta, finishing 1st in both the 5K and Hill Climb, and then finishing 2nd in the Half Marathon to Amanda Wojan of Gaylord. Michelle Spiegla of Battle Creek had finished 2nd to Brindley in both the 5K and Hill Climb and then went on to finish 3rd in the Half Marathon to earn a Trifecta score of 7, good for 2nd overall. Heather Nix of Midland, MI finished 3rd behind Brindley and Spiegla in both the 5K and Hill Climb. In the Half Marathon she was edged by 4th place Trifecta finisher Jennifer Shelbourne of Davisburg, MI, but still had a sufficient score to edge Shelbourne, 11 to 13, to capture the 3rd podium spot.
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- Jeff Crumbaugh
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Bluebird skies, the crimson and gold of the island’s maple forests and the aquamarine of Lake Superior created the backdrop for the Le Demi Grand Half Marathon and 10K. Cool winds from the North created nearly perfect conditions for racing. It was a good day to be on Grand Island.
Complete results are now available for viewing.
Carl Morrison of Marquette, MI repeated as half marathon champion, covering the 13.1 mile course in 1:37:29. Paul Vance of Royal Oak, MI was the only other runner to break 1:40, finishing 2nd (1:38:14). Brian Edgette of nearby Autrain, running his first race ever, captured 3rd overall in 1:41:04. Erin Cornwell of Pickford, MI improved her 2022 time by over 7 minutes, breaking two hours this year (1:59:01) and moving up from 3rd to 1st among the women. Kelsey Homan (Marquette, MI) and Kaitlin Homan (Chicago, IL) captured the 2nd and 3rd overall spots in 2:09:10 and 2:14:13 respectively.
Daniel Paavola of Marquette, MI covered the hilly 10K course in 52:45 to capture the overall title. Less than 25 seconds back, Daniel Shovels was in the chase, crossing the finish in 53:09 for second. In a remarkable Master's Runner performance, 68 year old Joseph Hart of Munising took the last podium spot, 3rd overall in 54:32. Anne Ritter of Sun Prairie, WI ran and outstanding race, capturing the women's overall title in 55:47. The only other woman to break 1 hour, Madeleine Ocallaghan of Cadillac, MI finished 2nd in 59:30. Ruby Miller of Marquette, MI took the 3rd podium spot in the women's 10k, finishing in 1:01:28.
We want to thank the student athletes from Superior Central High School who assisted with aid stations and the finish line, the Alger Amateur Radio Association for communications, the Alger County EMS for mobile safety and our hard working sweepers, Daniel Cullen for the half marathon and Kent Walker for the 10K. Our volunteers reported that the runners were kind and gracious and so we extend our thanks to all the runners for making the Le Demi Grand trail race such a joy to be a part of.