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.