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Tim Kennedy
Cook County cross country skiers joined a record field of more than 13,000 skiers who raced in one of several events at the 2023 American Birkebeiner in northern Wisconsin.
The events ran from Wednesday, February 22 with the long races held February 25.
Perfect snow greeted Nordic skiers who traveled from all ends of the planet to compete in either the 50K skate, 55K classic, or Kortelppet ski competitions. Fields of skiers start in waves from Cable Wisconsin and end in front of more than 30,000 cheering spectators in Hayward, Wisconsin
Alayna Sonnesyn of Minneapolis won the long race with a time of 2:27.35. This was her fourth win. Alayna held a seven-second edge over second place Jessica Yeaton, an Australian who moved to Alaska at 12 and took up Nordic skiing.
David Norris of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, got off to a big lead and won the Men’s American Birkie by two and half minutes over last year’s winner, Gerard Agnellet of La clusaz, France.
Locally, three legends were there, but only two skied. Tim Kennedy, 73, and David Eckel, 64, competed in different races but both finished. Sadly, Jan Horak, 75, was injured and couldn’t compete. This was the first time in 44 years that Jan failed to make the start line although he was there to cheer for his wife and the other skiers from Cook County.
“I have a bum right knee and I felt it would be better not to ski,” said Jan. “I missed not skiing the Birkie #44, but I did help with supplying water at the Korti start on Wednesday and Friday.
My wife, Kathy, had a good Korti race at the open field on Wednesday.”
Last year Tim Kennedy received a belt buckle for completing his 40th Birkie. And this year Dave Eckel completed his 43rd Birkie.
“No Birkie for me this year after 40 straight but I did ski the 15k Prince Hakkon,” said Kennedy. Jan was supposed to ski the Open Track on Wednesday, but it doesn’t look like he skied. Kathy Horak did the Korteloppet Open Track. The conditions were great for the Wednesday open track, the Friday Korteloppet and Prince Hakkon, and the Saturday Birkie. It was a completely different experience for me to be a spectator this year.”
David Eckel said he had a great race. “The conditions were good. I waxed right and that really helped. Towards the end the uphills were a little slick but that’s because I was losing some of the wax from my skis. Overall, it was a really good experience. I had a lot of fun and there were quite a few local skiers there. I only have seven more to go to reach fifty Birkies. After that we’ll see.”
Kortelopet Classic
Patty Johnson, Grand Marais, 51, placed 15th in the women’s 50-54 age group with a time of 2:59.11.
In the Korte Open Track Classic Katherine Horak, 68, Tofte, placed 47th in 3:04:28.
Kortelopet Skate
Shane Steele, 33, Grand Marais, finished the race in 1:20:48 to place 10th. Olya Wright, 17, Grand Marais, placed 5th in the women’s field with a time of 1:33:03. Emma Crook, 15, Grand Marais, placed 70th, crossing the finish line in 1:52:39.
Jeanne Wright, 56, Grand Marais, placed 82nd in the women’s field and third in her age group with a great time of 1:54:40. Jeanne is the high school North Shore Storm cross country ski coach and Olya’s mother.
Birkie Classic
Michael Costello, 60, Grand Marais, placed 23rd in his age group with a time of 4:00:09.
David Eckel, 64, Grand Marais, skied his 43rd Birkie Classic, crossing the line in 5:47:33.
Eric Frost, 45, Tofte, finished the classic Birkie in 6:14:27.
Jonathan and Nancy Rova of Duluth/Grand Marais, both had good races. Jonathan, 49, finished 18th in age group with a time of 3:44:57. Nancy Rova, 58, finished in 3:48:02 to place second in her age group.
Former Cook County High great Philip Bowen, 48, skied the race in 3:50:59.
Former Grand Marais resident Kerrie Berg, 43, who now lives in Bemidji, finished with a time of 3:35:24 to place second in her age group. Cory Berg, 46, Kerrie’s husband, finished in 4:07:59 to place 30th in his age group.
Birkie Skate
Jim Joynes, 57, Duluth and Grand Marais, finished the skate race in 4:01.24.
Angie Robinson, 55, Grand Marais, finished. With a great time of 3:10:29.99 to place third in the F55-59 age group.
Prince Haakon results
Tim Kennedy can no longer compete in the long American Birekbeiner Classic, but with more than 40 finishes, he wasn’t going to miss racing, even if it was at a shorter distance. Tim, 73, completed the race in 1:33:39 to place 140 out of 562 entrants.
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