A lot of the runners took time to grab snacks and drinks from the aid station at the Sawbill Trail. One guy who didn’t slow down as he came through the aid station was Coree Woltering (253), the winner of the 50K race. There was only one runner wearing a kilt and that was Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux (56), who earned style points from the aid station workers who commented favorably on his race attire. Staff photos/Brian Larsen
Mother Nature seemed to throw a little bit of everything at the runners who participated in the 2019 Superior Spring Trail races held last Saturday in the West End.
Runners competing in the 50K and 25K left Caribou Highlands at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. under relatively calm conditions with temps in the mid to high 40s and no wind. However, the temperatures fell and by 10:30 a.m. it had been sleeting/snowing for about half an hour and then came some light rain.
Oh well, not one of the hearty trail runners echoed a complaint as they stopped at the midpoint aid station on the Sawbill Trail to replenish themselves with electrolyte drinks or water and any number of carbohydrates (M&M’s, potato chips, peanut butter and jam sandwiches, etc.). All came in muddy, some bloody, and some suffering from ankle sprain, but no complaints, just broad smiles as they recuperated and then soldiered on.
50K results
Some 203 runners toed the starting line at 7 a.m. at Caribou Highlands and ventured out on the hilly, somewhat muddy, very technical trail race.
Placing first in the 50K (32 miles) was Coree Woltering of Ottawa, Illinois, who crossed the line in 4:13:46. Mathew Eidenschink of Minneapolis was less than two minutes behind at 4:15:34.
Gretchen Metsa of Buhl, Minnesota was the women’s winner. Gretchen ran 5:12:58, finishing well ahead of second place runner Ryann Freeman of Minneapolis, who clocked 55:28:38.
Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux placed 24th overall, finishing with a time of 5:38:22.
Mark Barrett of Lutsen placed 37th, crossing the line in 5:48:23. Dylan Dragswiek of Grand Marais placed 52nd in 6:04:55 and Sven Hoaglund of Tofte finished 65th in 2:46:27.
25K results
Out of 323 entries, the overall winner in the 25K race was Nathan Swenson of Pine Island, Minn., who ran the 25K (15.5 miles) race in 1:47:57.
Duluth’s Anna Lahti took top honors in the women’s field, winning in 2:15:37. Former Cook County resident Kerrie Berg, now of Bemidji, placed 5th with a time of 2:36:33.
Dylan Works of Grand Marais placed 42nd, running the distance in 2:35:00.
Lill Raynard of Grand Marais placed 147th in 3:23:55. Jeanne Monson of Grand Marais finished 177th in 3:31:25, Sarah Dragswiek, Grand Marais, was 228th with a time of 3:54:10 and placing 275th was Grand Marais runner Nathan Works, crossing the line in 4:20:53.
12.5K
Beating a field of 270 entries was Marco Salmen of Minneapolis, who won the 12.5K (about 8 miles) race in 57:46.
Thunder Bay, Ontario runners Rena Viehbeck and Karla Bailey placed first and second in the women’s field. Rena was the women’s winner with a time of 1:09:25, finishing less than 30 seconds ahead of runner up Karla Bailey, who crossed the line in 1:09:52.
Vikings’ cross country and track and field coach (and CCHS science teacher, etc.) April Wahlstrom was the 5th women finisher with a time of 1:15:39.
Jane Asay of Grand Marais placed 12th in the women’s field with a time of 1:24:03. Alisa Bens, Grand Marais, finished 6th in the women’s Master’s field with a time of 1:30:21.
Brienne Moody, Grand Marais, crossed the line in 1:39:08 to finish 101 overall and 34th in the women’ field. Molly O’Neill, Lutsen, placed 116, 41st in the women’s field in 1:43:05. Across the line in 189th place was Brianna Schueller, Grand Marais in 1:56:24. Brianna placed 31st in the women’s Master field.
Hanna Hoaglund of Tofte finished 194 overall, crossing the line in 1:57:14, and placing 68 in the women’s race. Wendy Danielson of Grand Marais finished 218th with a time of 2:12:14. Wendy placed 17th in the Grand Master women’s field.
Molly Hicken of Lutsen ran 2:17:03 to finish 235th overall and 48th in the women’s Master race.
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