Wearing bib number 226, Shane Steele didn’t take long to separate himself from the pack and go on to post a large margin of victory in the Fisherman’s Picnic Trail Run held on Pincushion Mountain Trails on Saturday, August 6. Steele also won this race in 2012 and 2013.
Shane Steele won the Fisherman’s Picnic 5-mile trail race in 30 minutes, 44 seconds, beating Grand Marais native Joey Chmelik by one minute 33 seconds. This was Steele’s third victory here on the rugged five-mile trail run. He also won in 2012 and 2013.
On a beautiful Saturday, August 6, the 26-year-old Finland, Minnesota runner averaged 6 minutes, 8 seconds per mile.
For Chmelik, age 20, who runs for St. Olaf College, this was the second time he finished second in as many years.
Other top local men finishers included: Jay Arrowsmith- DeCoux, age 33, who placed 4th in 33:29; Chris Hegg, 64, placed 14th in 39:13; Adam Nelson, 35, placed 24th in 45:41; Jeff Cadwell, 49, finished 28th in 46:48; Mike Duvall, 49, placed 47th in 55 minutes and 18 seconds; and Denny Fitzpatrick, 70, finished in 56 minutes and 5 seconds to take 51st place.
Meanwhile, if Steele dominated the men’s field, Grand Marais’ Emma Spoon, 26, finished almost a mile ahead of second place Jackie Nelson, age 31, of Grand Marais. Spoon was the fourth finisher overall when she crossed the line in 33 minutes and 17 seconds, averaging 6:39 per mile. Nelson finished in 39 minutes 27 seconds and another local runner, Grand Marais’ Sharon Dorr, 44, crossed the line in 41 minutes and 11 seconds to nab third place.
Above: Keeping up an old tradition, the Ratelle family came from Stewartville, Minnesota to take part in the trail run. After finishing their race, the men joined Christine to cross the finish line as a family. (L-R) Jakob, Jim, Christine and Jadon. Right: Emma Spoon sprints to victory. Middle right: Looking strong, Joey Chmelik placed second overall. Far right: Cecelia Chmelik ran 6:45 for the mile.
Other local women finishers include: Louise Ramberg, 13, who placed 4th in 42 minutes and 42 seconds; Rebecca Wiinanen, 66, who placed 11th with a time of 50:23; Kathryn Ramberg, 48, placed 15th in 56:44; Kelly Summers, 53, placed 20th in 58:07 while former local Patti Tome was just behind her in 21st place with a time of 58:25. Anne Hegg, 65, placed 24th in 1:01:33; and Tina Hegg, 32, placed 28th in 1:06:34.
Walkers
Karl Dahl of Thunder Bay, age 55, averaged 9 minutes and 33 seconds— faster than many runners— to win the Men’s 5-mile race walk in 47 minutes and 49 seconds. He defeated Braidy Powers, 61, who also had a phenomenal time of 52 minutes and 43 second, a 10 minute, 32 second mile pace.
Betsy McIntyre of Grand Forks, North Dakota, 30, placed first in the Women’s 5-mile race walk in 56 minutes and 9 seconds. Rebecca Meyerson, 52, of Duluth was second in one hour 53 seconds and Josey Rusham, 65, of Grand Marais placed third in one hour one minute and 54 seconds.
Mile race
Matt Harnell, 12, of Proctor won the boys’ mile race in 6 minutes and 56 seconds. Miranda Deeth, 10, won the Girl’s mile in 6 minutes and 57 seconds. Amelia Brune of Grand Marais, 9, placed 4th with a time of nine minutes and 33 seconds.
In the girls’ 11-12 age bracket Danielle Meyer of Hovland placed first with a time of six minutes and 34 seconds and Cecelia Chmelik of Grand Marais placed second in six minutes and 45 seconds.
Ratelles
The late Dr. Alex Ratelle and his wife Patty bought a summer home in Grand Marais more than 40 years ago. In 1983 at age 56 Alex set a still-standing world age group record at Grandma’s Marathon when he finished in two hours 30 minutes and 42 seconds, averaging 5 minutes 47 seconds per mile for 26 miles 385 yards. Alex was a perennial top finisher in the Fisherman’s Picnic race and this year two of his (and Patty’s) grandchildren Jacob and Jadon, sons of Jim and Christine Ratelle, ran the five-mile race with their parents, continuing the legacy.
All told 161 runners took part in the various races organized by the North Shore Ski and Run Club. The money made from the entry fees is dedicated to the Cook County High School cross country and track programs.
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