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Bryan Larison, Minneapolis, looks strong as he gets ready to push through the last seven miles of the 100- mile race. Bryan placed 103 in 36:25:31. Staff photos Brian Larsen
Pretty much perfect weather and dry trails greeted the 600 or so athletes who participated in the Friday-Saturday (September 10- 11) Superior Fall Trail races held on the ruggedly beautiful Superior Hiking Trail. In all there was a 100-mile race, 50-mile race and marathon (26 mile) race.
100 miles
Thomas Carr, 29. Maplewood, Minnesota won the 100-mile race with a time of 21:09:31. Jeff Miller, 56, Silver Bay, who placed fifth in 25:06, was the top area finisher.
Former Grand Marais resident Dr. John Wood placed 113th with a time of 36:57:15. Now living in Duluth, John only ran five miles per day with his dog to train for this long run. He was paced on the course at times by Grand Marais resident Buck Benson, who has completed this 100- mile race in the past.
Katie Kubont, 37, Marquette, Michigan, placed first in the women’s division with a time of 27:14:10. Mindy Coolman, 39, of Omaha, Nebraska ran 29:31:34 to place second and Tammy Davis, 43, Duluth, Minnesota, finished third in 29:33:48.
Abbie Singleton, Minneapolis, has every reason to smile as she cruises to a first-place finish in the women’s division of the marathon.
50 mile
While it’s well known that women possess tremendous endurance and often do well in long distance running events, the big surprise of the day might have been that three women finished in the top ten in the 50-mile race.
Benjamin Drexler, 33, Minneapolis, Minnesota, won the 50-mile race in 8:46:13. Second place went to Gretchen Metsa, 38, Buhl, Minnesota, who finished in 9:36:37. Jason Dreier, 37, of Two Harbors placed third with a time of 9:44:37. The second women finisher was Rose Ryan, 36 of Minneapolis. Rose completed the course in 11:13:13 to place seventh. Kaylen Williams, 27, Duluth placed tenth in 11:50:11.
26-mile
James Sorenson won the marathon with a time of 3:43:30.
Former Grand Marais resident Jonathan Rova, Duluth, was the 8th Master’s finisher crossing the line in 5:24:39.
Stopping at the Oberg aid station for some water was Kerrie Berg. The former Grand Marais resident placed second overall in the women’s marathon and she easily won her age-group.
Ever smiling Kerrie Berg, now living in Bemidji, ran 4:59:39 to win the Master’s Division. Kerrie also finished second place overall in the women’s race behind Abbie Singleton, 27, Minneapolis. Abbey won with a time of 4:38:30.
Dale Tormondsen, 50, or Tofte, placed 155 with a time of 7:50:10.
Recent wildfires in the area almost derailed this year’s races.
John Storkamp, race director and owner of Roscksteady Running who hosted the Superior Trail races commented on the fires and how lucky it was to be able to host the event this year. He said, “The decision to move forward was not made in a vacuum. In addition to communication and coordination with our partner / permitting agencies, I have been in continual communication with the Superior Trail Race Advisory Panel, and we were able to engage with some independent experts. Throughout this process I was very candid with our partner / permitting agencies, making it very clear that our approach has never been, and will never be, to push forward with our event at all costs – we want to make the right decisions for all stakeholders. Our decisions will always be based on the best facts and data that we can gather. “I will close by reiterating what I said in my last correspondence. I love you all and am grateful for you. Trail people are incredible people, and it is an honor to serve you. These problems, whether or not we can hold or run a race, all fall under the category of first-world problems, we are lucky to get to do any of this. That said, it is not lost on me how important our running is, and the inner and outer journeys it facilitates and how it fortifies our physical, mental and spiritual health. There is great power in what we come together to do, and who we are on the other side of it.”
Giving her father an adorable look is Lola. Lola used a walking stick like her father, Marcus Sivanich, as she paced her dad through the Oberg aid station and left him to finish the last 7.1 miles on his own. Marcus, of Andover, Minnesota, finished in 36:25:31.
Friends for life, Buck Benson (L) and John Wood. John finished the 100-mile race in 36:57:15.
Runners brought all different types of gear bags with them. The bags were brought to the various aid stations and runners would pull out their favorite drink or food or band aids etc. and take what they felt would help propel them to the finish.
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