Left: Running strong are Korben Long, Kevin Viren and Annika Voss. Above: Giving it their all, these kids raced across the field to glory, and hugs! Staff photos/Laurie Johnson
A field of 168 runners took part in the annual trail run and walk sponsored by the North Superior Ski and Run Club on the hilly Pincushion ski trails. The predicted rain held off and the weather was nice but humid. The trails were well mowed, a challenge this warm, rainy year. A pair of 16-year-olds, CJ Young of Maple Grove and Noah Kohut-Jackson of Cambridge, Iowa dueled for the lead, with CJ prevailing in 31:24.
Both of the young stars compete for their respective high school cross-country and track teams, and both ran well in their respective state meets. Reed Lehto, a star for the CCHS Vikings back in the early 2000s, gradually closed the gap on the young stars, despite not having raced in recent years, to finish a respectable 3rd.
Noah’s older sister Abby, a member of the Minnesota Gophers track and cross-country teams, gapped the women’s field while setting a course record of 32:36 (adjusted for a slightly longer course this year), eclipsing Melissa Jensen’s 33:10 from 2008.
Behind Abby was another former CCHS Viking star, Ailee Larson. As her coach for many years, I know Ailee is a very tough young lady, so it didn’t surprise me to see her placing so well despite a very limited running schedule. I guess I didn’t really know how tough she was though, until found out she ran the entire course barefoot – rocks, roots, hills and all.
Or maybe tough is not the right word?
Melissa Penwell of Rocklin, California, a former winner in 2015, placed 3rd.
One of the best performances of the day was in the men’s 5-mile competitive walk, where 66-yearold Will Loew-Blosser now of Grand Marais recorded a 59:43 in strict walking form. Tamara Hill of Madison, Wis. led the women’s walk in 76:02.
In the kids’ race, Lizzy Harnell of Proctor led all racers with a 5:51 in the tough three-quarters mile. Izzie Perry of New Richmond, Wis. was next for the girls in 6:41, followed closely by Kelsey Young of Maple Grove in 6:44. Pierce Wilkes of Plainview led the boys in 6:05, then Chancellor Perry of New Richmond, Wis. in 6:10 and Jacob Skelly of St Louis Park in 6:40.
Running barefoot, former CCHS great Ailee Larson finished second in the women’s field.
It was great to see so many Viking alumni running in the meet. Besides Ailee and Reed, Ben Seaton won the 20-29 competition, Kira Peterson was 3rd in women’s 20-29 with her sister Sonja close behind, and Angelina Horne (nee Goette) placed 6th in 30-39. Five current team members— Kevin Viren, Lousie Ramberg, Claire LaVigne, Robin Henrikson and Cece Chmelik—used it as a pre-season tune up.
Many far-flung families, including locals like the Schlieps, Sprys, Petersons and Ratelles, plus longstanding competitors like the Watsons, Youngs, and Kohut- Jacksons help make this a great annual event. And the many generous donations by the merchants in Grand Marais help make it a major fundraiser for NSSRC trail maintenance and youth running and skiing programs.
Reed Lehto qualified for the state cross country meet four straight times. Today, he runs, all for fun.
Chris Hegg, 66, used his knowledge of the course to take the 60 and over title.
Will Loew-Blosser walked away from the competition in the five-mile walk.
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