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World records fell, $5,000 cash prizes were claimed and beautiful weather prevailed during marathon weekend in Ely.
Well over 300 people completed either the full or half-marathon races on Saturday as part of the Ely Marathon and Highland Bank Half Marathon, but once again it was the event’s unique and quirky canoe portage division that stole the show.
Both men’s and women’s individual world records were shattered as six people took on the grueling task of carrying a canoe for the entire 26.2-mile marathon course, which wound up at Ely’s Whiteside Park.
While Brent Smith of Carlton claimed first place in the overall marathon and former Elyite Amy Bianco Regan was the top women’s finisher, records were shattered in the canoe portage division.
Drew Boysen, 30, of Iowa City, IA, is the new world record holder and finished first with a time of 4:11:04.
And in doing so, Boysen claimed a $5,000 cash prize put up by Piragis Northwoods Company if anyone was to set a new record.
A second cash prize went to women’s canoe portage champion Victoria Ranua of Shakopee, who set a new women’s mark in the canoe portage marathon with a time of 5:25:34.
The canoe portage half marathon winner was Tom Klos, 51, of Belle Plaine. He was first among 13 participants and finished first in 2:43:52. Ely’s Trenton Flegel finished second in 2:44:16.
Four teams were in the canoe portage relay, with the Ely Outfitting Company team winning in a time of 4:25:17.
The team known as Burman won the canoe portage half marathon relay (2:54:22).
In all, 92 people ran the full marathon, which started on the Echo Trail and wound its way down into Ely with the finish line in the middle of the city park, where hundreds gathered to cheer the runners on and enjoy food, beverages and entertainment.
Smith, 68, was first and the top-five finishers were: 1. Smith, 3:12:19; 2. Charles Marshik, 45, Chanhassen, 3:15:07; 3. Bianco Regan, 29, Portland, ME, 3:19:01; 4. John Crosby, 36, Waconia, 3:24:19; 5. Julie Helsene, 39, Brainerd, 3:31:10.
The next-highest Ely finishers was Molly Gardner, 25, who took seventh overall in 3:37:58.
Ely’s Jordan Richards, 36, took 20th in 4:07:37.
Also finishing in the top half of the field were Ely’s Jim Richards, 44, 4:14:24, and Tom Omerza, 62, 4:17:54.
William Sackett, 35, of Grand Rapids won the half marathon in 1:22:01.
Next up was Paul Kuchenmeister, 62, of El Paso, IL, with a time of 1:27:53. Walter Skahl, a 50-year-old from Virginia, was third in 1:32:04.
The top Ely finisher was Sam Magnuson, 21, who took eighth in 1:44:12.
The full marathon had 92 finishers while 236 people completed the half marathon.
Festivities started the night before with the running of the Northern Lights Glow Run.
About 350 people took part in that event.
