ELY- The Ely Marathon completed its eighth year on a day that started grey and overcast and finished with light rain. But the weather didn’t keep spectators from turning out to cheer on the racers and, in some cases, their dogs.
Unlike past years, race organizers allowed runners to compete with their dogs and several took advantage of the opportunity, adding to the applause as racers and their running partners crossed the finish line in Whiteside Park.
Fall Lake resident Hudson Kingston won the full marathon for the second time, clocking in at 2:55:51 (see separate story page 10), while David Hyopponen topped the field in the half marathon with a time of 1:20:00.
The $5,000 prize for topping the previous record in the solo full marathon portage race will stand for another year as Jacob Bendel led the field of nine competitors with a time of 4:36:42, a little over 13 minutes shy of the record set by Anthony Peter, who completed the 26.2-mile canoe portage in a time of 4:23:20.
Thirty-five-year-old Vanessa Grams notched the best time for the solo half marathon portage canoe race this year, with a time of 3:17:54, topping the best men’s time of 3:22:54, run by Mike Smith.
The fastest full marathon relay team portage canoe race this year was run the women’s Storm King team, with a time of 4:28:24. This is also the best time and the best women’s time since the race started in 2019. The best 2023 men’s team time was 4:41:29, run by the Ely Outfitting Co. Team.
The fastest half marathon relay team portage canoe race this year was run by the Where Da Water At team, with a time of 2:20:44. This is also the best time since the race started in 2019.
The best boys’ time for the Dorothy Molter Root Beer Run of 1.2 miles was run by Geno Ongaro with 8:26. The best girls’ time was run by Viola Cogger, with a time of 9:14. This year also saw the youngest finisher ever, Aero Ringate, age 4, who finished in 22:03. There were 53 participants this year, with 44 finishing. The highest number of runners was 89 in 2018. The fastest boys’ finish was 8:05, run by Caid Chittum, age 10, 2017. The fastest girls’ finish was 8:06, run by Zoe Devine, age 10, in 2016.