One fast former Wildcat
NMU skiing alum Bratrud takes Noque 50K Classic title
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By RYAN SPITZA
Journal Sports Writer
MARQUETTE -- As temperatures hovered around the mid-30s on Saturday morning, the weather made the race course quick for the hundreds of competitors that gathered upon Marquette County for the 20th annual Noquemanon Ski Marathon.
The annual event begins at Al Quaal and stretches to the new finish line at the log yard just off of County Road 550 this year.
Due to the Mackinac Bridge closure on Friday, race officials estimated being down 200-300 skiers from last year. There were some stories of competitors turning around and driving around Lake Michigan to make the race on time.
Former Northern Michigan University skier Kyle Bratrud, a native of Eden Prairie (Minn.) who now resides in Marquette won the 50-kilometer Classic race for the second straight year with a time of 2:14:32. David Joda of Minneapolis came home second almost six minutes after Bratrud crossed the line.
Bratrud said the course was much faster than last year's weather-altered event, as race officials said finishers came in roughly 25 minutes earlier than usual.
"It was good," he said. "Last year, we had a shortened course and a snowstorm, so it was kind of slow going at the front. This year, it was pretty hard and pretty fast, especially the last half. So different conditions but fun to see that I'm in shape and could win again."
While Bratrud's sights were set on the finish line, he observed the enjoyment other racers were having on the course as well.
"Everyone seemed pretty excited at the start," he said. "The people I saw seemed like they were really excited to race and it was a great atmosphere out there."
The first female finisher in the 50K Classic was former Vancouver Olympian Caitlin Gregg. The Minneapolis native and NMU ski team alumna finished ninth overall with a time of 2:30:23. This was Gregg's first Noque.
Gregg praised officials for the preparation of the course as well as the scenery surrounding it.
"The course was excellent, it was awesome out there," she said. "I think they did a fantastic job with all of the grooming and it's just beautiful. The terrain that you go through to get from Ishpeming to here is like none other. It's great."
Standing next to Gregg during the interview was 86-year-old Don Hurst. Likely the oldest registered competitor, Hurst finished the 12K race with a time of 1:31:35 and is credited with jumpstarting the ski team at NMU.
Gregg credits her skiing success to Hurst.
"Don means a lot," she said. "He started the NMU ski team back in the day. I wouldn't have accomplished or been able to do what I've been able to do. I wouldn't be able to ski at the places I'm able to ski or meet the people I've been able to meet and have the career I've had without Don starting me at Northern. It feels good to come back and say thanks."
Soon following after the 50k Classic competitors were the 50K Freestyle competitors.
Andy Liebner of downstate Cheboygan took first in the freestyle event which came down to the final few feet.
Liebner was neck-and-neck with St. Paul (Minn.)'s Zachary Nelson as the two approached the finish line. Nelson gave all he could to try and inch out Liebner but took a fall just before the line allowing Liebner to hold on. Liebner had a time of 2:12:42 to Nelson's 2:12:48.
"It was very enjoyable and challenging at all levels," Liebner said. "I skied here with the Wildcats in 2011, so I was somewhat familiar with the courses out here. It was a home-course advantage to some degree. It was nice to come back to Marquette and ski where I went to school."
The first female freestyle finisher was Marquette native Lindsey Dehlin, who finished 12th overall with a time of 2:26:18 in her fourth Noque.
In the short-distance events of the day, Negaunee's Jeremy Steele took first in the 24K classic while Marquette's Joey Graci was first in the freestyle. St. Paul resident Hanna Torvi won the women's classic race and Ann Arbor's Abby Potts finished first in the women's freestyle.
Nathan Garwood of Marquette won the 12K classic while Galen Resh Chimner of Houghton won the freestyle. Eden Prairie's Micayla Batchlor took first in the women's classic and Marquette's Ericka Asmus won the women's freestyle.
There was also a 50K team relay event which went to the team of Justin Prusi and Elliot Prusi of Negaunee, who finished with a time of 3:01:58. Ray Sharp of Atlantic Mine won the 15-mile snowshoe on the men's side and Grand Rapids' Erika Kuhnle won the women's category.
Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.