Sponsored by Rhythm Bike and by LevelUp Custom Brand Apparel Specialists, the event has a new race director with entries growing about 30% from its last running.

In the 15-mile race, two laps of the short course, Leah Robinson of Ishpeming not only won the female 14-years-and-under division and not only was the women’s winner, but she won the overall title by more than 2 1/2 minutes over Jeremy Hinkson of Marquette. Robinson clocked 1 hour, 10 minutes and 56.6 seconds, averaging 12.6 mph, while Hinkson was the men’s winner in 1:13:30.1, a 12.2 mph average.

Emmalyn Verardi of Marquette was second for the women in 1:18:18.9, with fellow Marquette teen Alex Whaley right behind her in third in 1:18:43.2.

In addition, another Marquette teen, Ella Clement, was fourth in 1:20:15.1, while teen Cadence Anderson of Palmer was sixth in 1:22:15.9.

Zachary Button of Marquette, left, was runner-up and Cody McGrath of Negaunee, right, finished third in the Velocity Wheels USA 30-mile men’s race at the Great Deer Chase held at the Swedetown Trails in Calumet on Saturday. They stand with race winner Samuel Kilpela of Atlantic Mine, center. (Photo courtesy Swedetown Trails Club)

For the men, Hinkson, racing in the 50-64 age group, beat out runner-up Tim Wagner of Toivola by just a shade under two minutes, with three more Marquette County men cracking the top 10 — Ryan Pizziola of Ishpeming was seventh in 1:20:14.1, Christian Verardi of Marquette eighth in 1:20:16.1 and Joseph Roell of Marquette ninth in 1:23:00.9. Pizziola and Verardi raced in the 35-49 age division, while Roell was in 50-64.

A couple more Ishpeming men in the 35-49 group also cracked the top 15, Jim Gray in 12th in 1:24:35.6 and Eric Trudgeon 13th in 1:24:36.3.

In the 30-mile race, which featured a single lap around almost every single-track trail at Swedetown, Zachary Button of Marquette was runner-up and Cody McGrath of Negaunee finished third in the men’s race to winner Samuel Kilpela of Atlantic Mine.

Kilpela was the only racer to crack the two-hour barrier in 1:59:52.9 as that track was shortened slightly due to rain the preceding night. Button, as a teen racer, was about 45 seconds back in 2:00:36.9 and McGrath, in the 18-34 age division, not quite three minutes later in 2:03:17.0.

For the women’s 30-milers, Ella Falk of Marquette came in third as Tina Eakin of Folsom, California, won and Lisa Randall of Copper Harbor was second. Eakin made it home in 2:27:45.0, slightly more than 10 minutes ahead of Randall with the teen Falk another 13 minutes after that in 2:50:56.7.

Jeremy Hinkson of Marquette, center, won the Down Wind Sports 15-mile men’s race at the Great Deer Chase held at the Swedetown Trails in Calumet on Saturday. Standing alongside him are runner-up Tim Wagner of Toivola, left, and third-place Dave Wall of Rhinelander, Wis. (Photo courtesy Swedetown Trails Club)

In addition, Marquette’s Kaytlin Roell was fifth in 2:55:11.0 and Lauren Luce sixth in 2:56:21.4.

In the eight-mile event, Taylor Whaley and Laura Whaley, both of Marquette, finished just a few seconds apart after race winner Rebecca Brunner of downstate Holland came in at 51:15.1. Taylor Whaley was seventh in 59:59.7 and Laura Whaley eighth in 1:00:03.8.

There were no Marquette County racers listed in the eight-male men’s race, which was won by Quinn Justen of Prescott, Wisconsin, in 37:52.3.

In the two-mile, 12-years-and-under race run on the recently rebuilt Two Hoots trail, Amelia Norton of Ishpeming, racing in the 7-8-year-old division, was fourth among girls in 12:06.3. Tops for area boys was Dominic Robinson of Ishpeming, racing in the 6-under group, who was 18th in 14:17.6.

There was also a non-timed Adventure Ride that allowed riders to enjoy excellent area scenery and trails without racing, along with the Tots Race on a 50-yard-long course for the youngest riders.

Organizers say this fundraiser event for the Swedetown Trails Club will help it further development of recreational opportunities in the Keweenaw.

Story contents based on an email received from Great Deer Chase representatives Kris Anderson and Kyia Anderson and the Superior Timing website, www.superiortiming.com. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.