It was a collective trip back to childhood and the joy of splashing in rain filled puddles. But on a grand scale in the lush forests of Waugoshance. When setting up the course earlier in the week I noticed an abundance of wildflowers in the wetlands south of Goose Pond. Coreopsis, TigerLilies, Hare Bells, Shasta Daisies, Lady Slippers. And I knew this indicated that it had been a wet spring. Another indicator was a 20 ft section of calf deep water and yet another 50 ft section of trail underwater near Big Sucker Creek, courtesy of a local family of beavers. The frosting on the cake though, was a soaking thunderstorm moving through the region during the first several hours on race day. True to the tough and durable mindset of trail runners, we started seeing finishers at the Mackinaw School exclaiming, “That was awesome!” This was a refrain heard from smiling, mud spackled runners finishing all distances. Complete results are available for viewing. Runners from 14 states and Canada participated in this, the 14th edition of the Waugoshance Trail Run.
Shane Lishawa of Mount Shasta, California captured the overall title in the 50K with a time of 4:06:38, about 14 minutes off his course record from 2023. Shane, a ecological restoration research scientist, spends his summers working in Northern Michigan. Yooper Matthew Johnson (Negaunee, MI) was the only other runner to crack the five hour mark, finishing in 4:58:37. Ann Arbor’s Quinn Moon rounded out the men’s top trio, finishing in 5:08:33. Concetta Macko of Pittsburgh, PA convincingly won the women’s 50K in 5:27:31 and was the only woman to break six hours on the challenging Waugoshance course. Joining Macko on the women’s podium were Mary Bolich of Milwaukee, WI (6:00:46) and Kelsey Robinson of Canton, MI (6:03:04).
Shane Lishawa, winning the Men's 50K in 4:06:38.
A veteran of many Waugoshance Trail Runs, Kevin Burke of Athens, GA took the men’s marathon title in 3:31:57. Joining Burke on the men’s podium were Noah Krzan of Kalamazoo, MI, (3:53:56) and 16 year old high school XC runner Jace Thomas of Birch Run, MI (4:17:08). Showing both grit and grace, Claire Taylor of Ann Arbor, MI captured the women’s marathon title in 4:10:23. Taylor is also a Field Hockey player and engineering student at the University of Michigan. Following Taylor, and also in her debut trail marathon, was Cassie Garcia of Northville, MI, finishing in 4:16:56. Cassie will be a Freshman at the University of Kentucky this Fall. Traveling from the foothills of the Sierras, Karin Nelson of Rocklin, CA (4:43:10) completed the top trio of finishers for the women.
Claire Taylor, women's marathon champion (4:10: 23) recovering at the finish line.
Ross Hartley of Granville, OH set a blistering pace early and cruised to a victory in the half marathon, crossing the line in 1:34:28. Practically running in his backyard, Carp Lake’s Parker Etheridge captured 2nd overall in 1:42:37, and outstanding performance for a 15 year old. Ryan Smith of Dexter, MI earned the 3rd overall spot in the half in 1:43:14. Smith was this year’s overall winner of the Rock River Canyon 27K and the Two Hearted Half Marathon. In the women’s half marathon, Sophie Bolich of Milwaukee, WI led the field, crossing the line in 2:00:22. She was followed by Anna Bertram of Dexter, MI (2:09:20). Kimber Pierzchalski of Vanderbilt, MI completed the women’s podium, finishing in 2:16:51.
Start of the Half Marathon near the Goose Pond, Wilderness State Park.
Special thanks and gratitude go to students and their parents at the Mackinaw City School who worked the aid stations and the Carp Lake Fire & Rescue crew who provided radio communications and medical support.