It was a great Valentines Day to be out racing with your loved one!
The 16K and 6K Gran Travers race courses were in terrific shape, double tracked throughout. On steeper downhills, one track was set on the side and the other track was taken out for skiers who might be uncomfortable skiing fast in the track. On fast curvy downhills, both tracks were removed because the tracks would have been in the way as skiers cut to the inside of each corner.
Temperatures were in the mid to upper 20's and there was quite a bit of humidity. Still, skiers who glide waxed a little on the colder side tended to have faster skis. There was no new snow, although an occasional snow shower occurred during the race - and maybe some sprinkles about 45 minutes into the race.
There was an unusually large field, with over 103 skiers racing and many more participating in the Valentines Day ski. Organizers had to scramble to find enough race bibs for everyone, resulting in a variety of race bibs for the day!
16K Race
Andy Liebner swept this weekend's Vasa races, winning both the Vasa 50K Freestyle and the Gran Travers 16K Classic, becoming the first "xcskishop.com Grand Champion". Liebner pulled away from Strait Strider Denny Paull to win 47:40 to 48:09. Seventeen-year old Ross Williams finished third in 50:18.
Tracy Hardin took the victory today in a time of 1:00:58, beating Amy Wichern (who was second overall in Saturday's 50K Vasa Freestyle) by about a minute in a half. Wichern's time was 1:02:34. Rounding out the top three was Ann Wagar in 1:04:37.
6K Race
In the 6K race, Raymond Innis had the fastest time to win the male division in 22:51. James Padden took second 23:30. Evan Cover, who won the 12K Freestyle in the Vasa, was a close third in 23:47.
The fastest female in the 6K was Hilde Gronvold. Gronvold finished in 25:04, the 6th fastest time of the day overall. Hannah Meachum followed in second place in 25:43, the Maria Frick completing the podium with a time of 26:52.
Overall Results
The 6K results follow the 16K results below:
16K Gran Traverse Age Division Results Sunday, February 14, 2010 ************ MALE OVERALL WINNERS ************ Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 1279 Andy Liebner Marquette MI 26 47:40 2 47 Dennis Paull Cheboygan MI 45 48:11 3 40 Ross Williams Williamsburg MI 17 50:18 MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 14 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 26 Fred Schaafsma Traverse City MI ? 1:48:36 MALE AGE GROUP: 15 - 19 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 40 Ross Williams Williamsburg MI 17 50:18 2 34 Travis Roberts Lake City MI 16 1:18:07 MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 1279 Andy Liebner Marquette MI 26 47:40 2 27 John Paul Traverse City MI 28 1:05:35 MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 20 Jeff Koch Traverse City MI 38 50:34 2 1175 Michael Schaefer Grafton OH 37 54:39 3 58 Robert Smith Roscommon MI 36 57:36 4 24 Than Dykstra Traverse City MI 37 59:16 5 25 Jan Merka Laurel MD 37 1:00:26 6 2127 Theo Vonwallmenich Alma mi 39 1:06:36 7 354 Christopher Anderson Grand Rapids MI 30 1:26:46 MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 47 Dennis Paull Cheboygan MI 45 48:11 2 7 Stephen Smigiel Cedar Springs MI 43 51:36 3 21 Todd Vigland Traverse City MI 40 52:16 4 23 Glenn Goodman Bellaire MI 43 52:48 5 54 Randy Smith Williamsburg MI 48 55:40 6 1181 Jamie Green Gaylord MI 49 55:48 7 7700 Michael Seaman Mt Pleasant 45 57:19 8 1173 Larry Kanaby Bad Axe MI 48 57:23 9 353 John Britton Zanesfield OH 47 59:17 10 6 Robert Triebold South Bend IN 47 1:03:01 11 1280 Mike Temkin Troy 46 1:04:54 12 1269 Nickola Baic Walloon Lake mi 48 1:11:25 13 1447 Adam Danes Northville 42 1:13:34 14 59 Dale Ernest Sandusky MI 46 1:21:51 15 1441 Brad Plymale Northville 41 1:25:36 16 53 Matthew Walling Grand Rapids MI 46 2:08:01 MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 2 Clifford Onthank Traverse City MI 56 50:41 2 55 Randal Bladel Granger IN 54 52:23 3 29 John Gravlin Linwood MI 55 53:14 4 1185 Doug Heady Ann Arbor mi 52 53:32 5 5 Chris Weingartz Petoskey MI 54 54:04 6 7710 Ken Dawson Farmington 59 54:38 7 60 Steve Seager Grayling MI 51 56:23 8 1180 Mike Muha Wixom MI 52 56:27 9 9 Don Camp Grand Haven MI 57 56:52 10 17 Daniel Rabine Eben Junction MI 50 58:50 11 13 Robin Luce Central Lake MI 58 1:00:00 12 30 Richard Jaissle Traverse City MI 58 1:02:47 13 1176 Frank Rynalski Bay City MI 55 1:03:02 14 41 Daniel Nolan Holland MI 58 1:06:45 15 28 Vince Call Alpena MI 59 1:07:27 16 1275 Mark Madorski Leonard 52 1:07:36 17 1276 Jeff Moore Northville 53 1:08:59 18 10 Bob Vande Kopple Pellston MI 58 1:10:28 19 11 Peter Danly Traverse City MI 58 1:13:05 20 1273 Stuart Picard Greenville mi 55 1:13:53 21 1278 Devan Thielfoldt Troy 53 1:14:02 22 37 Rick Kraai Holland MI 57 1:14:03 23 38 Robert Eifler Rapid City MI 52 1:15:00 24 1179 John Love Saint Johns MI 51 1:15:46 25 42 Jeff Pike Highland MI 55 1:15:56 26 33 William Danly N Muskegon MI 54 1:17:12 27 355 John Paul Traverse City mi 55 1:17:46 28 360 Dave Clary Traverse City mi 50 1:18:35 29 35 Duane Amato Suttons Bay MI 59 1:20:02 30 19 Spencer Ruffner Tecumseh MI 58 1:20:26 31 1270 George Felski Cheboygan 56 1:23:17 32 1272 Jim Davis Dewitt 51 1:29:14 33 1182 Steve Brown MI 52 1:33:44 34 44 Dennis Elston Flint MI 55 2:15:18 MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 1184 William Kaltz Pinckney MI 62 57:16 2 7730 Cris Jones Roscommon 61 59:22 3 1178 Steve Smigiel Ada MI 64 1:02:33 4 57 Ernie Brumbaugh Rockford MI 63 1:08:13 5 15 James Woodburne Traverse City MI 69 1:09:32 6 1174 Ed Clary Amherst OH 69 1:09:41 7 3 Ray Schmekel Traverse City MI 61 1:09:54 8 359 Hap Wright Boyne City 63 1:10:32 9 1177 Tim Greening N Muskegon MI 68 1:11:03 10 46 Dave Whitlock Mancelona MI 63 1:15:53 11 7720 George Gambert Bellaire 62 1:20:09 12 356 Ray Landfair Cedar mi 61 1:23:49 13 7740 Max Johnson Brutus 63 1:26:19 14 2133 Louis Awodey Boyne City mi 65 1:27:05 15 1348 Daniel Sagady Bellaire 60 1:32:32 16 16 Mike Schaeffer Traverse City MI 61 1:33:42 17 1277 Richard Wells Hamtramck mi 64 1:34:42 MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 98 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 358 Bill Haefner Clarkston mi 72 1:05:24 2 14 Patrick Tobin Traverse City MI 71 1:15:03 3 48 George Geikas Christmas MI 71 1:48:14 4 8 Marvin Stevenson Rochester Hills MI 75 1:51:13 ************ FEMALE OVERALL WINNERS ************ Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 52 Tracy Hardin Cheboygan MI 53 1:00:58 2 12 Amy Wichern Lake Ann MI 41 1:02:34 3 2128 Ann Wagar Gaylord 44 1:04:37 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 14 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= FEMALE AGE GROUP: 15 - 19 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 43 Catarina Gulledge Roscommon MI 21 1:08:31 2 1274 Hilary Witbrodt Auburn 29 1:09:53 3 36 Adrienne Walts Chicago IL 29 1:42:00 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 1268 Dagmar Merkova Laurel MD 39 1:15:12 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 12 Amy Wichern Lake Ann MI 41 1:02:34 2 2128 Ann Wagar Gaylord 44 1:04:37 3 22 Susan Vigland Traverse City MI 41 1:04:46 4 32 Chris Junker Rapid City MI 46 1:26:41 5 1271 Susan Davis Dewitt 49 1:43:27 6 56 Gwenn Stevenson Oxford MI 43 1:49:55 7 2131 Lisa Franseen Traverse City mi 46 1:51:31 8 2132 Susan Bagby Traverse City 41 1:51:33 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 52 Tracy Hardin Cheboygan MI 53 1:00:58 2 1187 Linda Weeks Lansing mi 56 1:16:54 3 18 Carole Mueller-Brumbaug Rockford MI 55 1:17:30 4 357 Linda Allen Grosse Pt 57 1:35:02 5 45 Barb Slovisky East Lansing MI 54 1:51:25 6 1183 Connie Brown 55 2:03:05 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 1303 Donna Dagady Bellaire 60 2:08:08 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 98 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 2126 Jean Murray Mt Pleasant 72 1:40:52
6K Gran Travers Results Sunday, February 14, 2010 MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 99 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 175 Raymond Innis Traverse City MI 18 22:51 2 170 James Padden Traverse City MI 18 23:30 3 185 Evan Cover Traverse City mi 16 23:47 4 167 Alan Jacobson Traverse City MI 18 24:14 5 2129 Matt Heimburger Traverse City mi 17 24:24 6 176 Micah Norris Traverse City MI 17 24:32 7 169 Josh Lance Traverse City MI 16 25:00 8 184 Ryen Keenan Traverse City 17 25:43 9 191 John Anderson 16 26:34 10 174 Spencer Trubac Traverse City MI 18 27:11 11 180 Alex Hawke Traverse City MI 17 27:11 12 179 Karl Jacobson Traverse City MI 16 28:36 13 2130 Greg Morgan Chardon mi 23 33:06 14 173 Charlie Trubac Traverse City MI 15 40:55 15 137 Andrzej Gulinski Kalamazoo MI 57 41:35 16 190 David Jenkins Pittsburgh PA 34 42:53 17 134 Kyle Sosenko Manton MI 17 43:03 18 177 Ted Wenzlick Livonia MI 27 46:05 19 138 Dick Thompson Elk Rapids MI 70 47:27 20 139 Nick Amato Suttons Bay MI 12 48:53 21 183 Gunn Johansen Lewiston 53 49:53 22 140 Ron August Waterford MI 66 51:23 23 192 Dale Boone Suttons Bay mi 49 1:04:40 FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 99 Place No. Name Town Sta Ag Time ===== ===== ======================= ================= === == ======= 1 156 Hilde Gronvold Traverse City MI 17 25:04 2 188 Hannah Meachum 17 25:43 3 155 Maria Frick Williamsburg MI 17 26:52 4 162 Hannah Rickard Traverse City MI 16 29:52 5 161 Amanda Porter Traverse City MI 16 30:06 6 153 Kennedy Cullen Traverse City MI 16 31:17 7 154 Megan Egbert Traverse City MI 18 32:00 8 164 Kaylee Vandomellen Traverse City MI 16 32:39 9 158 Jane Hinsencamp Traverse City MI 17 33:18 10 157 Clancey Hawke Traverse City MI 15 34:34 11 165 Anna Ward Traverse City MI 17 34:52 12 159 Katie Perkins Traverse City MI 17 34:57 13 163 Katie Stanton Traverse City MI 14 35:03 14 186 Emma Schilkey Traverse City mi 16 38:01 15 178 Amy Wilks Mancelona MI 62 42:59 16 133 Chris Stall Manton MI 40 44:54 17 187 Naomi Jarvis Allison Park PA 43 46:46 18 131 Julie Hewlett Tecumseh MI 56 54:25 19 193 Lindsey Boone Suttons Bay MI 12 1:04:41 19 193 Lindsey Boone Suttons Bay MI 12 1:04:41