2006 Great Lakes Marathon Series Pin Winners

Michigan Cup

Fri, May  5, 2006 - By Ernie Brumbaugh

Even though lack of snow and high temperatures hampered the first two Great Lakes Marathon Series races, some 54 skiers skied in three of the four races of the Great Lakes Marathon Series. The four marathons that comprise the Great Lakes Marathon Series are the Noquemanon Ski Marathon skied from Ishpeming to Marquette, the White Pine Stampede in Mancelona, the North American Vasa in Traverse City and the Great Bear Chase in Calumet.

Thirty-four skiers earned Gold Pins signifying completion of at least three marathon distances. Twenty-one skiers earned Silver Pins denoting completion of any three races in either the long or short distances.

The Founders Club is down to seven skiers that have received a GLMS pin each of the first nine years of the Great Lakes Marathon Series. A total of 35 races have been run in those nine years and Bob West is the only skier to have completed at 35 of those races and each time at the marathon distance. He is followed by Fred Mills with 34 marathons, Maria Iwaniec with 33 marathons and Randy Kessler with 31 marathons. Lynne Witte has a total of 30, 23 marathons and 7 half marathons. Kevin Kelly has nine gold pins with 28 marathons and Mike Schaeffer has 28 completions, 14 marathons and 14 half-marathons. Congratulations all of the 2006 pin winners and most of all to the seven remaining founders whose dedication ad perseverance is the true meaning the SISU.

Great Lakes Marathon Series Pins are being mailed out this week to the following Gold and Silver pin winners: