Marquette, MI —With perfect trail conditions and temperatures in the 20’s, 1200 skiers participated in the 7th Annual Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon weekend of cross country skiing and snowshoeing events throughout Marquette County, Michigan. A range of ages from 2 to 84 showcased the fact that skiing and shoeing are for all ages and abilities.
The best racer of the 51K Men’s Classic Division, the points race for the American Ski Marathon Series and FIS North American Marathon Cup, was first time Noque participant Ivan Babikov. Babikov, a Russian born skier now living in Canada and skiing for the Subaru Factory Team shed 10 minutes off of last year’s record time, winning the event in 2:35:16. Skiing with Factory teammates Nathan Schultz and Eric Meyer for most of the race, Babikov kicked into high gear at the 8k marker and dropped them. Schultz squeaked into second place with a time of 2:37:08.5 while Meyer placed third with 2:37:38.1. In the women’s 51K Classic event, the Subaru Factory Team added to their podium appearance with Team members Abigail Larson and Kristina Strandberg taking first and second place. Larson, a one-time Northern Michigan University skier and 2003 Noque winner, used her knowledge of the course to finish in 2:57:59 while Strandberg followed with a time of 3:01:48. Diane Tremblay of Hayward, WI finished in third with a time of 3:07:24.
In the 51K Freestyle event, Marquette residents Matt Weier and Andy Liebner gave spectators an exciting finish. Weier edged out Liebner by 8/10ths of a second winning in 2:19:14.0 while Liebner’s time was 2:19:14.8. Andy Weddle of Philips, WI took third place with a time of 2:26:02.8. In the Women’s 51K Freestyle division, Team Rossignol’s Kim Rudd finished first in 2:45:10.3 while Paulette Niemi of Ironwood, MI took second place in 2:45:12.1. Deborah Sussex of Ely, MN followed in third place with a time of 2:57:59.3.
In the 25K Half Marathon Men’s Classic Division, Dan Streubel of Driggs, ID tore up the course with a time of 1:12:13.9. Rossignol’s Team Member, Jim Fredricks, making his first appearance at the Noque, took second in 1:14:26.6 while Dirk Mason of Madison, WI finished in third in 1:17:06.9. Emily Flynn, who has taken first, second, and third place in the Women’s Half Marathon Classic event in the past reclaimed her first place prize with a time of 1:29:31.0. Stacey Meanwell of Madison, WI and Janet Koistenen of Gwinn, MI followed in second and third place with times of 1:29:35.5 and 1:40:31.9 respectively.
The Half Marathon Men’s Freestyle Division was taken by Marquette resident Dan Dehlin with a time of 1:01:47.7. Walter Meanwell of Madison, WI and Jason Carstens of Marquette placed second and third with times of 1:04:54.5 and 1:06:33.4 respectively.
The Half Marathon Women’s Freestyle Division was swept by Wisconsin women. The winner was Eileen Kirsch of Lacrosse, WI who finished in 1:18:21.6. Cheri Uelmen of Eau Claire, WI followed in second with a time of 1:18.24.2 and Sandy Lotto of Eagle River, WI placed third in 1:20:09.1.
In the 25K snowshoe division, the top man was Stuart Kramer of Marquette and the top woman was Anne Siegrist of Appleton, WI.
Conditions for the 7th Annual Subaru Noquemanon were perfect. With 120†of snowfall thus far for the season, between 8 and 40†of snow covered the course. Temperatures in the 20’s with a trace of snowfall made the course conditions fast. All of the division winner’s race times were faster than the previous year.
FULL RESULTS: http://www.noquemanon.com/noque_div_05.pdf
