A JAUNT THROUGH THE PAWS

For runners from Havre, and all across the country, the wait was worth it, as they finally got run in the inaugural Bear Paw Marathon. Over 300 runners competed on Saturday morning across three events. The premier event was the full marathon itself that began at Sucker Creek Road and ended at the Montana State University-Northern campus. Out of all the runners that competed in the marathon, Havre local Chris Durward had the best finish.

"It's been pretty special. I've only been running six, seven years and I always thought it would be pretty amazing to run a race in my hometown and to come here and do it with this crowd and with the support from my family," Durward saud.

Durward finished with a time of 3:09:07.01 to take first out the male runners in the marathon. Even though he had been running for years, the Bear Paw Marathon was his first race since he had hip surgery two years ago. As he began to rehab from his surgery, he began to work out more than he used to which he believed helped him quickly get back in shape.

"Training regiment kind of started with rehab for my hip," Durward said. "Going to the gym and actually lifting weights which I had never done and still not my favorite thing. Running's still my love but I think that definitely helped me out today and get me closer to where I was before surgery."

Lesley Zellmer had the best finish for women in the Bear Paw Marathon with a time of 3:41:29.64. Zellmer had spent the last 16 weeks training for the marathon so she was happy that her hard work paid off.

"I had big goals and I was happy to finish first," Zellmer said. "They put on a really good race and I was happy to run so close to home. It was awesome being out in the Bear Paws."

The marathon of 26.2 miles, ran through Beaver Creek Park. With the marathon going through the mountains, the runners spent much of their time heading downhill which might have made the course seem quicker for the runners.

"It seemed like it went really quick," Zellmer said. "It was challenging but I really enjoyed it."

The Bear Paw Marathon also had other races on Saturday morning. There was the half marathon that started at Beaver Creek Reservoir and ended at the MSU-N campus for 13.1 miles. Out of the male runners, local Ben Springer had the best finish with a time of 1:35:38.55. Out of the female runners, Megan Graham from Belt took first with a time of 1:39:25.66.

The other event was the 5K that started at Saddle Butte Road and ended at MSU-N for 3.1 miles. The best finish out of the male runners was Charles Clay from Williston, North Dakota with a time of 19:34.97. Along with spending time with his wife's family, Clay came to Havre to compete in the Bear Paw Marathon in order to push himself as a runner.

"It's all about just being better than I was yesterday. I was glad to come out and just compete with everybody from Havre," Clay said.

On the women's side of the 5K, Anna Terry from Chinook had the best time with a finish of 21:21.50. Terry just finished her track and field season for the Chinook High School team the previous weekend, so she felt ready for the run.

"We just found a pace and we kept it and I didn't think I was going to win but I did," Terry said.

The Bear Paw marathon was originally scheduled to have its inaugural run last year but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the marathon finally getting off the ground this year, the runners were just happy to get the chance to run through the Bear Paw Mountains.

"After COVID and everything else, this is just really special," Durward said.

Bear Paw Marathon

Men's Marathon

1. Chris Durward, 3:09:07.01; 2. Andy Prevost, 3:09:28.21; 3. Eric Stiffarm, 3:22:55.96; 4. Bryant Oleary, 3:45:49.39; 5. Roger Larson, 3:47:42.19; 6. David Bischoff, 3:50:00.71; 7. Carey Patrick Wentz, 4:03:16.36; 8. Ethan Durward, 4:12:05.37; 9. Brody Henry, 4:18:56.94; 10. Matt Johnston, 4:26:32.20; 11. Gary Lavenger, 4:30:07.89; 12. Griffith Moore, 4:53:12.46; 13. Derek Bell, 5:06:12.91; 14. Raymond Miller, 5:12:23.45.

Women's Marathon

1. Lesley Zellmer, 3:41:29.64; 2. Kim Ray, 3:50:44.23; 3. Katie Kuhr, 4:23:00.62; 4. Meggie Zook, 4:31:30.32; 5. Celeste Tremel, 5:21:31/55; 6. Brandelle McIntosh, 5:44:37.13.

Men's Half Marathon

1. Ben Springer, 1:35:38.55; 2. Dave Marzolf, 1:44:28.05; 3. Kaden Keto, 1:47:46.80; 4. Mike Leinwand, 1:53:01.60; 5. Evan Hinebauch, 1:55:50.89; 6. Adam Borg, 1:57:20.75; 7. Joseph Patrick Wentz, 2:01:20.46; 8. Shane Kemmer, 2:05:49.94; 9. Bill Alley, 2:05:55.43; 10. Chris Wendland, 2:06:36.21; 11. Grayson Winsor, 2:07:21.14; 12. Jacob Holden, 2:08:09.33; 13. Caleb Tomac, 2:08:11.70; 14. Jess Tomac, 2:08:11.85; 15. Alan Miller, 2:16:18.86; 16. Dave Martens, 2:21:32.99; 17. Charlie Scott, 2:24:22.99; 18. Morgan Olson, 2:27:59.46; 19. Michael Moore, 2:28:20.42; 20. Jon Sutton, 2:34:16.98; 21. Eric Hinebauch, 2:38:56.67; 22. Roger Gruber, 2:47:30.23; 23. Kevin Holmes, 2:52:04.77; 24. David Brightwell, 3:23:45.10.

Women's Half Marathon

1. Megan Graham, 1:39:25.66; 2. Alexa Christian, 1:52:41.93; 3. Michaela Whitemore, 1:52:45.73; 4. Christina Hoppe, 1:56:22.00; 5. Deborah Essert, 1:59:25.64; 6. Corty Filler, 2:01:58.90; 7. Alexa Nicholson, 2:03:23.73; 8. Amy Brown, 2:03:55.14; 9. Cheree Bekker, 2:04:47.60; 10. Karen Alley, 2:05:55.31; 11. Meagan Larsen, 2:06:05.24; 12. Tiffany Castillon, 2:06:48.16; 13. Tamra Arensmeyer, 2:06:51.24; 14. Lesli Adams, 2:08:02.80; 15. Alexandra Rybicki, 2:08:59.98; 16. Brittnee Loch, 2:09:05.47; 17. Thea Maristuen-Borg, 2:10:02.62; 18. Katherine Hodge, 2:12:09.12; 19. Lori Takawira, 2:13:04.88; 20. Mandy Hedstrom, 2:13:04.88; 21. April Nerat, 2:16:35.38; 22. Keri Pike, 2:23:29.36; 23. Christina Flansburg, 2:23:43.96; 24. Christie Nissen, 2:25:46.55; 25. Cori Winsor, 2:26:22.92; 26. Denise Richards, 2:28:17.29; 27. Kendra Smith, 2:29:12.69; 28. Alana Wetsch, 2:29:12.79; 29. Sierra Kannberg, 2:30:07.09; 30. Mikaela Lipp, 2:30:07.75; 31. Shannon Pett, 2:31:28.48; 32. Taryn Schmitt, 2:33:12.97; 33. Brandy Moore, 2:35:10.32; 34. Jenn Tomac, 2:36:32.94; 35. Kelsey Ward, 2:40:09.77; 36. Angie Billmayer, 2:42:17.02; 37. Stephanie Billmayer Silva, 2:42:17.14; 38. Ruth Stephenson, 2:43:00.33; 39. Megan Lodge, 2:45:54.29; 40. Gena Bischoff, 2:47:00.36; 41. Haley Velk, 2:51:17.04; 42. Ashley Wickum, 2:51:17.40; 43. Melissa Hart, 2:52:04.98; 44. Hailey Mosbrucker, 2:55:06.80; 45. Stacey Moore, 2:58:09.98; 46. Mariah Olson, 2:58:10.18; 47. Jessica Wall, 3:00:03.91; 48. Nema Alden, 3:04:38.78; 49. Meghan Newman, 3:07:02.46; 50. Mendy Estill, 3:16:41.35; 51. Julie Brightwell, 3:23:45.16; 52. Kristi Prevost Vork, 3:25:00.86; 53. Donita Winsor, 3:43:39.40; 54. Kim O'Leary, 3:50:07.77; 55. Jane Leinwand, 3:54:33.26.

Men's 5K

1. Charles Clay, 19:34.97; 2. Levi Jensen, 21:18.87; 3. Levi Capdeville, 22:45.88; 4. Matthew Boucher, 23:35.53; 5. Randy Holland, 24:58.45; 6. Brady Boucher, 25:15.31; 7. Tanner Veis, 25:19.85; 8. Kylee Cody, 33:32.00; 9. Justin Knudson, 35:19.94; 10. Joby Malisani, 40:16.04; 11. Joe Malisani, 40:16.42; 12. Jason Castillon, 41:42.68; 13. Hank Tweeten, 43:51.07; 14. Clemon Jones, 44:22.11; 15. River Evans, 46:28.73; 16. Jae Eckman, 46:53.35; 17. Mike Zook, 50:14.69; 18. Isaac Gibson, 55:10.80; 19. Roland Gibson, 55:01.86; 20. Kane Gibson, 56:03.31; 21. Tyler Gibson, 56:03.47; 22. Delmer Henry, 57:11.76; 23. Kellen Clay, 57:12.69; 24. Colin Hanson, 1:01:37.44; 25. Ethan Holt, 1:01:38.66; 26. Wyatt Hanson, 1:01:53.49.

Women's 5K

1. Anna Terry, 21:21.50; 2. Rachel David, 21:49.03; 3. Sharon McLaughlin, 24:46.39; 4. Rachel Burchard, 26:52.65; 5. Andrea Laumeyer, 27:03.92; 6. Andrea Nault, 27:25.95; 7. Kelsey Bakke, 27:27.29; 8. Kali Schmitt, 27:59.89; 9. Amber Huestis, 28:40.94; 10. Tara Buck, 28:43.00; 11. Crysandra Neuman, 28:44.92; 12. Chelsea Nottingham, 29:02.32; 13. Karissa Ketterling, 29:26.29; 14. Tia Boucher, 30:07.54; 15. Angela Sebelius, 30:22.08; 16. Savanna Munson, 31:07.96; 17. Katlyn Nystrom, 31:10.93; 18. Patricia Blanchard, 31:39.83; 19. Lindsey Wilson, 31:51.37; 20. Mindy Herdina, 32:06.51; 21. Tamera O'Leary, 33:28.36; 22. Courtney Burchard, 33:28.44; 23. Lirio McKenzie, 33:39.87; 24. Jordan Dugan, 34:18.70; 25. Ronda Holland, 34:48.92; 26. Valerie Beck, 34:59.95; 27. Terra Otto, 36:23.65; 28. Hayley Coursey, 36:33.82; 29. Jenna McNew, 36:43.52; 30. Alix Holt, 36:44.11; 31. Hillary Riggin, 37:33.79; 32. Jessica St. Dennis, 38:16.60; 33. Christina Mack, 38:28.48; 34. Halley O'Leary, 39:03.62; 35. Melissa Endicott, 39:56.04; 36. Rebecca Malisani, 40:17.42; 37. Erin Payne, 40:39.81; 38. Janice Nystrom, 41:00.14; 39. Sophie Castillon, 41:42.80; 40. Jenna Holt, 42:44.87; 41. Terri Magelssen, 42:45.58; 42. Amy Wendland, 42:45.97; 43. Julia Wahl, 44:11.29; 44. Kate Jonesc, 44:22.13; 45. Megan Maroney, 44:46.14; 46. Amy Steinke, 46:00.44; 47. Karmon Steinbach, 46:00.55; 48. Nicole Erhard-Hanson, 46:46.97; 49. Sarina Eckman, 46:54.09; 50. Darcy Zook, 48:24.72; 51. Tamara Alley, 50:14.02; 52. Willow Evans, 53:43.75; 53. Tamara Gibson, 56:04.18; 54. Twyla Knudson, 56:39.49; 55. Julia Knudson, 56:40.10; 56. Kimberly Prevost, 56:42.53; 57. Ashley Clay, 57:12.32; 58. Lori Henry, 57:48.39; 59. Paula Hanson, 58:46.19; 60. Angi Gabrielsen, 58:56.31; 61. Amber Alexander, 58:56.38; 62. Marissa Medina, 59:06.70; 63. Tanya Moore, 59:07.00; 64. Justine Erhard, 1:02:06.45; 65. Lisa Hinebauch, 1:09:03.07; 66. Keira Hinebauch, 1:09:03.14.