YooperBeiner racers brave cold

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood Township - Snowshoers took over the trails at Wolverine Ski Trails Saturday for the 4th annual YooperBeiner Snowshoe Race/Tour.

The day featured a number of events, including 10-kilometer and 5K races and a noncompetitive 5K tour. There was also a kids race, broken up into heats of racers between the ages of 8 and 12, and a second heat of those between ages 3 and 7.

Deb Leonard, one of the race's organizers, was pleased with the races.

"The races went fabulous, the kids had overwhelming presence here," Leonard told the Daily Globe, "there were even 3-year-olds out there (taking part)."

Despite the cold temperatures, Leonard said the community came out to support the annual race.

"(It's an) excellent turnout for the children and then the adults are beyond our expectations, well over 100 adults participated ... from all over the state of Wisconsin and the U.P., and some people from Minnesota," Leonard said.

Kristopher Kirkland, 9, of Ironwood was the first kid between the ages of 8 to 12 win the race, with Sophia Villanueva, 11, of Hurley and Bryce Kirkland, 12, of Ironwood rounding out the top three in the age bracket.

Sawyer Peck, 7, of Hurley finished first in the younger kids bracket, followed by Addison Pisco, 7, of Ironwood and Kacey Klemme, 7, of Hurley.

Tim and Signe Buerger took first in the adult 5K's men's and women's races respectively. Tim, 16, of Ironwood, completed the course in 31:02, while Signe, 14, of Ironwood ran the race in 39:01.

The men's and women's 10K race was won by Dave Sykora, 68, of Green Bay, Wis., with a time of 1:19:19 and Anna Mooi, 23, of Ironwood with a time of 1:20:30.

A complete list of winners is available at the following website: wolverinenordic.com/resultsyooperbeiner-16.