Submitted By:

Jim Engel

First National Bank of Wakefield Marathon Race Director

Eighteen runners and one hand cyclist completed the 5th Annual First National Bank of Wakefield Marathon on 9/11/10.

Eric Stoltz of Decatur, AL, was the men’s winner and Monica Krummerfeldt, Tomahawk, WI, was the female champion.  Stoltz ran 3:10:55 while Krummerfeldt stopped the clock in 3:42:47.  Both were course records.
 
Dean Juntunen of Mass City hand-cycled the nine-and-a-half-plus laps around Sunday Lake in 2:00:40, some eleven minutes slower than his course record.  

“The wind really kicked my butt out there today,” Juntunen said of the stiff, gusting winds.  “It was really tough out there.”

Race director Jim Engel said of the weather, “Initially I thought it was going to be a cold, steady rain but the rain was very light for the first fifteen minutes or so and then on-and-off a couple times in the next four hours.  The temperature was ideal.”  

Former men’s champion Jim Waters, Ontonagon, was the second runner to cross the finish line (3:38:23) followed closely by Wayne Chritopherson, Alpena, (3:45:37), Bob Frievalt, Green Bay, (3:51:16) and Louie Jagla, Ironwood, (3:51:33).  Karen Arnatt, Tomahawk, was next in 3:57:40.

“We had a record 19 finishers this year,” Engel reported, “and four individuals who have completed all five marathons to date.  They are Dean Juntunen, Bill Sved, Gary Engstrom and myself.  And I gotta give a shout out to Gary Aimone for completing his first marathon in 4:24:06.”

“A thanks must go out to Bill Sved who is responsible for having the Wakefield course certified by the United States Track and Field Association.  This means the course was accurately measured and the marathon can be used to qualify for the Boston Athletic Association’s Boston Marathon.  You don’t run Boston without qualifying on a certified course.”  

It was truly a family affair for the Engels as Janelle was the official recorder for the fifth year, assisted by her sister Chelsea.  The two were also responsible for providing aid as the runners passed the start/finish line.  Marty and Nancy Beckman, the girls' grandparents and former Wakefield residents, provided aid at the VFW, and Denise, the race director's wife, provided food once again for the runners after they completed the race.

“It was cool having all those family members out there today helping,” Engel said.  “They motivated me to finish the marathon on a very tough day for me.”

“Thanks to Tony Ringsmuth and the First National Bank for their support and the city of Wakefield for the use of the New Pavilion.”  

The sixth annual First National Bank of Wakefield Marathon will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2011.  

Complete First National Bank of Wakefile Results