2013 US National Marathon and North American Marathon 25K Speedskating Champions

Twenty-two speed skaters lined up for the 2nd US National Marathon 25K  Championship in Milwaukee, running concurrently with the North American Marathon. The pace was fast enough to promise an eclipse of last years marathon times. Many thanks to the Pettit National Ice Center (PNIC)officials and volunteer counters that made this championships possible.

Chief Referee Brian Kretschmann briefed the skaters and lap counters and lead them to the start line for the 64+ lap event. Starter Erica Lanser fired the "go" shot and skaters from three countries and multiple states started their quest for the US National and North American title.

Marshall Lipton (M80), a marathon champion

Nick Turro,Tony Marchese,Sue St.Pierre,Marshall Lipton, and Constant Montpellier

Turro exclaims the virtues of silver

2013 North American Champion Montpellier acknowledges Liptons golden efforts

US National team skater and distance specialist Patrick Meek (Senior),Canadian all-arounder Constant Montpellier (M50), and triathlon champion Albertus Rohling (M30,NED) set a quick pace that featured a 6-8 person paceline for about 8-10 laps. After that, the fast three began to separate themselves from the field. They came around the field so fast and often that they usually passed outside of the field instead of the field customarily skating wide to give the faster skaters an inside track. It did not seem to slow them down. For 54 laps the fast three exchanged leads and worked to maintain their aggressive pace. Their speed picked up steadily with 8 laps to go. With 4 laps to go,Meek began an acceleration that started to put some space between him and former European speedskating champion Rohling. Montpellier was still staying hot  on Meek's draft. At two laps to go,Meek showed the proverbial "other gear", and pulled away from Montpellier until the finish. Meek smashed last years record with a quick 38:32 25K US marathon title. Montpellier was second overall with 38:54, and Rohling was third with a 39:01. Still not done,Rohling then suited up for the 2013 Icebreaker half marathon run, also inside the Pettit National Ice Center just 25 minutes after his finish. He did win the special BLADERUNNER Gold Cup Challenge for competing in both races in one day. All three skaters and several more were ahead of last years 44:00 wining 25K time. Rohling will finish this weekend by running a 26.2 mile marathon less than 24 hours later.


Bridie Farrell(F30)was the first woman finisher,and her 44:50 time was also faster than the men's time from 2012. Bridie finished more than 10 minutes ahead of her competition. She returned to speedskating this year as a long track specialist after skating on the short track national team in the 1990's.

 April Chernobly (F30) won silver and gold for her North American performance. Veteran speedskater Sue St.Pierre (F60) added a US and North American championship as well today.

Nick Turro (Senior),earned two silver medals in his first indoor oval marathon.

Legendary speedskater Pat Wentland (M40), the director of the Academy of Skating Excellence (ASE)at the PNIC competed in the 25K and raced his way to a US title. Although Wentland was also a short tracker, he showed his big oval prowess.  Despite borrowing ASE coach Kreg Greers clapskates-a first time on this technology-and two falls, Wentland finished with a very respectful 46:23 without even training for the event.  He was followed by second year skater Michael Pereckas (M40).


Defending 25K champ Tom Cole(M50) started out with the fast three for ten laps. After they lapped the field,Cole re-integrated the field and skated strategically to avoid another fall (as happened last year) and preserved his one lap gain to win his 2nd US title at this distance. A seasoned Steve Desotelle (M50) held off a rapidly improving Owen Hayden(M50) to form the top three at M50.
Chuck Hansell became the US champion at 25K, and has been doing long laps at the PNIC to form his base fitness to capitalize on this race.
Ken Huss(M60), who specializes in marathon speedskating and inlines,  used his 6'5" to power down the track and hold off Jim Daniska for the silver.

Tony Marchese (M70) celebrated his birthday this day with a US and North American title. PNIC referee took a day off from his officiating duties and earned a silver medal for his training for this race.
The race could not be complete with Marshall Lipton (M80+) of New York. Lipton's spirit his the spirit of marathon speedskating, and inspired us all with his determined racing.

Stay tuned for the US 50K results in 24 hours.

Olu

BIB

Last Name

First Name

Gender

Country

Age Group

US National 25K

US25Krank

NorthAmerican25K

NA25Krank

USNational50K

US50KRank

NorthAmerican50K

32

Farrell

Bridie

Female

USA

F30

00:44:50

1

X

17

Chernoby

April

Female

USA

F30

01:04:59

2

1

59

St.Pierre

Sue

Female

USA

F50

01:12:51

1

1

X

X

101

Rohling

Albertus

Male

NED

M30

00:39:01

1*

147

Wentland

Patrick

Male

USA

M40

00:46:23

1

X

66

Pereckas

Michael

Male

USA

M40

00:51:32

2

104

Cole

Tom

Male

USA

M50

00:42:59

1

X

108

Desotelle

Steve

Male

USA

M50

00:43:39

2

180

Hayden

Owen

Male

USA

M50

00:43:42

3

1

X

X

128

Brand

Jeff

Male

USA

M50

00:51:44

4

X

145

Wills

Bob

Male

USA

M50

00:52:35

5

2

X

X

38

Montpellier

Constant

Male

CAN

M50

00:38:52

1

X

119

Hansell

Chuck

Male

USA

M60

00:51:28

1

X

148

Huss

Ken

Male

USA

M60

00:52:34

2

1

X

X

138

Daniska

Jim

Male

USA

M60

00:52:36

3

2

X

X

156

Boswell

Roger

Male

USA

M60

01:02:28

4

3

157

Burns

Ed

Male

USA

M60

DNS

4

X

X

107

Marchese

Tony

Male

USA

M70

01:00:21

1

1

X

X

127

White

Jim

Male

USA

M70

01:02:14

2

106

Lipton

Marshall

Male

USA

M80+

01:44:02

1

139

Meek

Patrick

Male

USA

Senior

00:38:32

1

1

X

X

102

Turro

Nick

Male

USA

Senior

00:51:36

2

2

X

X