Bucklin takes first in 33rd Le Grizz

Eighty-five runners completed the 33rd Le Grizz 50 Mile Ultramarathon footrace held Saturday, Oct. 11, along the east side of Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Twenty-seven starters had never before run 50 miles, and 26 of them finished. The Le Grizz race is the USA Track and Field’s 50 mile championship event for Montana runners.

Overall winner was Benjamin Bucklin, of Spokane, Wash., in 6 hours 14 minutes 47 seconds. Paolo Venturini, of Rovolon, Italy, took the Masters Division for ages 40-49 in 7:23:34. In the Seniors Division for runners over 50 years of age, Christopher Goodwin, of Spokane, took first place, posting 7:26:42 in his first 50 miler. 

Five women finished under seven and a half hours. Lindsay Swan, of Bozeman, was the overall female winner in 7:11:44 in her first 50 miler. Michele Anderson, of Livingston, posted 7:15:09 to take the Masters Division, and Susan Gallup, of Calgary, Alberta, won the Seniors Division in 8:41:10.

Brian Rhodes-Devey, of Whitefish, won the men’s Open Division, posting 6:28:13 in his first 50 miler, and Swan was the first woman. Masters winners were John Dayton, of Helena, in 9:24:46, and Anderson.

The Cheetah Herders Athletic Club of Seeley Lake sponsored the event, assisted by the Glacier Special Olympics, North Valley Search and Rescue, and local volunteers. For more information, visit online at www.cheetahherders.com.

This will likely be the last time the event is held along the reservoir, as Pat Caffrey, race director for the last 33 years, is retiring. Discussions are underway to move the event to the North Fork Valley under new management.

Local runners:

2 Brian Rhodes-Devey 6:28:13 Whitefish

13 Amanda Blair 7:26:38 Kalispell

49 Jeff Metsky 9:42:43 Whitefish

53 Becky Middleton 9:50:31 Whitefish

55 Bayne French 9:53:12 Whitefish

60 Kelly Hamilton 10:07:30 Columbia Falls

70 Gary Sparr 10:47:25 Columbia Falls