July 17, 2023
Maclay Flats Evening-O
The second of our summer weeknight events of 2023 featured both a new venue and a new event format. The event was held at Maclay Flats, a popular recreation area just outside of Missoula that was field checked by Boris Granovskiy and Jan Lauenstein in the spring of 2023.
For all courses besides Beginner, we used the “Mass Start” format, where all competitors on the Short, Medium, and Long courses started at the same time. The courses consisted of several loops (2 for the Medium course and 3 for the Long) that passed through the finish before heading out on each following loop. Competitors ran the loops in different order, meaning that you could never follow another runner and be sure they were going to the same control as you.
On the Long course, this led to an exciting battle between Michael Kelly and Calvin Olson. Calvin had a narrow lead after one loop, but Michael pulled just ahead after the second one and held off Calvin to take the win by two minutes. In all, we had 32 participants, including a large number of kids, bolstered by the attendance of three participants of the weeklong orienteering summer camp that GrizO held in conjunction with Missoula Parks and Rec and Go Run Missoula last week!
As usual, thanks to our awesome crew of volunteers: Emily Johnson was the event director; Greg Friedman, Rob Nowels, Oliver Nowels, Ethan Dyke, Finn Nowels, Calvin Olson helped with control pickup and carrying event supplies out of the woods; Correena Streets pitched in with everything that was needed to get the event set up and going; Inara Granovskiy and Svea Johnson also helped with event setup.
You can see event photos, videos, and maps here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MBG6dQmTMnyngjxa9
Maclay Flats Mass Start
July 17, 2023
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Beginner
1. Kelli Fry 12:47
2. Crosby Nowels GrizO 16:21
3. Correena Streets GrizO 21:57
4. Eli Geurtjens 27:37
5. Sasha Abrahamson 27:38
6. Emili Fry 29:47
7. Inara Granovskiy GrizO 32:23
8. Svea Johnson GrizO 32:24
9. Brynn Pence GrizO 32:28
10. Elise and Erin Pence GrizO 38:41
11. Ndizeye Family (4) DNF
Short
1. Kelly Fry 38:24
2. Reid Lane and Jake Robbins GrizO 39:24
3. Miranda Marks GrizO 41:50
4. Rachel Hamre 42:19
5. Eli Geurtjens 55:56
6. Sasha Abrahamson 55:57
7. Laura Henning and Scott Essert GrizO DNF
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Medium
1. Loy Koch GrizO 46:47
2. Nick Pence GrizO 51:48
3. France Mer GrizO 67:00
4. Oliver Nowels GrizO 67:45
5. Ethan Dyke 67:51
6. Kathleen and Larry Dent GrizO 96:43
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Long
1. Michael Kelly GrizO 53:03
2. Calvin Olson GrizO 55:09
3. Greg Friedman GrizO 74:23
4. Finn Nowels GrizO 81:07