2023 Bear Paw Marathon pushes it through the rain

Despite heavy rain on Saturday morning, runners from across the nation were able to compete in the Bear Paw Marathon right here in Havre. Over the course of the marathon, the half marathon and the 5K, more than 300 runners competed with a few rising above the rest.

The Bear Paw Marathon, which started all the way up on Sucker Creek Road early in the morning, was won by Tristan Scott on the men's side. The Whitefish resident recorded a time of 3:10:28.77 for the best finish of all the runners on the marathon. While the rain put a damper on things, Scott enjoyed coming out to the Hi-Line to run.

"This is a great marathon. Course conditions were challenging because of the rain but it's still such a beautiful course," Scott said. "And to finish in such a welcoming community is a real joy. I did the race last year and finished second so it was nice to come back for my second year and actually come in first."

While Scott and the other runners probably would have liked to have run in better weather, they had to make due with the weather they had. For Scott, it was not much of a big deal since he is used to running in adverse weather conditions in Whitefish.

"All my training this spring has been in pretty sloppy conditions," Scott said. "So once the pavement ended and I hit the dirt section, I actually welcomed the soft squish."

For the men in the Bear Paw Marathon, Kyle Strode from Helena finished second with a time of 3:36:35.54. Havre native Chris Durward took third in the marathon with a time of 3:43:34.79 and Andy Prevost from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, took fourth with a time of 3:43:35.18. Alexander Hutchison from Great Falls finished fifth with a time of 4:15:56.61.

On the women's side, Lesley Zellmer took first in the Bear Paw Marathon with a time of 3:55:22.93. Like all the runners, the Chinook native had to push through the rain in order to get to the finish line.

"I wasn't sure what I was going to be able to do today with the weather conditions but I actually kind of enjoyed it," Zellmer said. "I was just staying positive, talking through it and staying in a groove."

Also on the women's side in the Bear Paw Marathon, Kristina Reardon from Fort Worth, Texas, took second with a time of 3:56:07.85. Elda Contreras from San Ramon, California, took third with a time of 3:59:21.24 and Megan Matteoli from Yuba City, California, took fourth with a time of 4:03:32.77. Natacha Doney from Hays finished fifth in the marathon with a time of 4:22:39.40.

There were a couple other races in Havre Saturday morning. The half marathon, which began at Beaver Creek Reservoir, was won by Havre native Brody Henry with a time of 1:26:03.35. All the other top finishers on the men's side in the half marathon came from Havre. Caleb Tomac took second with a time of 1:26:03.48 and Ben Springer took third with a time of 1:29:37.36. Kelly Jones took fourth with a time of 1:29:56.40 and Matthew Woronik took fifth with a time of 1:31:21.74.

On the women's side in the half marathon, Corinne Garrett from Missoula took first with a time of 1:51:39.76. Kalispell's Kristi McVicker took second with a time of 1:56:37.19 and Chinook's Alexa Nicholson took third with a time of 1:56:56.28. Havre's Tiffany Castillon took fourth with a time of 2:01:07.26 and Chinook's Neva Lowe took fifth with a time of 2:02:53.77.

On the men's side, the 5K was won by Branlin Foote with a time of 18:43.06. The Harlem native came out to compete because of how much he enjoys running and succeeding at it.

"It just feels really good (to take first)," Foote said. "I like to run a lot so I might as well get something from it."

In the men's 5K, Harlem's Ethan Walker took second with a time of 20:24.98. Jade Nystrom from Havre took third with a time of 20:38.64 and Sean Nagel from Havre took fourth with a time of 21:27.15. Hoyt Springer from Havre finished fifth with a time of 21:52.96.

On the women's side in the 5K, Brea Sattoriva from Hingham took first with a time of 23:45.34. Marley Springer from Havre took second with a time of 24:08.45 and Clara Haslem from Havre finished third with a time of 25:38.10. Janet Ingram from Havre took fourth with a time of 25:38.17 and Kari Filius from Havre took fifth with a time of 26:34.19.

The 2023 edition of the Bear Paw Marathon saw an increased turnout from the past two marathons. While the weather could have been better, the runners enjoyed their time competing and they appreciated the work done by the community to hold the event.

"I'm just happy to be here again, to be a part of this amazing race. I feel like everyone that puts this thing on does such a great job," Zellmer said.

Mens Bear Paw Marathon

1. Tristan Scott, Whitefish, 3:10:28.77; 2. Kyle Strode, Helena, 3:36:35.54; 3. Chris Durward, Havre, 3:43:34.79; 4. Andy Prevost, Rice Lake, 3:43:35.18; 5. Alexander Hutchison, Great Falls, 4:15:56.61; 6. Gary Lavenger, Havre, 4:15:57.38; 7. James Schoonmaker, Redmond, 4:25:52.86; 8. Ezra Goldhahn, Havre, 4:41:48.35; 9. Jeremy Hofer, 4:49:16.26; 10. Bob Batzer, Saint Louis, 4:50:01.07

Womens Bear Paw Marathon

1. Lesley Zellmer, Chinook, 3:55:22.93; 2. Kristina Reardon, Fort Worth, 3:56:07.85; 3. Elda Contreras, San Ramon, 3:59:21.24; 4. Megan Matteoli, Yuba City, 4:03:32.77; 5. Natacha Doney, Hays, 4:22:39.40; 6. Kate Cornell, Iliamna, 4:23:15.45; 7. Shanae Hanson, Havre, 4:24:39.26; 8. Gabriella Alexander, Wasilla, 4:24:40.08; 9. Talia Hess, Wasilla, 4:24:40.66; 10. Cheree Bekker, Havre, 4:29:39.25

Mens Half Marathon

1. Brody Henry, Havre, 1:26:03.35; 2. Caleb Tomac, Havre, 1:26:03.48; 3. Ben Springer, Havre, 1:29.37.36; 4. Kelly Jones, Havre, 1:29:56.40; 5. Matthew Woronik, Havre, 1:31:21.74; 6. Jon Woehl, Billings, 1:40:17.87; 7. Colby Minert, Box Elder, 1:44:29.80; 8. David Bischoff, Havre, 1:48:25.43; 9. Kevin Soley, Red Deer County, 1:48:30.86; 10. Izaak Opatz, Missoula, 1:50:08.41.

Womens Half Marathon

1. Corinne Garrett, Missoula, 1:51:39.76; 2. Kristi McVicker, Kalispell, 1:56:37.19; 3. Alexa Nicholson, Chinook, 1:56:56.28; 4. Tiffany Castillon, Havre, 2:01:07.26; 5. Neva Lowe, Chinook, 2:02:53.77; 6. Jennifer Turchin, Helena, 2:03:30.32; 7. Amie Scarpitti, Richfield, 2:04:38.29; 8. Bridget Smith, Strongsville, 2:04:38.50; 9. Deborah Essert, Havre, 2:09:27.32; 10. Drew Westford, Blaine, 2:09:30.48.

Mens 5K

1. Branlin Foote, Harlem, 18:43.06; 2. Ethan Walker, Harlem, 20:24.98; 3. Jade Nystrom, Havre, 20:38.64; 4. Sean Nagel, Havre, 21:27.15; 5. Hoyt Springer, Havre, 21:52.96; 6. Eric Messinger, Havre, 23:44.76; 7. Jeffrey Sprinkle, Billings, 24:56.73; 8. Levi Capdeville, Glasgow, 25:04.19; 9. Wylie Novak, Havre, 25:09.61; 10. Walker Old Bull, Box Elder, 25:10.89.

Womens 5K

1. Brea Sattoriva, Hingham, 23:45.34; 2. Marley Springer, Havre, 24:08.45; 3. Clara Haslem, Havre, 25:38.10; 4. Janet Ingram, Havre, 25:38.17; 5. Kari Filius, Havre, 26:34.19; 6. Peyton Bartel, Havre, 26:34.20; 7. Piper Miller, Gildford, 27:29.59; 8. Rachel Burchard, Havre, 27:34.78; 9. Brittany O'Neil, Havre, 28:21.57; 10. Brittnee Loch, Havre, 28:21.57.