IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Downtown Iron Mountain was buzzing with excitement as over 365 runners participated in this year’s Run Iron Mountain event, featuring a 2-mile, 5K, 10K, and half-marathon. Race Director Sara Pericolosi expressed her gratitude for the community’s continued support.
“Our community really came out again this year,” said Pericolosi. “Downtown Iron Mountain is just buzzing with excitement and positive energy. We put the challenge out, and they answered.”
The race, which started 11 years ago as a way to bring the community together while supporting local causes, continues to grow in both participation and impact. This year’s beneficiaries included Northwoods AirLifeline, the Dickinson County Cancer Loan Closet, and the Kingsford area little league team. For the first time, an application process was introduced to invite other local nonprofits to get involved.
“We recognize there are so many great things happening here,” Pericolosi said. “We want to continue giving back, so expect the application process for nonprofits to return next year.”
Involving local youth was a key focus this year. The race T-shirts were designed by a student from the Dickinson-Iron Technical Education Center, and the age group awards incorporated the student’s design into large wooden medals.
“Our half-marathon and 10K medals are giant, and we feel crossing the finish line is really worth a celebration,” added Pericolosi.
The event also relied heavily on the support of local sponsors and volunteers. This year’s premium sponsor was the Mariucci Family Foundation, with additional backing from the John Fornetti Dental Center and Bellin Health. Over 70 volunteers, many of them local high school students, helped ensure the race’s success.
“Whether it’s cheerleaders, bands, or sports teams, you’ll see the community really getting involved along the course,” Pericolosi said.
As the event continues to expand, Run Iron Mountain is actively seeking new board members to join the team.
“We encourage anyone interested to visit ironmountain.com and reach out to us,” Pericolosi noted.
This year’s half-marathon saw Fritz Van de Kamp from Salt Lake City, Utah, take first place with a time of 1 hour and 14 minutes. Josh Granquist of Powers came in second at 1 hour and 27 minutes, followed by Louis Santini from Cedar Lake, Indiana, at 1 hour and 37 minutes.
In the women’s division, Loretto’s Christianna Maule-Tekampe finished first with a time of 1 hour and 32 minutes. Katie Mandina of Norway secured second place at 1 hour and 36 minutes, with Rebecca Steinbacher of Iron Mountain placing third at 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Full race results are available at www.superiortiming.com
For those interested in donating, signing up to volunteer or run, or to answer the call to become a Run Iron Mountain board member, visit:
