MECCA hosts 2nd annual Turtle River Pursuit

By RICHARD JENKINS

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MERCER, Wis. - Pursuit racing was back in the Northwoods for another year this weekend as the MECCA trails in Mercer hosted the second annual Turtle River Pursuit cross country ski race.

"(It was a) fantastic result. The community came out, the skiers loved the course and it was an overwhelming success," MECCA President Mike Shouldice said.

Pursuit racing features two days of racing - an 11-kilometer classic leg Saturday and an 11K freestyle leg Sunday - with the two times combined to determine the overall winner.

Along with the two-leg pursuit race, this year's event featured a new event - the Claire D'Loon 5K Classic Tour.

"It was a great community event, a lot of kids raced in it - some as young as seven years old," Shouldice said, regarding the first year of the 5K race.

He estimated there was probably a total of 70 competitors participating this year.

"It's more than last year," Shouldice said, adding the race is a fundraiser organized in partnership with the Gogebic Range Health Foundation.

Local Jonathon Rulseh, of Ironwood, successfully defended last year's victory, winning this year's race with a time of 1:05:41. Hannah Panci, of Ironwood, took the women's title with a time of 1:19:54.

Shouldice said organizers had three goals with the Turtle Pursuit this year: to showcase MECCA's trail system, to create a winter celebration and engage the community.

Toward that end, Shouldice said the proceeds from this year's race will not only be used to improve the trails but also go toward the organization's MECCA Experience program.

The program promotes and introduces MECCA to the community. Shouldice said the program has helped fund ski lessons and rentals for area school kids, programs with the North Lakeland Discovery Center and adult skiing lessons through Fe University.

For complete results for any of the races, visit turtleriverpursuit.com.