Chicago's Nadler Wins SISU Fest 21K--Updated

Andrew Nadler, 17, of Chicago, topped the field on Saturday in the Heikki Lunta Half Marathon, winning the 21K race at the SISU Fest in Ironwood, MI, in 1:04:34.8.
"Conditions were perfect in Ironwood, Michigan, after receiving over a foot of snow just a few days earlier," Nadler wrote in an e-mail message. "The ABR groomers did a great job creating a fast and well-covered course out of the abundance of snow. I started out the race skiing in a pack with two other skiers, a skier from the nearby Gogebic Community College and my teammate Alex Larson from Hayward. About five kilometers into the race, Alex and I got a gap on the Gogebic skier, and we skied together through the flat section of the course. About five kilometers from the finish, we came to a long, slight uphill where I decided to make a move. I got a small gap that I was able to extend to about 45 seconds by the finish. It was a fun race."
Meanwhile in the main event, the 42K, Jan Myrda, 40, of Palos Heights, finished 11th overall and second in his age group with a 2:15:20.5. Other notable performances in the freestyle race were turned in Bill Kopanda, 60, of Crystal lake, who won his age group in 2:33:05, and Kielo Sauvala, 54, of Glenview, who finished fourth in her age group with a 3:13:18.8. In the 42K classic race, Heidi Schmidt, 55, of Elgin, was third in her age group in 4:24:09, and Mary Callis, 30, of Chicago, won her age group in 6:10:00.1. In the 21K classic race, Art Kardatzke, 70, of Downers Grove, and Peter Turula, 70, of Downers Grove, went 1-2 in their age group in 2:18:12.9 and 2:53:30.1. Awesome job up north! Full results are at www.skinnyski.com.