[KIRKWOOD, MO.] Alpine Shop’s first long-distance paddle race made a quick ascent into popularity on Sunday, July 15 as more than 70 boats participated in either the full marathon distance or half-marathon competition on the water of the Meramec River.
The 2018 Meramec Marathon Paddle Race featured nine different divisions: Marathon-solo-men, marathon-solo-women, marathon-tandem-coed, marathon-tandem-men, marathon-tandem-women along with half-marathon-solo-men, half-marathon-solo-women, half-marathon-tandem co-ed and half-marathon-tandem men.
Joe Sartori won the men’s solo marathon with a total time of 4 hours and 48 minutes, beating the second place finisher, John Pollihan by just four minutes over the 26 mile distance. Third place went to Mark Fingerhut who followed another 30 minutes later.
On the women’s side, Heather Eichhorn won the marathon distance with a total time of 5 hours and 46 minutes, followed by Andrea Hoeflinger four minutes later and Val Schweickhardt in 6 hours and 32 minutes.
In the tandem category, Paul Morgan and Jeff Loescher were the top men’s pair (6:18), Derrick Weisbord and LeeAnna Kern were the top co-ed (6:21) and Hanna Montford and Katie Dickinson finished as the top women’s tandem (8:26)
For the half-marathoners, Kenneth Steinkamp took home top honors in a time of 2 hours and 55 minutes, just a minute ahead of the second place finisher, Mike Waters (2:56) and only four minutes ahead of the third place finisher, Jeff Geear (2:59). Kelly Scheidt took home top honors in the solo women’s divisions with a total time of 2 hours and 59 minutes, followed by Meg Kennedy (3:20) and Melissa Nilson (3:30). The top co-ed tandem went to Caroline and Paul Wibbenmeyer (2:58) and the top men’s tandem of Philip Lading and Jeff Dunn completed the half-marathon course in 2:47.
Photos (on Facebook): Overall Race ©Jake Trost | Starting Lines | Finish Line ©Dan Singer