Seeley Lake Nordic Team racer Kalli Braulik shoots down range during the Seeley Lake Biathlon Feb. 5. Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue Chief Tim Hoag watches her shoot. For full story see page 9. Photo Andi Bourne, Pathfinder
Seeley Lake Nordic Team member Dominick Wink shooting his first round in the range. He took 3rd in the 3K.
The biathlon was Claire Muller's first ski race. She hit 4 of 5 targets in the prone position. She smiles as she skis back to the range to test her skills standing before finishing her third 3K lap in the 9K.
Seeley Lake's Dave Lewis pushing it to the finish line in the 3K.
Seeley Lake Nordic Team racer Kimber Hanson (right) determined to beat Wren Rosenkoetter up the last hill to the finish in the 3K race. While Hanson caught him on the hill, Rosenkoetter finished three minutes ahead due to the staggered start.
Seeley Lake's Ryen Neudecker shooting prone. She hit 4 out of 5 of her shots and finished fifth in the Women's 9K.
SEELEY LAKE – After a hiatus for COVID last year, the Seeley Lake Biathlon returned this year Feb. 5. More than 90 racers took to the Seeley Creek Nordic Trails to test their skiing ability and marksmanship in the 21K, 9K and 3K races.
Tim Swanberg was the only racer from the area that participated in the 21K. He finished in 1:32:52.18 taking second for the men.
Representing Seeley Lake in the 9K Adult Female's race was Claire Muller and Ryen Neudecker. While both are avid skiers, neither had participated in a ski race before.
Neudecker coaches with the Seeley Lake Nordic Team and her two children race. Once she saw the schedule, she realized she could do the race and finish before her children raced in the afternoon.
"I just did it for fun," Neudecker said. "It was great."
Neudecker finished fifth in the adult women's 9K with a time of 51:39.99.
Muller was attracted to the race because it was a citizens' biathlon and "it felt really low pressure." She really appreciated that the Seeley Lake Nordic Club hosted the race and the guns were provided. She was also thankful for the gun safety and range training ahead of the race.
"You could kind of get orientated and get the lay of the land," Muller said.
After attending the safety orientation, Muller went home and watched Olympic clips of people doing the biathlon to get her mentally ready for the race. When waiting in the cue to start, she enjoyed the casual atmosphere.
"I was blown away by how much solitude I still had during the race," Muller said. "It was really neat that they staggered it so everyone wasn't starting right on top of each other. People passed me, but for the most part I was just there on my own skiing around and that is what I like to do."
Each race had three loops of varying distance. Between laps skiers shot five targets prone and five targets standing. For every target they missed, they had to ski a penalty loop.
Muller made four of five shots prone and hit one standing. She finished in 1:04:42.05 on classic skis placed 12th for the 9K Adult Females.
"I'm happy with how it went," Muller said. "The ski club is so amazing that they provide food and stuff. It is a fun, social time."
Local racer results (Name, town, place, time):
21K Adult Men: Tim Swanberg, Ovando, 2nd, 1:32:52.18
9K Adult Men: Clancy Jandreau, Potomac, 3rd, 42:40.27; Heath Hanson, Potomac, 5th, 52:13.78; Bradley Chritton, Seeley Lake, 15th, 1:09:02.18
9K Adult Women: Ryen Neudecker, Seeley Lake, 5th, 51:33.99; Claire Muller, Seeley lake, 12th, 1:04:42.05
9K Youth Male: Eli Nicholas, Seeley Lake, 7th, 54:10.05
3K Adult Male: Dave Lewis, Seeley Lake, 5th, 34:41.46
3K Youth Female: Kieu Snow, Seeley Lake, 1st, 18:40.43; Loryn Neudecker, Seeley Lake, 4th, 22:12.01; Mela Bradley, Seeley Lake, 6th, 26:58.37; Kalli Braulik, Seeley Lake, 7th, 31:28.63
3k Youth Male: Land Neudecker, Seeley Lake 2nd, 18:27.80; Dominick Wink, Seeley Lake, 3rd, 20:12.81; Trey Good, Seeley Lake 5th, 21:22.29; Kimber Hanson, Seeley Lake, 7th, 23:17.47; Jesse Wink, Seeley Lake, 8th, 24:11.47; Emerick Bradley, Seeley Lake, 9th, 25:12.58; Carson Smart, Seeley Lake, 10th, 30:21.06; Gunner Braulik, Seeley Lake, 11th, 45:38.09
For full results visit https://competitivetiming.com/seeley-lake-biathlon-results/#unique-id-2022
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