eoneill@mininggazette.com

HANCOCK – They came from as far as southern India and as close as Hancock. They were as young as four and as old as retirement age and beyond. However, they all had one thing in common – a smile and a sense of accomplishment after completing the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday morning in Hancock.

Close to 800 runners registered to run in the various races which included a half marathon, a 10-mile run and a five-mile run or walk among other events which all started north of Hancock near McLain State Park.

Nik Thomas, a student-athlete at Michigan Tech, was the overall winner of the half marathon with a time of 1:13:04. Francis Prins, of Houghton, was the first woman runner to cross the finish line with a time of 1:31:52.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Francis Prins, of Houghton, was the first woman to cross the finish line on Saturday at the 48th annual Canal Run in Hancock. Her winning time was 1:31:00.

Both first-place finishers noted that the weather was a key factor in their successful runs.

“The cool temps (mid 60s) were great,” said Thomas after crossing the finish line. “I ran this a couple of years ago but took last year off due to an injury. I was happy with my time today as I set a personal best.”

This was Prins second year in a row at the Canal’s half-marathon, and she too set a personal best.

“I was about eight minutes faster than last year,” she said with a smile. “I credit my training and diet as keys to a good run.”

While Prins and Thomas were the winners for their respective genders of the half-marathon run, they were not the first racers to cross the finish line. Wheelchair racer Dean Juntunen, of Mass City, claimed that honor this year, as he has done in the past. He, too, set a personal best thanks to a brand-new, hand-peddle bike. He arrived at the finish line at 50:50.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Nik Thomas, of Houghton, crosses the finish line of the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday in Hancock. Thomas was the overall winning runner of the half marathon with a time of 1:13:04.

“This new bike is great. It is fast on the excellent pavement,” he explained. “The temperature was comfortable the whole way down. There was no wind. I think I bettered my time by eight minutes from last year.”

Juntunen added that this was the 29th or 30th Canal Run he had raced in, and while he is usually the only wheelchair athlete participating in this summertime tradition, this year he had a partner on wheels.

Jen Shaud, of Houghton, spun her way across the finish line at 1:15:20 and credits Juntunen as her inspiration for getting involved this year as an adaptive athlete.

“Dean is a true inspiration,” she said. “I thought why not give this a try. I started training in late May. I was either cycling or swimming to get ready for this, and it all paid off. It felt great, and I will definitely be back next year.”

Canal Run organizer Angela Luskin said that not only did this year’s number of registered runners (800) exceed last years, but just about every volunteer spot for the race was covered by a team of about 150 people.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Nik Thomas, of Houghton, crosses the finish line of the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday in Hancock. Thomas was the overall winning runner of the half marathon with a time of 1:13:04.

“We also have more sponsors than ever before,” she explained. “It just goes to show what a great community this is. We have people who are dedicated to this year in and year out, and it makes this a well-oiled machine.”

She added that proceeds from this year’s race will go to 31 Backpacks – an area nonprofit that provides necessities to more than 2,000 at-risk Copper Country children weekly.

Among the volunteers were Kelly Weiss and Dawn Tack, who were handing out medals to individual age-group winners. While this was Weiss’s second year helping, Tack was quick to point out that she was just a couple of hours in as a volunteer.

“I love it,” said Tack. “It’s been a lot of fun, and I’m hooked. I’ll be back for certain.”

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Nik Thomas, of Houghton, crosses the finish line of the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday in Hancock. Thomas was the overall winning runner of the half marathon with a time of 1:13:04.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Jen Shaud, of Houghton, is all smiles as she crosses the finish line an adaptive athlete in her first Canal Run on Saturday in Hancock.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Dean Juntunen marvels at the speed of his new hand-peddle bicycle at the Canal Run on Saturday in Hancock . He was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 50:50 - eight minutes faster than in years past.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Four-year-old Neil Turetiwary and his mom Nisa make their way to the finish line of the Canal Run in Hancock on Saturday.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Four-year-old Neil Turetiwary waves to his fans as he his mom, Nisa, pose for photos by Dad at the finish line of the Canal Run in Hancock on Saturday.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Best friends and long-time walkers of the Canal Run Dawn Nulf (left) and Teresa Wiitanen congratulate each other on another successful year.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette From dedicated volunteer and passionate athletes to supportive family members and friends, the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday had it all.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette From dedicated volunteer and passionate athletes to supportive family members and friends, the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday had it all.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette From dedicated volunteer and passionate athletes to supportive family members and friends, the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday had it all.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette From dedicated volunteer and passionate athletes to supportive family members and friends, the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday had it all.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining Gazette From dedicated volunteer and passionate athletes to supportive family members and friends, the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday had it all.

Eddie O'Neill/Daily Mining GazetteFrom dedicated volunteer and passionate athletes to supportive family members and friends, the 48th annual Canal Run on Saturday had it all.