Another successful run
The Verna Mize Triathlon marks its sixth year
Trending
HOUGHTON -- It is becoming a first-Saturday-in-August tradition in the Copper Country, and 2026 did not disappoint. The Verna Mize triathlon marked its sixth year on Aug. 1 with a record number of participants, 66, up from around 50 people.
While race organizer Mary Kaminski is happy with the growing number of racers, she is even more excited with the enthusiasm that has come with this race. In short, people want to get out and have fun with this.
"One thing that was unique this year was the number of family participants," she said. "We had moms and dads competing with their kids, husbands-and-wives teams, and cousins (among others) competing together. Our youngest competitor was a six-year old, Hayden Clish, who did the whole Mini Mize by herself. That was really impressive.
"People feel invested and a part of it. That is exciting."
Among those finishing first with her grandson next to her was Laurie Smith, of Atlantic Mine. She was the top-female finisher of the Maxi Mize (1.5K swim/40K bike/ 10K run), with a time of 2:51:00. She was outpaced in this longest race by repeat Maxi winner Ross Johanning Smeier from Ashland, Wisconsin (2:47:00).
In the Main Mize (1/2 mile swim/eight-mile bike/four-mile run) Brad Skillicorn from Marquette repeated as a winner with a time of 1:16.30.
Second place went to Lisa Hollman from Waukesha, Wisconsin, with a time of 1:19.40.
Eighteen-year-old Zach Hinchcliffe was the winner in the Mini Mize (1/4-mile swim/ four-mile bike/ two-mile run) with a time of 40:31. The recent high school grad from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, said this was his first triathlon.
"My strong suit was running," he said. "However, it was a little more painful than normal after a swim and a bike ride."
Second place in the Mini was Caleb Gregorie, of Lake Linden, with a time of 44:55.
This three-part race takes its name from a Houghton environmental activist, Verna Mize (1913-2013). She was known as the "First Lady of Lake Superior" as she led a campaign to prevent a mining company from dumping taconite tailing Lake Superior. A memorial to her was erected on the Houghton waterfront. The race in her name soon followed.
Kaminski added that she is so grateful to the volunteers who man the course and help out tirelessly each year. Among the volunteers this year was Judith Harkonen, who knew Verna Mize personally.
"In the late 1970s I helped her at a local bank here in town," recalled Harkonen. "Each summer she would come in (visiting the area) and tell me about the legal battles she was going through in regards to the lake. Her battle inspired me.
"She was a woman of power. I looked at her as a woman of strength, determination and fortitude. She was not like any other women I saw. I wanted more and she inspired me to go further in my career and I did."