Kalispell's Michels claims third 5K title
Kalispell's Kurt Michels is not slowing down.
Far from it.
He's just running a little smarter these days.
The 2002 Flathead High School graduate won his third Whitefish Lake Run 5K road race title in five years Saturday, despite turning in his slowest time yet - 16:23.
Michels took top honors last year in a quick 15:24 and again in 2001 in 15:48.
"Brett Winegar (FHS class of 1999) was behind me last year," said Michels of why he had a faster pace.
"I liked last year better, competing against Brett. It was fun."
Michels pulled that win out by virtue of a mad dash to the finish line. He edged Winegar by half a second.
Michels, however, didn't have Winegar to push him this time around. Winegar ran the 10K, winning that race in 33:51.
Another reason for the slower time?
Michels has scaled back his extensive workouts, taking a new and fresh approach to training before he begins his first season at Montana State University.
"Last year I was training a lot, I got hurt right before the season," said Michels.
"This year I'm training smart. I cut back on mileage right now."
And he's now injury free.
Michels was a member of the University of Utah cross country and track program for the past three years. When the Utes dropped both sports in the spring, Michels transfered to Montana State University.
"A pretty bogus deal," said Michels of Utah.
"They didn't want to fully fund it, so they dropped it."
Michels said he enjoyed his academic and social stay in Salt Lake City, but athletically, it was frustrating.
"Injured and stuff, kind of a tough road," he said.
"It was a tough three years.
"First race I ran I took sixth place," he continued.
"Twenty-five (minutes) 11 (seconds) for five miles. I was in such good shape. Then I had to have knee surgery and had problems ever since."
That also included a hip injury.
"I'm really excited about going to Montana State," he said.
"It's gonna be a lot of fun. Good to have a new coach and a new place. That's what I need to succeed."
Michels was Utah's "top guy," until the injury bug set in. He now heads to MSU as their No. 1 runner.
"They (Bobcats) have a bunch of freshmen," he said.
"They graduated four seniors."
Two of the seniors - Kevin Clary (FHS class of 2000) and Winegar - also began their careers elsewhere before coming home to finish with the Bobcats. Clary started at Michigan State while Winegar went to Oregon, Michigan State and Flathead Valley Community College first before settling in at Bozeman.
Winegar won a national junior college cross country title at FVCC.
"I was pretty good friends with him (MSU coach Dale Kennedy) in high school," said Michels.
"I called him immediately after the program was dropped."
That was May 16th, two days after Utah competed in the conference meet.
Northern Arizona and Weber State also contacted Michels about competing for them.
"Senior academically, two years left (athletically)," said Michels.
"Maybe three with a medical red-shirt."
Michels will continue to major in math and minor in coaching. He one day hopes to teach.
"Utah would honor my scholarship the next two years, but I could never run collegiately again," he said of staying at that school.
"But I felt I had my best years ahead of me."
Thus, the move to MSU.
"I'm here (Kalispell) for the summer," he said.
"I love road races. I've road raced ever since I was in third grade. Only missed one Whitefish Lake Run."
Kalispell's Russ Skelton was the runner-up in the men's 5K, 17:22. Carl Nystuen, also of Kalispell, finished third, 17:29.
Claiming women's 5K honors was Brooke Andrus of Bigfork. The senior-to-be was clocked in 20:15.
Susan Kaluza of Butte was second, 20:43, and Tera Klein of Kalispell third, 21:41.
In the 10K, Kalispell's Michael Mancoske, 33:51, and Mark Tarr of Columbia Falls, 36:36, finished second and third, respectively on the men's side.
Missoula's Marie Boyd, 38:14, won the women's 10K with Kalispell's Zoe Nelson second, 41:53, and Columbia Falls' Nikki Dezzani third, 45:50.