Madyson Wells of Kingsford nears the top of the Pine Mountain 500 course on Saturday. She placed first in the age 20-29 female division. (Jackie Granquist photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Four years ago, the Rotary Club of Iron Mountain-Kingsford began a unique summer event at Pine Mountain in which participants walk or run down Pine Mountain before climbing the 500 stairs back up the ski hill.

After the inaugural event in 2019 and a brief hiatus in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pine Mountain 500 returned in 2021. The third event was held on Saturday, Aug. 6.

Participants start at the top of the stairs and race down Kramer Drive to lower Pine Mountain Road/Hibbard Street before turning on Pine Mountain Road and racing up the Pine Mountain Ski Jump’s 500 steps for a total distance of 2.78 miles.

Two suburban Chicago athletes repeated as champions of this summer’s King and Queen of the Mountain competitions. Chris Hoffman of Arlington Heights, Illinois won the King of the Mountain race with a winning time of 2 minutes, 37.8 seconds, while Jill Paha of Grayslake, Illinois earned Queen of the Mountain again this summer with a winning time of 2:55.7.

Josh Granquist of Powers was the top local finisher, finishing eighth in 3:48.7, while Logan Grondin of Iron Mountain was next up in ninth with a time of 3:52.9.

Logan Grondin of Iron Mountain placed first in the age 13-14 male division of Saturday’s Pine Mountain 500. (Jackie Granquist photo)

Sarah Noasconi of Iron Mountain ran a 4:19.8 to take fourth in the Queen of the Mountain category, while Sereena Johnson of Iron Mountain finished eighth in 5:10.5 and Kendall Elfe of Iron Mountain finished in 10th in 5:24.2.

In the overall coed category, Hoffman also claimed first with a time of 17:15.4. Granquist took fifth with a time of 20:15.6, Kingsford’s Kevin Socia placed 11th in 22:06.1 and Grondin took 12th in 22:11.2.

The top female competitor in the overall category was Kristen Monahan of Houghton, who recorded a time of 20:21.7 to finish sixth. The top local female finisher was Noasconi of Iron Mountain, who took 24th in 24:42.1.

Local female age group winners included: Rhylee Trinoskey of Niagara in the 6 and Under Division, Sofia Wentarmini of Iron Mountain in the 11-12 division, Madyson Wells of Kingsford in the 20-29 division, Johnson in the 30-39 division and Audrey Tercha of the 70 and over division.

Local male age group winners included: Henry Ruble of Vulcan in 6 and Under, Grondin in the 13-14 category, Kaleb Fornetti in 15-19, Granquist in 20-29 and Socia in the 50-59 division.

This year featured the inaugural Dual Duel race in which competitors complete the course twice. Monahan captured the female division, while Hoffman won the men’s division.

Full results can be found at www.superiortiming.com