Nunavut Midnight Sun Ultramarathon

Arctic Bay, Nunavut, CANADA, July 2, 2000

Overall Results

Nunavut Midnight Sun Ultramarathon (84.4Km)

Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Canada - 2 July 2000

by Brent Weigner

The world's northern most ultramarathon has been revived in the newest Canadian Territory of Nunavut. Thanks to the efforts of race directors Sherry McLean and Joe Cleary, Baffin Island once again has a marathon and ultramarathon.

In December of 1998, Nanisivik mines cancelled the 1999 races that had been held for the previous twenty years. Joe and Sherry started talking about what it would take to revive the event. Sherry, along with "Arctic Joe" Wormersley (the original race director), visited with mine officials in November of 1999 and was informed the mine could no longer provide accommodations, food, or transportation. At that point, it was determined the race activities should be refocused to the Inuit hamlet of Arctic Bay and their limited facilities. It was decided the event would be limited to 50 runners because of the situation and airline seating configuration controls. After visiting with the senior administrative officer of the hamlet, his wife, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), it was determined the event could be successfully staged in Arctic Bay.

The senior administrative officer and his wife invited Sherry back to Arctic Bay for January's New Year 2000 celebrations. The traditional celebration included participation games and an elders feast on New Years Day. They were served "county food" such as aged walrus meat, polar bear, caribou, seal flipper, char (fish), muktuk (skin and fat layer of the Narwhal), and bannock (unleavened bread). On New Years Eve, a big 2000 sign was placed on the ice and lit on fire for a "drive around" and to signal the announcement of a dance the next day. According to Sherry, "The experience was very positive and the people of Arctic Bay were wonderful."

Sherry decided to visit with mine officials one more time before she headed back south. The RCMP gave her a ride to Nanisivk. Her idea was to spend half the time in Arctic Bay and the other half in Nanisivik. The mine officials agreed as long as the event paid for all food and services.

For next year, race officials are leaning towards spending more time in Arctic Bay because the mine won't be around forever. Numerous side trips are a possibility. Perhaps runners could visit the edge of the ice flow and spot some Arctic wildlife. According to Sherry, the trip is still considered a bargain because an individual's airfare alone would cost around $2000. For additional information, you can contact Sherry McLean at 755 York Mills Rd., #607, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 1X4.


84 KM ULTRA MARATHON 
1 Jim Wholey            53      CA      USA     9:55:27 
2 Brent Weigner         50      WY      USA     12:13:55 
3 Louise Wholey         58      CA      USA     13:56:33 
4 Bill Dickey           61      CA      USA     14:00:45 
5 Joe Cleary            61      ON      CAN     14:19:23 
5 Sherry McLean         51      ON      CAN     14:19:23 
7 Paul Piplani          52      AZ      USA     14:23:09 
8 Sarah Freeman         49      MA      USA     15:52:02 
 
MARATHON (42 KM)
1 Clay Shaw             48      PA      USA     4:01:51 
2 Ralph Thompson                53      OH      USA     4:18:04 
3 Felix Aylward                 --      NU      CAN     4:33:58 
4 Colin Royce           57      ON      CAN     4:35:01 
5 Michael Nemcsok               --      NU      CAN     4:44:31 
6 Jim Bousquet          41      ON      CAN     4:53:01 
6 Neil Hustins          --      NU      CAN     4:53:01 
8 Steve Novak           55      OH      USA     5:06:47 
9 Mihkel Emery          --      NU      CAN     5:25:30 
10 Dianne Flynn         30      ON      CAN     5:27:55 
11 Elizabeth Jones              43      --      AUS     6:22:25 
12 Rosemarie Preston    57       BC     CAN     6:30:18 
13 Eugene DeFronzo              63      CT      USA     6:43:48 
13 Ray Scharenbrock     66      WI      USA     6:43:48 
15 Elliot Aronoff               45      ON      CAN     6:48:27 
16 Jim Van Horn                 67      OH      USA     7:01:59 
17 Frank May            --      NU      CAN     7:09:35 
18 Anna Shannette               53      ON      CAN     7:11:16 
18 Jim Barry            65      IL      USA     7:11:16 
20 Henry Rueden                 51      IL      USA     7:26:51 
21 Margaret Hagerty             77      NC      USA     10:16:26 
21 Jerry Herndon                62      WV      USA     10:16:26