Braden Ketzenberger, from Negaunee, finished with the top time in the half-marathon with a final time of 1:16:14.1.

He felt the final mile was the toughest part of the course as he closed on the finish line.

“(It) feels great,” he said. “I’m exhausted. That last mile was extremely tough, but, yeah, it’s a good feeling.”

Ketzenburger finished over two minutes ahead of second-place runner Michael Holly of DePere, Wisconsin, who clocked in at 1:18:27.3. Ketzenberger felt that he right where he wanted to be when he had to relieve himself before finishing the race.

Michael Holly, of DePere, Wisconsin, waves to the crowd as he finishes second in the half marathon during the 49th Annual Canal Run Saturday in Hancock. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

“Funny enough, it was actually after I used the bathroom,” he said. “I popped out, and I looked back, and I still had a gap, so I figured it was kind of over at that point.”

Ketzenberger, who is living in the local area this summer, enjoyed the finish, despite how hard the final mile can be.

“The finish is great,” he said. “There’s plenty of people supporting you along the way, throughout the whole race, even. Just an overall great experience.”

With temperatures in the low 70s, a little breeze was helpful.

“The wind was actually nice,” Ketzenberger said. “It’s a little hotter out than I would have liked, and the humidity definitely got to me.”

Brita Northey, of Houghton, closes on the finish line of the half marathon of the 49th Annual Canal Run as the top female participant Saturday in Hancock. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

Running a half marathon was not originally something Ketzenberger had planned to do this summer, but he was glad he gave the Canal Run a try.

“Oh, yeah, (it was) definitely just a learning experience,” he said. “I’ve never run a half marathon before, so trying to dial down nutrition and hydration beforehand is always tough.”

The Canal Run needs around 150 volunteers to go as smoothly as it does on race day. Ketzenberger, who grew up in the Marquette area, was really excited to see how the running community in the Copper Country came together to put on an event like the Canal Run.

“It’s definitely good to see the running community get a lot more support than it maybe has in years past,” he said.

Ben Hemmer was the fastest Copper Country area runner with a time of 1:33:15.6.

Amongst women running the half marathon, Houghton’s Brita Northey was the top finisher with a time of 1:34:10.4. She finished seven minutes faster than second-place finisher Laura Mlynski of Brownsburg, Indiana, who came in with a time of 1:41:19.0.

The top local finishers were Gwen Kiilunen of Chassell and Rayna Towles of Hancock, who finished at 1:44:22.7 and 1:44:59.0, respectively.

In the Bob Olson 10-mile run, Houghton’s Luke Moore was the top runner with a time of 59:59.5. For Moore, the Canal Run was the culmination of 14 years of training.

“I’ve been running since I was ten, so that’s around 14 years now,” he said. “I love it. It’s been the sport of my life. So happy to be out here.”

Moore has lived in the area for nearly a decade, but finally decided to run the Canal Run this year.

“I’ve actually lived up here for…this would be my eighth year living up here,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to run this, but I’ve always been just not ready or out of town. I’m really glad to finally get out here and do it, because it’s a really fun time.”

Hancock’s Karah Mcelhone won the women’s race with a time of 1:16:23.3. She finished ahead of a group of local runners in Ayla Miller of Pelkie, Jovie Williams of Chassell, and Katie Isaacson of Dollar Bay.

Hancock’s Nik Thomas won the 5-mile run with a time of 26:09.9. He finished a little over 20 seconds faster than Alex Guy of St. Augustine, Florida. Hancock’s Matt Taylor and Chassell’s Branden Peterson finished third and fourth, respectively.

Hancock native Ingrid Seagren won the women’s race, finishing less than a minute ahead of Tessa Rautiola of Chassell. Seagren finished with a time of 32:20.9.

Dean Juntunen of Mass City won the half marathon wheelchair race with a time of 57:00.3, which was slightly slower than his record-setting pace from last year.

Jenifer Shaud finished as the top female participant with a time of 1:14:23.3.

Marquette”s Thomas Humphrey won the 10-mile walk with a time of 2:19.14.1.

Mallory Wagner of Allouez was the top female finisher with a time of 2:14:50.5.

Joseph Vial of Farmington Hills was the top male finisher in the 5-mile walk with a time of 1:02:32.5. He was beaten by the top female finisher, Joan Rundman of Hancock, who finished with a time of 59:13.7.

In the 5-mile blade run, Jack Jackovich of Calumet finished with a time of 50:41.0.

Crosby Repp won the 2-mile fun run/walk with a final time of 15:23.6. He was followed closely by Grady Peltier of Dollar Bay, who came in at 15:44.5.