Bestwick strong in Missoula Marathon

Michael Bestwick, of Whitefish, finished in 21st place overall at the Missoula Marathon on Sunday, posting a 3:00:36. He carried a 6:54 pace on the 26.1-mile course that took runners from Frenchtown to downtown Missoula. More than 1,200 runners took part in the full marathon.

Kiefer Hahn, of Missoula, won the race with a 2:30:37. Trisha Miller, also of Missoula, was the top female in 3:02:22.

Other locals in the marathon, Marti Alltucker ran a 4:05:02, Katie Davis posted a 4:27:23, Gordon Opel finished in 4:35:18, Kathy Ord clocked a 4:44:30, Bob Muraoka had a 4:57:22, and Jill Seigmund finished in 4:59:50.

Whitefish High School 2010 graduate Loni Hanson took ninth in the under-19 age bracket in the half marathon. She crossed the line in 1:44:10 and carried a 7:58 pace. She was 212th overall out of nearly 4,000 runners.

Other local women, Amy Gatton was 25th in the 25-29 age group, Carmen Heavirland was 17th in the 35-39 division, Sadie Baldwin finished in 1:52:50, Deenise Summers clocked a 1:53:33, Julie Wentworth 1:53:54, Vivienne Akey 1:55:46, Kyla Duff 2:04:06, Holly Batcheller 2:08:15, Ronna Keim 2:13:41, Jessica Thompson 2:15:48, Aimee Cawrey 2:25:04, Laura King 2:29:25, Della Littfin 2:46:35, Natalie Lenderman 2:52:14, Jeananne Swope 3:04:15 and Elizabeth Hawley 3:47:22.

Among men, Rickey Schultz Jr. was 10th in the 30-34 age division and 118th overall. He raced an impressive 1:37:58 with a 7:29 pace.

Also from Whitefish, Thomas Sylvanius took sixth in the 55-59 group and 217th overall with a 1:44:20. David Keim finished in 1:51:52, Daniell Thompson clocked 2:11:46 and John Anderson 2:24:38.