Chub Lake opener puts the fun in running

1No one knows exactly when the annual Chub Lake cross country meet started, but everyone is in agreement that it was a long time ago and it remains a fun kickoff to the season for area teams.

"I know Jerry Zimney was one of the guys who originally started the meet, but what year, we have no idea," said Esko cross country coach Jerimy Hallsten.

At 10 a.m. Aug. 22, the tradition continued. Hallsten is the main organizer of the event that is about as laid back as it could possibly be.

"We don't send out invitations or anything like that, and every year we have nine to 11 teams that just show up expecting the meet to be held," Hallsten said.

No official records are kept and the main emphasis is to get runners back out informally in a meet-like setting.

"This meet allows new athletes in both middle and high school to get a feel for how a cross country meet is run," said Cloquet coach Chandra Allen.

Hallsten said more than100 runners participate in the event.

"Each runner and school can determine how they want to run in this meet," Hallsten said. "Some of the runners just use it as another training run, and some go out hard to see what their fitness level is. There is no right or wrong way to participate in the Chub Lake meet."

Most years at least a few teams will show up with a theme. The Cloquet varsity boys did not disappoint - they came wearing jean shorts and cutoff plaid shirts in honor of their Lumberjack mascot. Hermantown showed up in construction gear with brightly colored vests and hard hats, and one runner even ran with a tool belt around his waist.

"It is just another way to make the meet fun and to allow the athletes a chance to enjoy the camaraderie," Hallsten said.

All the races this year were competitive with what seemed like good early-season times in nearly every age division.

"We didn't have all of our athletes at Chub Lake," Allen said. "Some of our athletes are still on vacation or working. The kids in high school choose the race they will run, but most of them run the three-lap race."

The Lumberjack boys could be a team to be reckoned with this season as they return all but one runner from last year's team. Allen also said the Cloquet girls team returns a strong nucleus of five runners who ran varsity last season.

"Cloquet always looks good, and Proctor appears to have a solid girls team this year," Hallsten said. "Hermantown looked like they have some good runners again this year, and Elliott Wasche of Moose Lake/Willow River was impressive in the boys race."

Official meets were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday this week for Carlton County teams.