Olympian Jeff Smoke reclaims trophy at M-22 Challenge

Women’s winner, Keri Pawielski, holds first place for fifth consecutive year

By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor

“This year, I focused on being faster on the bike, and it paid off,” said Jeff Smoke, who won this year’s M-22 Challenge after relinquishing the gold medal last year to Denny Paull. Smoke, 35 of Buchanan, Mich., who kayaked on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, won the popular Leelanau County triathlon in 2011. On June 8, Smoke regained his victor’s stride, and broke the course record with a time of 1:11:23.

Paull, 49 of Cheboygan, headed the pack by 14 seconds after the run leg on the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb, but he relinquished the lead to Smoke and Traverse City resident Craig Webb, 52, during the bike leg around the Glen Lakes. Once the M-22 Challenge entered the paddle leg, Smoke darted across Little Glen Lake and ultimately bested Paull by 3 minutes and 9 seconds. “I had a good race but Jeff really rocked it on the bike,” said Paull. Webb came in third with a time of 1:15:30.

Keri Pawielski, 36, of St. Joseph, Mich., earned the trophy for the top women’s finish for the fifth consecutive year, placing seventh overall with a time of 1:22:06. No other woman has won gold in the race’s history.

Nick Murray, 38, of Suttons Bay, was the top Leelanau County finisher. Kenyon Fatt, 19, of Empire, finished ninth and may become a star of future M-22 Challenges. Ranae Ihme, 37, was the top finisher from Glen Arbor, in 68th place, followed by Bob Sutherland in 90th place and Stacy Jago in 94th place.

“I did a lot better this year and surprised myself by the improvement I made,” said Fatt, who raced for the third time and improved his finish by a whopping 12 minutes. Next year he hopes to break the top 5. Fatt, who just finished his freshman year at Colorado College and competed on the school’s cycling team, proudly wore his team jersey during the race. This summer he is working on the patio at Art’s Tavern before returning to the Rocky Mountains. The night before the M-22 Challenge he waited on several athletes, including Traverse City-resident Steve Andriese, who finished fourth. The following morning Fatt finished just 6:15 behind Andriese.

With 900 registered participants this year from across the United States, event coordinators strived to tailor the event toward participants ranging from beginner to elite. “The M-22 Challenge is an event for every ability and means something personal to every individual,” said co-founder Matt Myers, Jr.

Maggie Milliken, 20, originally of Traverse City competed for her second year with her brother, Jack, and sister, Kelly. “I’m in college but I come back to do this event,” she said. “I love how you get to do a little bit of everything. It’s fun, it’s a home feeling for me.”

Father-daughter duo Mike Tanielian and Pamela Houtteman were back in the race for the fourth time. Tanielian, who turned 70 this year and had both knees replaced, finished the race in just over 2 hours and 20 minutes, 7 minutes after Houtteman. Tanielian said after the race that he was headed to play tennis.

The M-22 Challenge covers 22 miles of Leelanau County, as athletes race on foot up the Dune Climb, then bike around the Glen Lakes, including the grueling climb up Inspiration Point, and complete the final leg on Little Glen Lake in kayaks or standup paddleboards.

When asked if he will return next year, Jeff Smoke quickly replied, “Of course. I love coming here every year for the scenery and the competition.” Denny Paul will be back too. “Oh yea. This is the best event I’ve ever seen with the most beautiful environment.”

M-22 Challenge organizer Stephanie Myers contributed to this report. See full M-22 Challenge results here.