Egg Harbor Man Wins 14th Door County Half Marathon

Nearly 1,000 runners finished the 14th running of the Door County Half Marathon on Saturday in Peninsula State Park. Photo by Rachel Lukas.

The Door County Half Marathon and Nicolet Bay 5k returned to spring for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, and more than 1,500 runners were rewarded with perfect May weather for a race. 

For the first time, a Door County resident won the Door County Half Marathon. Grayson Stout, 27, of Egg Harbor finished in 1:11:49, almost three minutes faster than second place Rickus Jacobs of Milwaukee. Four-time winner Rodee Schneider of Madison finished third in 1:15:39. 

On the women’s side, Relena Del Toro Ribbons inched closer to the course record but came in just five seconds off the all-time mark set by Hanna Christensen in 2019. Ribbons finished in 1:22:10, nine seconds faster than her finish last October. Kristin Oehlke of Fremont finished second in 1:34:56, followed closely by Stephanie Clapham of Wilmette, who finished in 1:34:59. 

The sun shined and temperatures were in the mid-50s for the race in Peninsula State Park that starts and ends at Nicolet Bay. The final finisher count included 973 half marathon runners and 565 runners in the 5k. More than 2,000 runners had registered for the two races.

History was nearly made in the Nicolet Bay 5k as well. Nicole Strutz, 27, of Two Rivers, nearly became the first woman to finish first overall in the race. She finished in 18:28, just 13 seconds behind Dylan Schielke, 26, of Merrill. Erik Franze, 24, of Waukesa was next in 18:54, followed by Joseph Stoner, 34, of Indianapolis in 19:09. 

Strutz also set a new women’s record in the race, slipping by Anna Gray’s 2018 time by just one second.

Behind Strutz on the women’s side were Gemma Mrozinsky of Sturgeon Bay, who finished in 22:11, and Heather Biese, 31, of Kaukauna who finished in 22:44. 

Find complete race results at doorcountyhalfmarathon.com. The 15th Door County Half Marathon and Nicolet Bay 5k will be run Saturday, May 6, 2023. Registration opens in October. 

Door County Half Marathon

Men

1. Grayson Stout, 27, Egg Harbor, 1:11:49
2. Rickus Jacobs, 27, Milwaukee, 1:14:39
3. Rodee Schneider, 40, Madison, 1:15:39

Women

1. Relena Del Toro Ribbons, 35, Appleton, 1:22:10
2. Kristin Oehlke, 34, Fremont, 1:34:56
3. Stephanie Clapham, 32, Wilmette, 1:34:59

Nicolet Bay 5k

Men

1. Dylan Schielke, 26, Merrill, 18:15
2. Erik Franze, 24, Waukesha, 18:54
3. Joseph Stoner, 34, Indianapolis, 19:09

Women

1. Nicole Strutz, 27, Two Rivers, 18:28
2. 2. Gemma Mrozinsky, 53, Sturgeon Bay, 22:11
3. Heather Biese, 31, Kaukauna, 22:44