From Six-Year-Olds to Grandparents: How the Verna Mize Triathlon Became a Copper Country Tradition

A record-breaking sixth year proves that this Michigan community event is about far more than finishing times — it is about families, legacy, and a lake worth protecting.

Every August, something quietly remarkable happens on the shores of Lake Superior in Houghton, Michigan. Families lace up their running shoes together. Grandmothers cross finish lines alongside their grandchildren. Teenagers discover for the first time that swimming and biking make running feel like a completely different sport. And a 100-year legacy of environmental courage gets celebrated one stroke, pedal, and stride at a time.

The 2026 Verna Mize Triathlon marked its sixth consecutive year on August 1st — and it did so with a record 66 participants, up roughly 32% from around 50 in previous years. But if you ask race organizer Mary Kaminski, the numbers only tell half the story.

A Growing Community Tradition

Record Participation Signals Real Momentum

Sixty-six participants might not sound like a stadium-filling crowd, but in the context of a community event now in only its sixth year, it represents something meaningful: sustained, genuine enthusiasm from people who keep coming back — and bringing their neighbors with them.

"People want to get out and have fun with this," Kaminski said simply. That sentiment cuts straight to the heart of what makes the Verna Mize Triathlon different from a typical competitive race. Growth here isn't measured in corporate sponsorships or prize money. It's measured in the fact that more families, more neighbors, and more first-timers choose to spend their first Saturday in August at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park in Houghton.

For any community event to sustain a 32% participation jump six years in, something has to resonate beyond novelty. The Verna Mize Triathlon has clearly found that resonance.

The Family Factor: What Makes This Event Unique

If 2026 had one defining characteristic, it was families. Not just spectators cheering from the sidelines — actual families competing together, across all three race distances.

"One thing that was unique this year was the number of family participants," Kaminski noted. "We had moms and dads competing with their kids, husbands-and-wives teams, and cousins competing together."

The standout story of the entire event? Six-year-old Hayden Clish, who completed the entire Mini Mize race — a quarter-mile swim, four-mile bike, and two-mile run — completely on her own. "That was really impressive," Kaminski said, and it's hard to disagree.

This family-first dynamic is rare in the triathlon world. Most multi-sport events attract experienced athletes chasing personal records. The Verna Mize Triathlon attracts people — all kinds of them, at all stages of life — which is precisely why it keeps growing. For those interested in starting their triathlon journey, this event exemplifies how accessible the sport can be.

"People feel invested and a part of it," Kaminski said. "That is exciting."

The Competition: Three Races, One Community

One of the smartest design choices in the Verna Mize Triathlon is its three-tier structure. Rather than offering a single distance that either intimidates beginners or bores experienced athletes, the event meets participants exactly where they are.

Maxi Mize: The Full Challenge

The flagship distance mirrors the Olympic-standard format: a 1.5K swim, 40K bike, and 10K run. The 2026 women's winner was Laurie Smith of Atlantic Mine, who crossed the finish line in 2:51:00 — with her grandson running alongside her. That image alone captures everything the Verna Mize Triathlon stands for.

The men's winner was Ross Johanning Smeier of Ashland, Wisconsin, a repeat champion, finishing in 2:47:00. The fact that the same athlete returns to win again suggests the event is drawing genuinely competitive racers from across the region, not just local participants looking for a casual outing.

Main Mize: The Middle Ground

For experienced athletes seeking a serious but less exhausting challenge, the Main Mize covers a half-mile swim, eight-mile bike, and four-mile run. Brad Skillicorn of Marquette repeated as champion in this category, crossing in 1:16:30. Second place went to Lisa Hollman of Waukesha, Wisconsin, with a time of 1:19:40 — another data point showing that this event draws participants from well beyond Houghton's city limits.

Mini Mize: Where Triathletes Are Born

This is the gateway category — a quarter-mile swim, four-mile bike, and two-mile run — and 2026 produced one of the event's most memorable stories. Zach Hinchcliffe, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, won the Mini Mize with a time of 40:31 — and it was his very first triathlon ever.

"My strong suit was running," Hinchcliffe said with refreshing honesty. "However, it was a little more painful than normal after a swim and a bike ride." That quote will resonate with every first-time triathlete who has ever discovered, mid-race, that the human body behaves very differently after combining three disciplines. His candor is a perfect invitation for anyone on the fence about trying their first multi-sport event: yes, it's hard — and yes, you can still win. To prepare for your first race, consider investing in quality swimming goggles and a triathlon suit to ensure comfort during the race.

Second place in the Mini Mize went to Caleb Gregorie of Lake Linden with a time of 44:55.

The Legacy Behind the Name

Who Was Verna Mize?

Born in 1913, Verna Mize lived to 100 years old and spent a significant portion of that century fighting for the health of Lake Superior. She earned the title "First Lady of Lake Superior" by leading a campaign to prevent a mining company from dumping taconite tailings — the byproduct of iron ore processing — directly into the lake.

Quick definition: Taconite tailings are the fine, silty waste material left over after iron ore is processed. When dumped into water systems, they can devastate aquatic ecosystems, cloud water visibility, and contaminate drinking water sources.

Lake Superior holds approximately 10% of the world's surface fresh water. Verna Mize understood what was at stake, and she fought — legally, persistently, publicly — to protect it. A memorial to her was later erected on the Houghton waterfront, and the triathlon bearing her name followed shortly after.

From Environmental Hero to Community Symbol

There's a profound logic to honoring an environmental activist with a triathlon. Both are about endurance. Both require showing up when it's hard. Both demand that you care about something larger than immediate comfort.

The race takes place at Ray Kestner Waterfront Park — steps from the very lake Verna Mize spent decades protecting. Every swimmer who enters that water is, in a small but real way, swimming in the lake she saved.

Personal Testimony: The Ripple Effect of Verna's Influence

Among the volunteers at the 2026 event was Judith Harkonen, who knew Verna Mize personally — a living connection between the activist's era and today's celebration.

"In the late 1970s I helped her at a local bank here in town," Harkonen recalled. "Each summer she would come in and tell me about the legal battles she was going through in regards to the lake. Her battle inspired me."

"She was a woman of power. I looked at her as a woman of strength, determination and fortitude. She was not like any other women I saw. I wanted more and she inspired me to go further in my career and I did."

That's the true measure of Verna Mize's legacy. It wasn't just the legal battle she won. It was the model she provided for everyone watching her fight it — including a young bank teller who carried that inspiration forward for the next five decades, and who now volunteers at a triathlon to make sure that story isn't forgotten.

The Volunteer Spirit That Powers the Event

No community event runs on enthusiasm alone. Behind the 66 participants, the timing chips, and the course markers are volunteers who make it all possible — and Kaminski is the first to say so. "She is so grateful to the volunteers who man the course and help out tirelessly each year," the Mining Gazette reported. These aren't one-time helpers. The same people come back year after year, building institutional knowledge and personal investment in the event's success.

Why Volunteer Continuity Matters

When volunteers return consistently, they stop being logistical support and start becoming part of the event's identity. The presence of Judith Harkonen — who personally knew Verna Mize — illustrates this beautifully. She isn't just managing a water station. She's carrying a living memory of the woman being honored, ready to share it with any curious participant who asks.

This kind of intergenerational continuity is rare and valuable. It transforms a race into a ritual.

What This Event Reveals About Community Health

Beyond the Finish Line

The Verna Mize Triathlon's success offers a useful template for anyone thinking about community wellness events. A few observations worth noting:

• Accessibility creates growth. Three distinct race distances mean no one is priced out by fitness level. A six-year-old and a seasoned adult can both find their place on the same course, on the same day.
• Legacy creates loyalty. Events named after real people with real stories generate emotional investment that generic community fun runs simply cannot replicate.
• Family participation is a multiplier. When one family member races, they bring spectators. When the whole family races together, they bring their families — and the event's social footprint expands organically.

Small Town, Regional Draw

A closer look at the 2026 participant list reveals something interesting: this isn't purely a local event anymore. Winners and participants traveled from Ashland, Wisconsin; Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Waukesha, Wisconsin; and Marquette, Michigan — alongside strong local representation from Atlantic Mine, Lake Linden, and Houghton itself.

That geographic spread suggests the Verna Mize Triathlon has developed a regional reputation. People aren't just stumbling across it — they're planning around it.

2026 Results at a Glance

Race	Winner	Time	Notable
Maxi Mize (Men)	Ross Johanning Smeier, Ashland WI	2:47:00	Repeat winner
Maxi Mize (Women)	Laurie Smith, Atlantic Mine	2:51:00	Finished with grandson
Main Mize (1st)	Brad Skillicorn, Marquette	1:16:30	Repeat winner
Main Mize (2nd)	Lisa Hollman, Waukesha WI	1:19:40	—
Mini Mize (1st)	Zach Hinchcliffe, Stevens Point WI	40:31	First triathlon ever
Mini Mize (2nd)	Caleb Gregorie, Lake Linden	44:55	—

Thinking About Your First Triathlon?

If reading about Zach Hinchcliffe winning a triathlon on his very first attempt made you even slightly curious, that curiosity is worth following. The Mini Mize format — a quarter-mile swim, four-mile bike, two-mile run — is designed for exactly this kind of exploration.

New to the sport and not sure where to start with gear? Explore our guides to first triathlon essentials and race day gear recommendations to help you show up prepared — whether you're heading to Houghton or a local event closer to home. Don't forget to invest in quality running shoes designed specifically for triathlon transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: Mining Gazette — Another Successful Run