A friendly, family rivalry

By JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Sports editor

SEWARD -- The Mount Marathon Race has become a source of a friendly family rivalry for one Palmer clan.

For the last three seasons the Wimer brothers have participated in the annual event. The first two runs of the massive mountain ended in similar fashion, with Matthew, 13, finishing about 10 minutes ahead of his 11-year-old brother Clayton. But a few slips and a couple of falls changed the race for the Wimers and the Palmer brothers enjoyed a memorable finish.

On the way down the mountain, in the second half of the race, Matthew took a tumble. After slipping on a root, he slid about 15 feet off the main trail. Once he picked himself back up and brushed himself off, Matthew found another piece of trail, he hoped would lead him down the mountain.

"I followed the trail, there was nothing," Matthew said. "So, I started making my own trail."

The trailblazing Matthew jogged and slid his way through brush and patches of snow before finally finding the main trail once again. Meanwhile, Clayton continued on the main trail toward the finish.

In the first two runs of the race, Matthew finished and waited for his younger brother on the sidelines along the final chute.

So this year as Clayton sprinted down the final chute, he scanned the crowd looking for his brother. About that time, Clayton said he saw a tall person passing him and suddenly realized it was his brother. Clayton said, thinking he might be able to top his older brother, he received a sudden burst of energy and kicked it into another gear.

But Matthew was not quite ready to lose to his younger sibling.

"There was no way I was going to let my little brother beat me," Matthew said, smiling.

With each Wimer sprinting toward the finish line, Matthew had the slight advantage, finishing just three seconds ahead of his younger brother. Matthew finished in 46 minutes, 56 seconds and Clayton finished in 46:59.

The most memorable finish for the Wimer brothers in Mount Marathon won't be the last. The pair is dedicated to making this friendly rivalry a family tradition.