RACE RECORDS
Expert Division (1947 – Present)
— All non-Amateur Division teams in the race are considered part of the Expert Division. The Expert Division was officially established with the Marathon’s creation in 1947.
Women’s Division (1973 – Present)
— A team consisting of two female paddlers. The Women’s Division was officially established in 1973 when Donna Buckley and Truda Gilbert pushed race organizers to change the race rules to allow women to compete in the Expert Division.
Mixed Division (1968 – Present)
— A team consisting of one female paddler and one male paddler. The Mixed Division was born in 1968, when three women (Marilyn Wagner, Matilee Christman, and Sharon Follett) competed in the Amateur Division of the Marathon. The first Expert Mixed team to finish the Marathon was Steve Landick and Lynn Capen in 1974.
Masters Division (1993 – Present)
— A team consisting of two paddlers 40 years of age or older. The Masters Division bonus was officially established in 1993.
Seniors Division (1995 – Present)
— A team consisting of two paddlers 50 years of age or older. The Seniors Division bonus was officially established in 1995.
Veterans Division (2020 – Present)
— A team consisting of two paddlers 60 years of age or older. The Veterans Division bonus as officially established in 2020.
Youth-Adult Division (2020 – Present)
— A team consisting of a teenage paddler, and a paddler 35 years of age or older. The Youth-Adult Division was officially established in 2020.
Rookie Division (2008 – Present)
— A team consisting of two paddlers in their first Marathon. The Rookie Division bonus was officially established in 2008.
All-Michigan Division (2015 – Present)
— A team consisting of two paddlers who both reside in Michigan. The Bissonette Brothers Award, which honors the best finishing All-Michigan team, was created in 2009. The All-Michigan Division bonus was officially established in 2015.
Youth Division (2008 – 2019)
— A team consisting of two teenage paddlers. The Youth Division bonus was officially established in 2008, but was discontinued after the 2019 Marathon due to a lack of Youth team entries. Youth teams, however, are still tracked for statistical purposes.
Amateur Division (1967 – 2007)
— For a majority of its existence, the Amateur Division had different canoe specs, starting times, and race rules than the Expert Division. In its early years, the Amateur Division only raced on about 3/4 of the race course. The Amateur Division was discontinued after the 2007 Marathon due to a lack of Amateur team entries.