Missouri River 340 Race Records

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2009 MR340 Race under bridges of Kansas City (photo by Maxine Arnoldy of KCK)

MR340 started in 2006 with just 15 boats and four years later we had 271 boats at the Kaw Point. I counted 437 racers in the race roster in solo, tandem and team divisions. How many people participated in the race if we add all organizers, volunteers, safety boats, and land crew? 1000 or more?

Here is an approximate statistics of 2009 racers by state. Most of them were local paddlers from Missouri and Kansas, but 21 US states and Canada were represented in the race.

301 MO 7 CO
53 KS 4 FL, VA, WI, WA
20 TX 3 CA, GA
10 IL 2 Canada, MN, MI, OK, OR
9 IA 1 PA, TN, NC, NJ, MT

Texas racers followed West Hansen and had always a strong representation in the MR340. They brought Texas Water Safari racing style, unlimited boats, and then team boats. Some other influences are also visible. An outrigger canoe powered by a wing paddle is not a Safari boat. It is interesting to observe how many local paddlers become strong racers during these four years of the MR340.

Recently, Scott Mansker compiled a list of MR340 records. I am posting it below with some pictures added.

Women’s Solo

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Katie Pfefferkorn

1 Katie Pfefferkorn (2008) 50:00 (Mary Jo Pfefferkorn, Ground Crew)
2 Erin Magee (2007) 55:33
3 Melanie Hof (2009) 55:58
4 Erin Magee (2008) 57:11
5 Natalie Courson (2009) 57:41
6 Katie Pfefferkorn (2007) 58:57
7 Karen Exon (2009) 62:02
8 Dawn Stewart (2007) 65:01
9 Jana McClelland (2009) 65:53
10 Kris Albright (2009) 67:06
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Carter Johnson

Men’s Solo:

1 Carter Johnson (2008) 37:46 (Peter Johnson and Lela Johnson-Vela, MD, Ground Crew)
2 Jeff Wueste (2008) 43:33
3 Santo Albright (2009) 44:54
4 Dave Anderson (2007) 46:21
5 Jason Locke (2009) 47:30
6 Chuck McHenry (2008) 48:24
7 Joe Mann (2008) 49:16
8 Ardie Olson (2007) 49:48
9 Travis Konda (2009) 51:05
10 Bryan Hopkins (2008) 51:25
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Di McHenry & Natalie Courson

Women’s Tandem:

1 Di McHenry & Natalie Courson (2007) 61:09 (JoJo Newbold and Jan Bruns Ground Crew)
2 Cami Ronchetto and Linda LaFontaine (2009) 61:50
3 Carol Heddinghaus and Abigail Tuttle (2009) 65:02
4 TJ Adkins & Chris Jump (2008) 78:00
5 Hannah Grow and Marissa Weber (2009) 78:48
6 Edie Jackson & Christina Glauner (2007) 100:32

Men’s Tandem:

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Dave and Will Anderson

1 Dave and Will Anderson (2009) 38:59 (Bill Anderson and Jessica Anderson, Ground Crew)
2 Bryan Hopkins and Joe Mann (2009) 42:22
3 Phil Bowden & Lee Deviney (2008) 42:32
4 James Kaufman & Ryan Slebos (2008) 42:35
5 Wally Werderich and Nick Josefik (2009) 43:24
6 West Hansen & Richard Steppe (2007) 44:27
7 Allen McAdams and Jon Redfern (2009) 44:47
8 Phil Reed and Mitch Anderson (2009) 48:59
9 Matt Lukehart and Cade Garbes (2009) 49:15
10 Larry and Yancy Scroggins (2009) 50:12
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West Hansen

Mixed Tandem:

1 Katie Pfefferkorn and West Hansen (2009) 44:32 (Bill Noble, Dan Grubbs, Mary Jo Pfefferkorn, Isabella and Ann Hansen, Ground Crew)
2 Chuck and Di McHenry (2009) 47:26
3 Hilary Kelly and Ron Ladzinski (2009) 51:50
4 Rick and Lauren Haggard (2009) 61:36
5 Sonya Tomes and Matt Keeven (2009) 62:18
6 Mike Massey & Jana Shannon (2008) 65:24
7 Mike Massey & Jana Shannon (2009) 65:44
8 Caleb and Monica Edelman (2009) 71:13
9 Jason and Stevie Scruggs (2009) 71:53
10 Mark and Brigitte Scott (2009) 75:47

Men’s Team Division

(3-6 paddlers)
1 West Hansen, Richard Steppe, David Anderson, David Kelly, Jeff Glock, Mike Rendon (2008) 36:19 (Bill Noble, John Glock and Bill Anderson, Ground Crew)
2 John Bugge, Andres Cabb (2008) 39:50
3 Green, Schwartz, Wilson, Cowley (2009) 46:42
4 Ronk, Stoffells, Meyer, Beck, Brumley, Young (2009) 60:11
5 Gordon, Gordon, Geisinger (2009) 60:58
6 Mason, Gonzales, Welch, Mason (2009) 65:26
7 Hargadine, Sides, Hauck (2009) 65:27
8 Horack, Regan, McWilliams (2009) 71:17

Mixed Team Division

(3-6 paddlers, at least 50% female)
1 Dan Grubbs, Christina Glauner, Di McHenry, Zahaim Abdullah (2008) 51:24
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Marek Uliasz

Most Solo Finishes:

(4) Marek Uliasz (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)

Most Finishes:

(4) Katie Pfefferkorn (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
(4) Di McHenry (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
(4) Marek Uliasz (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
(4) Bryan Hopkins (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
(4) West Hansen (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
(4) Chuck McHenry (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
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Bryan Hopkins & crew

50 Hour Club:

Solo
1 Carter Johnson (2008) 37:46
2 Jeff Wueste (2008) 43:33
3 Santo Albright (2009) 44:54
4 Dave Anderson (2007) 46:21
5 Jason Locke (2009) 47:30
6 Chuck McHenry (2008) 48:24
7 Joe Mann (2008) 49:16
8 Ardie Olson (2007) 49:48
9 Katie Pfefferkorn (2008) 50:00

Tandem
1 Dave and Will Anderson (2009) 38:59
2 Bryan Hopkins and Joe Mann (2009) 42:22
3 Phil Bowden & Lee Deviney (2008) 42:32
4 James Kaufman & Ryan Slebos (2008) 42:35
5 Wally Werderich and Nick Josefik (2009) 43:24
6 West Hansen & Richard Steppe (2007) 44:27
7 Katie Pfefferkorn & West Hansen (2009) 44:32
8 Allen McAdams and Jon Redfern (2009) 44:47
9 Chuck and Di McHenry (2009) 47:26
10 Phil Reed and Mitch Anderson (2009) 48:59
11 Matt Lukehart and Cade Garbes (2009) 49:15

Team
1 West Hansen, Richard Steppe, David Anderson, David Kelly, Jeff Glock, Mike Rendon (2008) 36:19
2 John Bugge, Andres Cabb (2008) 39:50
3 Green, Schwartz, Wilson, Cowley (2009) 46:42

I am a slow though persistent soloist. I completed the MR340 4 times with my wife, Connie, as my land crew in three races:
2006 – 78:32 in Spencer X-treme canoe
2007 – 68:00 in WSBS Thunderbolt-X kayak
2008 – 62:17 in Sea Wind canoe (self supported)
2009 – 61:11 in Surfrigger (outrigger canoe)
Four races and four different boats. Well, I don’t really have another boat for the 2010 MR340 …

2009 Missouri River 340 Race – Before Start
3 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race series:
Bryan Hopkins, West Hansen, Christina Glauner, Chuck and Di McHenry, Katie Pfefferkorn
Do I Need GPS for the Missouri River 340 Race?
How to Choose a Boat for an Ultra Marathon Race? The Case of Missouri River 340



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