Roger Pekuri

Roger Pekuri
Inducted November 11, 2022

Roger Pekuri was a seven-time cross country, Nordic skiing, and track and field letterwinner at Michigan Tech from 1969-72. Pekuri was a cofounder of the cross country running program in 1969 and the Nordic ski team in the winter of 1969-70.

Pekuri and the Huskies placed second at the NIC Cross Country Championships in their first season and also competed in three NCAA Central Skiing Championships, two NCAA Skiing Championships, and two NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Pekuri received the 1969-70 CISA outstanding skier award and was a 1970-71 Cross Country Ski Captain. Pekuri won the US Ski Association Central Division Championship during the 1971-72 season and went to the Olympic Trials in 1972 and 1976.

A lifelong endurance athlete, Pekuri was the silver medalist at the 1976 U.S. National Ski Championships 50 km and competed in the American Birkebeiner Elite Wave competitor for 24 years. The finish line at the annual Paavo Nurmi Marathon is named in his honor as the Roger Pekuri Finish Line. He is a six-time Minnesota Voyageur Ultra champion and was named the 2002 Minnesota State High School Nordic Ski Coaches Association Volunteer of the Year.