Posted: December 12, 2005

Athletics: Steidl Defends Sunmart Texas Trail 50K Title in Course Record

Terris, Kochik, Kimball also victorious

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - (December 10, 2005) - Ulrich Steidl repeated his 2004 victory at the 16th annual Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Runs on Saturday. Steidl, 33, who is a German national, completed the multi-loop route 50K race through the tree-lined trails of Huntsville State Park in three hours, 7 minutes, 48 seconds, which is a new course record bettering his 2004 time of 3:11:46.

Jason Saitta, a 27-year-old certified public accountant from Parker, Colo., finished second in 3:18:26. Jim Harrington, a 40-year-old public health educator from Negaunee, Mich., was third (3:29:00).

Steidl and Saitta made their intentions known early as they raced in tandem to a sizeable lead over Harrington and a small ensuing pack of runners. But Steidl's pace proved too fast for Saitta as Saitta fell out of contention at 18 miles.

"I knew that he (Saitta) had around a 2:33 marathon personal record, so I figured that he was overdoing it a little bit," said Steidl, who is high school chemistry teacher. "I had to stop twice to go to the bathroom and he got a little bit ahead of me, but then I caught and passed him."

Despite a route that was soft from a previous rain on Wednesday, most racers felt the conditions were ideal with a temperature in the 30s and 40s with negligible winds.

"It's not a road course, but the footing was fine," said Steidl, whose marathon personal best is 2:13. "There were a few spots where the sand was a little loose, and a few spots that were slippery, but overall I didn't fall or twist an ankle."

Wendy Terris, 36, a mortgage loan office at USAA in San Antonio, Texas, was the women's 50K champion in 3:51:46. Donna Palisca, 28, of Ft. Knox, Ky., was second at 4:00:57. Sarah Wheeler, 26, of Houston, Texas, was third in 4:11:59.

"The course was nice, but near the end I was twisting my ankles," Terris said. "But I love running trails, so it was great."

In the men's 50 mile race, Sunmart newcomer Phil Kochik, 27, of Seattle, Wash., finished first in 5:46:58. Hal Koerner, 28, also of Seattle, was second in 6:11:54. Mark Henderson, 45, of League City, Texas, finished third (6:48:07).

In the women's 50 mile race, Nikki Kimball, 34, of Bozeman, Mont., was the sixth place overall finisher in 6:56:00 to win her first Sunmart race. Connie Gardner, 42, of Medina, Ohio, who won the race in 2004, was second at 7:11:01. Marlene Hall, 40, of Cedar Park, Texas, was third in 7:37:39.

A total of 890 runners from 45 states and seven countries competed in the event, which is the premier ultra distance event in the United States. There were 768 overall finishers (577 in the 50K and 191 in the 50 mile).

16th Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance 50K and 50 Mile Runs - Huntsville, TX, Saturday, December 10, 2005

50K
MEN
1) Ulrich Steidl (GER), WA, 3:07:48*
2) Jason Saitta, CO, 3:18:26
3) Jim Harrington, MI, 3:29:00
*course record (previous record, 3:11:46, Ulrich Steidl, 2004)

WOMEN
1) Wendy Terris, TX, 3:51:46
2) Donna Palisca, KY, 4:00:57
3) Sarah Wheeler, TX, 4:11:59

50 Mile
MEN
1) Phil Kochik, WA, 5:46:58
2) Hal Koerner, WA, 6:11:54
3) Mark Henderson, TX, 6:48:07

WOMEN
1) Nikki Kimball, MT, 6:56:00
2) Connie Gardner, OH, 7:11:01
3) Marlene Hall, TX, 7:37:39

For deeper results, DoItSports.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.