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From Nancy Hobbs
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - (June 30, 2007) - Spectators experienced a fantastic finish at Saturday's USA Trail Championships in Steamboat Springs as four athletes crossed the line within 14 seconds of each other. Rickey Gates, 26, Boulder, CO, was victorious with a come-from-behind win in 51 minutes, 42 seconds followed one second later by U.S. masters champion Simon Gutierrez, 41, Alamosa, CO. Gutierrez had put on a last minute sprint to overtake Clint Wells, 32, Boulder who finished in 51:49. Rounding out the top four was Payton Batliner, 23, Boulder, in 51:56.
Run primarily on mountain bike trails - mostly double track, some single track, and service roads - the course was 7.57 miles long. The route consisted of two 3.7 mile loops which had the runners passing the start / finish area between the two loops. With 1,100' of climbing per loop and a low point on the course at approximately 6,900 feet and the high point at 7,937 feet, this course would prove to be grueling especially when raced in high altitude sunshine.
At the 10:00am race start, there was not a cloud in the sky. Temperatures were in the 70s with little to no humidity and the promise of very little shade on the course. The field included nearly 80 runners representing 16 states, some with stellar road racing credentials, others with strong cross country backgrounds.
Steeplechaser Joseph Gray of Stillwater, OK was in the lead pack up the first climb as runners jockeyed for position, some not going out too fast knowing that there were two loops and two intense climbs in the race. Batliner was in the lead after the first loop and was followed closely by Gutierrez, Gray, defending champion Wells and Shiloh Mielke, while Gates was hanging back, but still in the top 10.
Announcers did their best to track the runners' progress with communications being relayed from the mid-way aid station, but when the announcements included Gates in the lead, spectators were amazed. Even though Gates had proved his leg speed at last month's Bolder Boulder 10K running a 31:43 PR, he had to still be recovering from his win at last Sunday's USA Mountain Championships at Mt. Cranmore which included three 4.3 kilometer loops of gut-wrenching climbing and descending.
Gates surprised everyone with his incredible back-to-back championship titles proving that he is fit and ready to represent the U.S. at the World Trophy this September in Saillon, Switzerland. With his runner-up finish, Gutierrez also earned a spot on the six-man squad and the USA Masters Trail title.
Although there were two team spots up for grabs in Steamboat, with Gates finishing first, the team spot didn't automatically go to Wells. The at-large selection spots on the team will be decided after the Mt. Tam Trophy Race (July 15 in Sausalito, CA) when the final automatic slot for men will be awarded.
In the women's race, as expected, three-time defending champion Laura Haefeli, 39, Del Norte, CO was leading after the first loop followed within 30 seconds by Chris Lundy of Sausalito, CA. Heading up the second climb, Teva U.S. Mountain Running Women's Team Manager Ellen Miller witnessed the race unfolding from the sidelines. "I saw Laura go by and Chris was right on her heels. Then on the climb Chris put it into overdrive and just flew up the hill past Laura."
Lundy at one time extended her lead to nearly a minute 30 seconds and headed down the final stretch to edge Haefeli by nearly 40 seconds at the tape. Lundy, 36, was timed in just under one hour (59:29, 28th overall), while Haefeli was national runner-up in 1:00:07. Emily Mortensen edged out Rachael Cuellar for third, 1:01:08 to 1:01:21. Lisa Goldsmith, 42, earned the U.S. masters title finishing in sixth place with her 1:03:18.
With her victory, Lundy made her third consecutive Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team. The third slot on the four-member women's team will be decided on July 15 at the Mt. Tam Trophy Race. The final at-large spot will be decided shortly thereafter.
Steamboat Springs will host next year's USA 10K Trail Championships and is also working on a bid to host the 2009 World Mountain Running Trophy.
Steamboat Springs Running Series: USA Trail Championship - Steamboat Springs, CO, Saturday, June 30, 2007
MEN
1) Rickey Gates (CO), 51:42, $900
2) Simon Gutierrez, 41, (CO), 51:43, $700
3) Clint Wells (CO), 51:49, $400
4) Payton Batliner (CO), 51:56, $200
5) Shiloh Mielke (NC), 53:36, $150
6) Jonathan Severy (CO), 54:02, $100
7) John Tribbia (CO), 54:34, $50
WOMEN
1) Chris Lundy (CA), 59:29, $900
2) Laura Haefeli (CO), 1:00:07, $700
3) Emily Mortensen (CO), 1:01:08, $400
4) Rachael Cuellar (NM), 1:01:21, $200
5) Abby Larson (UT), 1:02:11, $150
6) Lisa Goldsmith, 42, CO, 1:03:18, $100
7) Faith Byrum (CO), 1:04:04, $50
Deeper results at: www.runningseries.com.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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