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Action Heats Up in Trophy Series Summer Races
McKinney, Gutmann hold onto top Non-Marathon spots; McGlade still leads Marathon and Longer Division
JULY 1, 2009, CARBONDALE, COLORADO—Competition in the Sixth Annual Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by GORE-TEX, is heating up like the mercury in your thermometer. So far this season, 6000 men and 4000 women have participated in the series, with 3000 vying for Marathon & Longer Division points, 7000 competing in the Non-Marathon Division and some battling in both divisions!
The standings below represent complete results from 45 races. Full points standings and additional Trophy Series information—including race schedule, rules and prize information (check out the new “Trail Fiend” award, given to the man and woman participating in the most Trophy Series races)—are available at www.trailrunnermag.com.
Non-Marathon Division
Brian McKinney, 37, of Woodland, California, continues to dominate the men’s competition and expanded his lead for the men’s Trail Fiend award. McKinney has already run a dozen races in 10 states (from California to Massachusetts with many stops along the way) to secure 190 points. McKinney raced back-to-back events, running the Sage Burner in Gunnison, Colorado, on Saturday, May 23, followed by the Medicine Bow Half Marathon in Laramie, Wyoming, on May 24.
“I live in California but work for a software company in Massachusetts,” says McKinney when asked how he manages to race across the country. “If I'm interested in a race on the East Coast, I'll arrange my work schedule so I can fly out of Boston, and when racing in the west, I'll schedule a week from home and fly out of Sacramento.”
Phil Oreste, 42, of Mill Valley, California, and Nick Clark, 35, of Fort Collins, Colorado, men’s second- and third-place points leaders respectively, joined McKinney in Laramie, Wyoming, for the Medicine Bow Half Marathon. Oreste placed first in his age division and earned a total of 52.4 points. Clark won his age division in the marathon, bringing his total to 104.8 points.
Brenda Gutmann, 50, of Borden, Indiana, added three more races to her resume to maintain her hold on the women’s division with 311 points, and women’s Trail Fiend prize, with six races. Her recent accomplishments include age-group wins at the Lake Geneva Euro XC Marathon in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and the Indian/Celina Challenge in Leopold, Indiana.
“I’m enjoying seeing the different parts of the Midwest,” says Gutmann. “I would like to race out West to experience different footing, altitude and hopefully less humidity.”
Carla Stone, 46, of West Des Moines, Iowa, bumped Sarah Raitter, 36, of Reno, Nevada, to third place. Stone is in second place for both points and the Trail Fiend prize with 137 points and four races.
Marathon and Longer Division
Patrick McGlade, 20, of Richmond, Virginia, remained in top spot on the men’s leader board with 482 points. Two racers are tied for second with 400 points each. Wins at the Ice Age 50 Mile Solo Run and Land Between the Lakes 50-Miler, earned Zach Gingerich, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, 400 points. Geoff Linton, 47, of Guelph, Ontario, claimed his points by winning the Sulpher Springs 100-Mile Trail race. Next in line, with 336 points, is Sean Andrish, 39, of Leesburg, Virginia.
Claiming the women’s title at the Sulpher Springs 100-Mile Trail Race, put Sue Lucas, 45, of Dauphin, Manitoba, in the lead, bumping Liz Bauer, 50, of Plainville, Georgia, down to second place with 352 points ahead of Linda Gaudette, 45, of Falls Church, Virginia.
There is a tie for the most Marathon and Longer Division races completed so far this season. Eugene Bruckert, 74, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Larry Creveling, 56, of Sigel, Pennsylvania, have run four races each.
About Trail Runner magazine
As the leading publication for one of North America’s fastest growing sports (40 million participants according to the Outdoor Industry Foundation’s 2006 Report), Trail Runner features in-depth editorial and compelling photography that informs, entertains and inspires readers of al ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and improve their health and fitness through the sports of trail running, adventure racing and snowshoeing.
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