July 23, 2008

[Full Results Listing Here]

Erik Skaden and Mike Wolfe have no qualms with sharing.

The two ultrarunners agreed to run in unison the final 25 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail 100-Mile Endurance Run this weekend to share the USA Track & Field National 100-Mile Trail Championship - and the $1,000 prize purse.

The pair crossed the finish line at Spooner Lake together in 18 hours, 59 minutes, 10 seconds.

"We were running the same pace," said Wolfe, a Missoula, MT, resident and two-time national champion in the 50-mile trail run. "When you run with someone, you run faster. It was fun."

Three-time Western States Endurance Run winner Nikki Kimball of Bozeman, MT, took the top spot in the women's 100-mile division and placed third overall, posting a time of 20:18:12, which set the new women's course record. Ian Torrance of Ashland, OR, finished third in the men's division and fourth overall in 21:53:10. Beverly Anderson-Abbs of Red Bluff placed second in the women's division with a time of 23:28:10, and Jenny Capel of Reno was third in 24:53:38.

Truckee's Peter Fain defended his title in the Tahoe Rim Trail 50K, finishing first in 4:48:30, and Thomas Reiss of San Luis Obispo defended his 50-mile title while eclipsing his own course record with a time of 7:52:09. Reiss' previous record was 8:10:03, set in 2007.

The 100-mile course record, set last year by Jasper Halekas of Oakland, stands at 18:16:01.

A total of 373 ultrarunners competed in the three-race event, which also serves as the Road Runners Club of America National 100-Mile Ultra Championship and the Nevada 50K and 50M State Championships. Jeanne Stelzer, registration director, said 64 of the 111 100-mile racers finished the run.

Race director David Cotter expected a large and highly competitive field in the 100-mile race, as he added about 40 slots specifically for ultrarunners who were registered to compete in the June 28 Western States, which was canceled because of wildfires in the area. Wolfe and Skaden, a Folsom resident who finished runner-up the past two years at Western States, were among the additions.

Despite the relatively clear conditions on Saturday - this after weeks of hazy skies in the Tahoe area - Wolfe said he could feel the effects of the lingering smoke.

"It took a toll a little bit. I was coughing, and it's got to be from the smoke," he said.

Skaden said his body felt the brunt of the course, which features 22,000 feet of cumulative elevation change, reaching 9,214 feet at Snow Valley Peak and bottoming out at 6,800 feet in the Red House Loop.

"The last 50 (miles) was just a death march," Skaden said after finishing one minute before midnight.

According to race reports on several ultrarunning Web sites Monday, Jon Olsen of Modesto had built a substantial lead the first half of the 100-mile race, but he dropped out before the finish.

Taking on her first 100-mile race, Truckee ultrarunner Gretchen Brugman nearly did the same at the 76-mile aid station. Instead, after a half-hour rest, she pressed on through the pain.

"It was rough," she said, adding that "everything" hurt as she battled nausea and dizziness at the aid station. "The last 30 miles were really hard. I felt really good at mile 60 - I was having a great time - but then I really started feeling the miles. ... From that point on was painfully slow."

Nevertheless, Brugman finished in 28:29. On Monday, she didn't even want to think about doing another 100.

- Sierra Sun reporter and photographer Emma Garrard contributed to this story.

1. Peter Fain, Truckee, 4:48:3
2. Michael Moffett, Friant, Calif., 5:13:06
3. Daniel Vargo, Salt Lake City, 5:34:39
4. Maureen Sheenan, Friant, Calif., 5:48:14

1. Thomas Reiss, San Luis Obispo, 7:52:09
* course record *
2. Ron Guiterrez, San Luis Obispo, 8:44:14
3. Suzanna Bon, Sonoma, 9:16:42

1. Erik Skaden, Folsom, 18:59:10
1. Mike Wolfe, Missoula, Mont., 18:59:10
3. Nikki Kimball, Bozeman, Mont., 20:18:12
* course record *
4. Ian Torrence, Ashland, Ore., 21:53:10

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