Gutierrez, Ortiz Win
at Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team Selection Race in Vail
July
8, 2002
VAIL,
Colorado—Not that there was any doubt, but Simon Gutierrez and Anita
Ortiz proved once again on Sunday they’re two of the top mountain
runners in the U.S. Each recorded a dominating victory at the Teva Vail
Hill Climb, the third and final selection race for the 2002 Teva U.S.
Mountain Running Team.
Under
blue skies and temperatures in the 80s, Gutierrez, 36, of Albuquerque,
New Mexico, motored up the 7.5-mile dirt trail on Vail Mountain (with a
2,230-foot climb) in 50 minutes, 9 seconds, outrunning Paul Low, 28, of
Amherst, Massachusetts (50:31). Mark Werner, 30, of Boulder, Colorado
(52:06), Andy Bupp, 30, of Littleton, Colorado (52:53), and Art Siemers,
29, of Arvada, Colorado, rounded out the top five places.
Gutierrez,
who took charge early in the race, has twice represented the U.S. at the
World Cross Country Championships (including once at the junior level)
and has competed at various other trail and cross country races in
Europe. The finish line of Sunday’s race was at 10,350 feet, but he
said the high altitude didn’t hinder him a bit.
"I
think I can do well and help the team," said Gutierrez, who also
has an eye on qualifying for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon.
"I’ve been trying to get up to 8,000 or 10,000 feet once a week
to train, but I didn’t know how I’d feel racing at this altitude.
But I really felt fine once we got up high, so I’m really happy about
that."
Ortiz,
38, the local favorite from nearby Eagle, Colorado, was the first woman
to the top of the mountain, finishing 31st overall in
1:00:44. Despite running with a sore hamstring, Ortiz ran strong and was
never challenged in the second half of the race.
Finishing
a solid second (34th overall, 1:02:10) was Kari DiStefano,
42, of Telluride, Colorado, the women’s 2001 USATF Mountain Runner of
the Year. Kelly Ryan, 33, of Littleton, Colorado (38th
overall, 1:02:41), past U.S. Mountain Running Team members Lisa
Goldsmith, 37, of Nederland, Colorado (40th overall, 1:03:12)
and Laura Bruess, 41, of Boulder, Colorado (44th overall,
1:04:11), also turned in strong efforts.
Gutierrez,
Ortiz, and Vermont’s Eric Morse had previously earned automatic berths
for the U.S. team. Morse at the June 9 Wolverine Hill Climb in
Anchorage, Alaska and Gutierrez at the June 15 Mt. Washington Hill Climb
in Gorham, New Hampshire. Ortiz was the first U.S. female finisher at
each of this year's selection races.
The
Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete in the WMRA World Mountain
Running Trophy Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, on September 14
(juniors and senior women) and September 15 (senior men and open race).
This year’s WMRT races will be held on uphill-only courses (12k for
men, 9.2k for women and junior men, and 3.3k for junior women).
The
six-member junior squad was named on June 2. The remainder of the senior
team—four men and three women—will be announced on July 15 by the
USATF Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council. The final selection is based
on results at the three selection races; mountain, road, track, and
cross country race credentials; and previous U.S. Mountain Running Team
experience.
"Being
part of the team is a huge honor," Ortiz said. "It’s what I’ve
been hoping for since last year, and I’m really looking forward to
it."
Sunday’s
race was in stark contrast to the second Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team
selection race, the June 15 Mt. Washington Hill Climb. Gutierrez won
that event to earn an automatic bid to the U.S. squad, but the race was
shortened from 7.6 miles to 3.8 miles because of near-freezing
temperatures and high winds at the summit, coupled with slippery
conditions on the road.
Ortiz,
the women’s 2002 U.S. snowshoe racing champion, earned an automatic
bid at the June 9 Wolverine Run near Anchorage, Alaska and followed that
up by finishing second at the June 15 Mt. Washington Hill Climb. Morse,
who did not run on Sunday, earned his automatic bid by winning the
Alaska event.
Any
runner interested in being considered for the remaining positions should
contact Nancy Hobbs or Dave Dunham before July 9.
#########
Vail
Hill Climb, Sunday, July 7, 2002
Top
Female Finishers
1
- Ortiz, 1:00:44
2
- DiStefano, 1:02:10 (US Mountain Running Team member '01)
3
- Ryan, 1:02:41
4
- Goldsmith, 1:03:12 (US Mountain Running Team member '97)
5
- Bruess, 1:04:11 (US Mountain Running Team member '97, '98)
6
-Lisa Mills, Aurora, 40, 1:05:14
7-
Julie Bryan, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 34, 1:05:38 (US Mountain Running
Team member '01)
Top
Male Finishers
1
- Gutierrez, 50:09
2
- Low, 50:31 (US Mountain Running Team member '99)
3
- Werner, 52:06
4
- Bupp, 52:53
5
- Siemers, 53:51
6
- Andy Dimmen, Colorado Springs, 19, 54:07
Related
Web Sites:
www.alaskamountainrunners.org
- Wolverine Mountain Run
www.gsrs.com
- Mount Washington Hill Climb
www.vailrec.com
- Vail Hill Climb
www.tlv.at/worldtrophy2002
- World Mountain Running Trophy 2002
www.usatf.org
- USA Track and Field
www.wmra.info
- World Mountain Running Association
Contacts:
Brian Metzler: (303) 546-6613; trailedit@aol.com
USATF
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council
Nancy
Hobbs: (719) 573-4405; trlrunner@aol.com
USATF
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council
Dave
Dunham: dave.dunham@verizon.net
USATF
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council
MUT Home
Last updated: 09/14/05
Web Author: Lorraine Gersitz
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