Teva US Mountain Running Team Members Victorious at Barr Trail Race


July 14, 2003



Manitou Springs, CO --- Paul Low, 29, Amherst, MA and Kelli Lusk, 33,
Manitou Springs, CO duplicted their efforts from last year to win the
fourth annual Barr Trail Mountain Race. This year's race was special for
the pair who recently got engaged. "We met at last year's race, traveled
to Europe together using the airline tickets we received for the win,
and we got engaged last month following the Northfield Mountain Race in
Massachusetts (where they both earned spots on the Teva US Mountain
Running team)," said Lusk.

Low has been training in Manitou Springs for the past few weeks and
will return with Lusk to Europe for the month of August to race
internationally.

Although Low was third to the half way point at Barr Camp six miles into
the race behind runner-up Matt Carpenter, 38, Mantiou Springs and fellow
Teva US Mountain team member Simon Gutierrez, 37, Alamosa, CO, he passed
both Carpenter and Gutierrez on the downhill setting an age group record
of 1:30:55, just 48 seconds off the course record of 1:30:07 set by
Carpenter in 2001.

"This year I went for the win. I watched Simon and Matt really push each
other on the uphill and that might have taken a toll on Matt. Matt is a
great all-around runner, but I'm better on the steep downhills, so I
really pushed it on the down. I didn't pass him until No Name Creek
(about 3 miles from the finish) and picked up four minutes in those last
miles," said Low.

Guiterrez, first to Barr Camp just four seconds ahead of Carpenter,
collected the $200 King of the Hill preem then moved aside to let
Carpenter take the lead on the downhill. "I wanted to push the uphill
and go after the preems, and then take it easy on the downhill section
which I did," said Gutierrez.

There were a total of four preems on the course, the first just one half
mile into the race ($100), and two more before Barr Camp, both $50.
Two-time British Olympian Justin Chaston, 34, who now lives in Colorado
Springs, sprinted to capture the first preem and Gutierrez collected the
other three.

Carpenter, co-founder of the race, said, "I have two jobs for the event,
getting good athletes to compete and running my best race. I was really
happy for Paul. He ran a smart race. Simon and I went really hard on the
up going after the preems. Simon sprinted for them, I had nothing left
to sprint."

Mark Werner, 31, Boulder was fourth to Barr Camp and passed Gutierrez on
the downhill. He came across the finish line in third place with dirt
stains on his chest and a few scratches on his nose, cheek, and legs.
Werner has been known to fall in mountain races and actually broke his
arm a few years ago. "Sure I fell today, but I didn't break any bones.
Overall my race felt pretty good, but I got tired the last mile or two."

On the women's side it would be a race between Lusk and Kari DiStefano,
44, Telluride, CO, also a member of the 2003 Teva US Mountain Running
Team. "Having Kari to run against made for a fun race. I knew we'd be
fairly matched on the climb, but I knew she would be really strong on
the downhill section. I was really running for my life knowing that Kari
was chasing me down," said Lusk.

"Kelli won the first preem and then I passed her to collect the second
and third preems. She picked it up on the flatter section to move ahead
at Barr Camp for the final preem. I felt like I was picking up time on
the way down, but I got a rock in my shoe that slowed me down," said
DiStefano.

Lusk had problems of her own on the downhill taking a nasty fall a few
miles from the finish line where she fractured her toe and tore the skin
off her arm requiring ten stitches following the race. She still managed
to improve her time by eighteen seconds finishing in 1:53:50. DiStefano
was timed in 1:54:32, and Eva Hagen, 35, Colorado Springs rounded out
the top three in 2:00:54.
 
DiStefano was the first place master's woman while Bernie Boettcher, 40,
Silt was the first male master finishing in fourth place overall. Each
won $125 for the masters win.

Low, Gutierrez, Lusk, DiStefano, will travel to Alaska in September to
compete at the World Mountain Running trophy for the Teva US Mountain
Running team. The remaining team members will be announced following the
final selection race in Alaska on August 9. All but Lusk are returning
team members.

Through the support of presenting sponsor Pikes Peak National Bank,
footwear and apparel sponsor adidas, and many other sponsors and
supporters, the Barr Trail Mountain Race was able to give 100% of the
collected entry fees to charities this year. In addition the event
raised $7000 to award to six area high school track and cross country
programs through an aid station challenge program.
For more information and race results visit www.runpikespeak.com.

Top finishers

 MEN
1) Paul Low, 29, Amherst, MA, 1:30:55, $400
2) Matt Carpenter, 38, Manitou Springs, CO, 1:34:59, $250
3) Mark Werner, 31, Boulder, 1:35:18, $100
4) Bernie Boettcher, 40, Silt, 1:35:32, $125 (masters money)
5) Jean Pellisier, 30, Italy, 1:37:40

WOMEN
1) Kelli Lusk, 33, Manitou Springs, 1:53:50, $700 (includes preems)
2) Kari DiStefano, 44, Telluride, 1:54:32, $375 (includes masters and
preems)
3) Eva Hagan, 35, Colorado Springs, 2:00:54
4) Stacey Chaston, 33, Colorado Springs, 2:02:13
5) Amy Barnish, 38, Ft. Collins, 2:07:02


Websites of interest:
www.wrmt2003.org
www.trailrunner.com

Contact:  Nancy Hobbs
All American Trail Running Association
(719) 573-4405
email: trlrunner@aol.com
www.trailrunner.com

----------------------------
Nancy Hobbs, Chairperson,
Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council
(719) 573-4405 trlrunner@aol.com

 

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