ACE presents the 2009 La Sportiva Rattlesnake Ramble Race Report
Kid's Short Course Results - Long Course Results
PHOTOS! (more to come)
Eldorado Canyon State Park, September 13, 2009 - A record 90 runners amassed for the 5th annual La Sportiva Rattlesnake Ramble trail race this morning in Eldorado Canyon State Park. Defending championg John Tribbia was in the field with his eyes firmly set upon the course record, having missed it by just eight seconds last year. Former champion and course record holder Andy Ames (a fiver since he's run every Rattlesnake Ramble) was on Tribbia like stink on a warthog. These two opened up a gap on Luke Crespin after making the turn at the end of the Fowler Spur. The steep Eldorado Spur, usually Ames' strength, proved his undoing, as Tribbia pulled away and became the first and only runner to break 28 minutes on this course: 27:58! Andy broke his own course record, but by the time he crossed the line, there was a new course record. Crespin broke the 30-minute barrier, adding himself to a small, elite group.
Lisa Goldsmith was not on hand to defend her title, as she was off wasting her time with road racing and marathon training. But the Fleet Feet women's team was represented well by Kristi Jordan and Sheri Wright, who took first and third overall, respectively. Kristi led wire to wire while Sheri held onto second place before paying a heavy price on the big Eldorado climb and dropping to third as Caroline Walden ate up the steep hill.
Newcomer Peter Graf took Masters Division wtih a phenomenal time of 30:43. TDK took 2nd and newcomer Brian Hunter took third in the Masters. Brian's wife Vicki, in her Rattlesnake debut, won the Women's Masters. Jeanette Heimback and Marianne Martin took second and third in the Women's Masters, respectively.
In the kids division, 12-year-old Kyle Prario returned to run the long course and improve his time by over two minutes and beat all the women save Jordan. He ran 37:28 and was ahead of the race director about 15 minutes. The winner for the girls was Gabriela Koski with a time of 49:26. It was the freshman varisty cross-county runner's first trail race.
On the kid's short course, defending champion Derek Wright was soundly beaten by new comer Emil Graf who ran a short course record of 19:10. Emil's dad Peter won the Masters Division so the kid has great genes. In third place was Ryan Maulsby. The girls' short course winner was McKinley Coppock with a time of 24:29 and followed closely by Samantha Koski in second place.
Thanks to everyone for making this such a great experience for me. I love runners, racers, and competition and the group of people that do this race are incredible. I'm excited to make next year's race bigger and better. More prizes, more food, and more racers! Come back and bring your friends. If you enjoyed this race, spread the word.
Special thanks to La Sportiva, which is a great local company that does more for trail running than any other company and will do even more next year. Also, Fleet Feet, Kahtoola, SolePepper Sports, CAMP, The Spot, Boulder Rock Club, Sharp End Publishing, and Neptune Mountaineering. Also a special thanks to Rocky Mountain Rescue and their crew that have always provided medical and rescue support. Once again, though, we've had no injuries or mishaps in this race.
Thanks to all of you and see you next year for the 6th Annual Rattlesnake Ramble!
Bill Wright
Race Director Rattlesnake Ramble
Board Member of the Action Committee for Eldorado
