Grossman, Vanderelli Win USA 50 Mile Titles
Posted Sunday, 12 October, 2008
BOALSBURG, Pa. - (October 11, 2008) - At Saturday's USA 50 Mile Road Championships hosted by the Tussey Mountainback, 40-year-old Eric Grossman, Emory, VA, raced to a 5:48:34 besting Coloradoan Chad Ricklefs' 2004 record by nearly five minutes. Grossman also shattered the masters' course record of 7:19:01 set in 2006 by Randy Miller.
"I was second last year (running just over 6:06:00) and it was quite a bit hotter. I am glad it stayed cool," said Grossman. "This was my PR."
Asked whether he took the lead from the start Grossman replied, "There were three of us together until around mile 12 (Zach Miller, Sean Andrish and me). After that I was pretty much alone. I have had ten weeks of training after dealing with an injury for three months. I'd have to say the workouts I'm getting from coach Howard Nippert (who, in addition to coaching, has been the top U.S. 100K Road Runner for nearly a decade) are paying off. I also had a crew this year. My Aunt Merrie handed me all the fluids and snacks I needed at the aid stations. It really made a difference."
Grossman was awarded $500 for the win, $300 for the masters' win and a $200 course record bonus.
Zach Miller, 32, Ann Arbor, MI, finished in second running 6:07:13. Of the course, Miller said, "It was challenging. There are some brutal climbs, one particular one at mile 40. I'm pleased with both my finish and my time. Eric and I are good friends. We've been going back and forth for years now. I ran the North Country Trail 50 Miler three weeks ago and there wasn't much competition. Today the third, fourth, and fifth guys were not that far back. The only way you're going to run a good 50 is to have the competition."
Rounding out the top three was Jason Bryant, 36, Elkin, NC, finishing in 6:15:16.
The women's national title was won by a newcomer to the 50 mile distance: Sarah Vanderelli, 41, Latrobe, PA, who ran 7:45:19.
"I felt great," said Vanderelli who has completed four marathons and three 50K events prior to her 50 mile effort, "I never had a problem getting lost. That was my biggest fear last night. This was a wonderful race. The volunteers at the transition zones were great. They didn't know me and they were really cheering for me. The view around 43 miles was awesome and from mile 46 it was all downhill."
Vanderelli runs just three or four days per week since she has an active six-year-old son who has completed two 5 kilometer races this year. In addition, she has a full-time career as a nurse. "I'm a wound specialist so if anyone gets scratched up today, I can take care of them."
Vanderelli, like Grossman, won both the Open and masters' prize money for an $800 payday.
Finishing national runner-up in 8:01:00 was Morgan Windram-Geddes, 26, a local runner who spends much of her time in Scotland. "I've run the race four times and was about 15 minutes off my PR. I felt OK today." Asked if she kept her position throughout the race Windram-Geddes said, "At about mile thirty miles, I got passed by Sarah."
In third place, 42-year-old Diana Widdowson, Conestoga, PA, posted a time of 8:09:31.
Francesca Conte was the overall women's winner in 7:21:48, but the Italian citizen was not eligible for the USATF prizes for the national championship. None of the women running today came close to the 2007 record set by masters runner Anne Lundblad who blazed the course in 6:36:16.
The course is run on a mixture of paved, dirt, and gravel mountain roads (74% dirt / gravel and 26% paved) starting at the base of the Tussey Mountain Ski Area. The route heads past Whipple Dam State Park, Alan Seeger Natural Area, Penn Roosevelt State Park, Colyer Lake and Bear Meadows Natural Area, before returning to the ski area for the finish. Total elevation gain is 5,035 feet.
Tussey Mountainback 50 Miler: USA Championships
Boalsburg, PA, Saturday, October 11, 2008
MEN
1) Eric Grossman, 40, VA, 5:48:34*, $1000
2) Zach Miller (MI), 6:07:13, $300
3) Jason Bryant (NC), 6:15:16, $200
*course record (previous record, 5:53:37, Chad Ricklefs, 2004)
WOMEN
1) Sarah Vanderelli, 41, PA, 7:45:19, $800
2) Morgan Windram-Geddes (PA), 8:01:00, $300
3) Diana Widdowson, 42, PA, 8:09:31, $200
For more results and additional details on the event, visit: www.TusseyMountainBack.com
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