Ultramarathoners to vie for USA 50 Mile Road Championship title
Posted Sunday, 10 October, 2010
BOALSBURG, Pa. -- Todd Braje never had to look over his shoulder en route to capturing last year’s men’s title at the USA 50 Mile Road Championship at the Tussey Mountainback, convincingly winning the race by more than 42 minutes.
While Braje, of Arcata, Calif., will be back to defend his national title Saturday, Oct. 16, at the 11th annual Mountainback, he is in for a fight this time.
Not only is this year’s ultramarathon the largest in event history with 116 entrants, it also might be the most competitive.
The men’s field is highlighted by Michael Wardian, one of the most prolific long-distance runners in the United States, who will be making his Mountainback debut.
Wardian, of Arlington, Va., is a two-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon and the champion of countless races across the country. He’s won USA 50K and 100K titles and has been a frontrunner at international ultramarathon championships. Last year, he collected his second straight USATF Ultra Runner of the Year Award.
Wardian said his goal is not only to win Saturday, but to break the course record of 5:48:34 set by Eric Grossman in 2008.
Braje, who won last year’s Mountainback in 5:57:18, picked up another USA title this year when he won the 100-mile trail championship in Ohio in July. Mark Godale, of Aurora, Ohio, who finished second to Braje in the national 100-miler, also will be in Saturday’s race.
Michael Arnstein, of New York City, is another title contender. Last year, he placed second at the prestigious JFK 50 Mile in Maryland in 5:50:58, recording the fourth-fastest time in the 47-year history of the race.
Other top contenders include: David James, of Somers, N.Y., who recorded the world’s fastest 100-mile time of 2009 (13:06:52); trail standout Jason Bryant, of Elkin, N.C., who placed third in the 2008 Mountainback in 6:15:16; and superstar veteran Howard Nippert, of Pembroke, Va.
While Nippert, 45, might be the oldest runner in the lead pack Saturday, he seemingly is the most proven. His résumé includes four top-10 finishes at the World 100K championship (2004-07).
The women’s field is highlighted by Devon Crosby-Helms, of San Francisco, who placed fourth at the World 100K in 2009.
While Crosby-Helms made the trip to Central Pennsylvania for last year’s Mountainback, the flu prevented her from racing.
If she’s healthy Saturday, she probably can’t be beat.
The women’s course record is 6:36:16, set by Anne Lundblad in 2007.
Crosby-Helms won last year’s JFK 50 Mile in 6:29:21, breaking Lundblad’s course record there by 21 seconds.
Larissa Abramiuk, of Wayland, Mass., who won last year’s Mountainback in 7:26:26, said she hopes to be in the race again Saturday. But a hamstring injury has had her recently sidelined.
Veteran Connie Gardner, of Medina, Ohio, a perennial frontrunner at ultramarathons across the U.S., also is a contender. She was the women’s champ last month at the USA 24-hour championship in Ohio.
Brian Sell, the 2008 Olympic marathoner who currently is a grad student at Penn State, unfortunately won't be in the race. But he will serve as the honorary starter.
Proceeds from the event will support the current renovation project for Centre House, the emergency shelter program of Housing Transitions, Inc., in State College, Pa.
The Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau is a major sponsor of the Mountainback event. Sponsors also include CaliKlineBenton, of RE/MAX Centre Realty, Subway Restaurants, Appalachian Outdoors, The Bicycle Shop, McClarren Financial Advisors, Nittany Bank, Nittany Valley Running Club, Rapid Transit Sports, Restek, The Sign Stop, Tussey Mountain Family Fun Center, and Wegmans.
For general information or to volunteer at the event, call 814-238-5918 or send e-mail to HYPERLINK "mailto:info@tusseymountainback.com" \o "mailto:info@tusseymountainback.com" info@tusseymountainback.com. For more information about Housing Transitions, Inc. or Centre House, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.housingtransitions.com" http://www.housingtransitions.com or call 814-237-4863
