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Lake McMurtry 50K/25K Trail
Stillwater, OK, May 1, 1999
Complete Results
Results/article courtesy of Earl Blewett, RD..
When I tried to get to the lake the Sunday before the race to mark the
course things looked pretty bleak. Redlands road was under a foot of
flowing water and the rain wasn't letting up. By Tuesday the heavy rains
had closed most of the roads to Lake McMurtry, the north trail was under
water and with more rain predicted we were going to be forced to cancel
the run. Fortunately the expected rain held off and most of the course
emerged from the lake. The flooding kept us from thoroughly marking the
course and necessitated numerous detours around high water which led to
many runners going off course. The poor course marking was entirely my
fault and next year we will have more people familiar with the trail so
the marking can be done by several volunteers.
Race day weather was great, in the low 60's at the start and rising to the
mid-70's by afternoon. It was wonderful for the volunteers and spectators
but a little warm and humid for the runners.
As I was describing the course during the pre-race briefing, "turn right
and go up the waterfall..." it occurred to me this may not have been the
easiest trail run in the world. Normally it would be considered easy, as
it isn't rocky, hilly or require water crossings. The flooding brought a
variety of problems, detours, mud and water crossings that along with
meager course marking added to the difficulty and is reflected in the
times.
Jeff Ramming, the OSU Running Club president and Stillwater native, used
his personal knowledge of the course to speed to the win in the Overall
Mens' divisions in a course record time of 1:53:46. Mike Kelly, also a
local runner won the Masters Mens' Award in 1:57:48 Sandie Brandenberger
of Ponca City took both the Overall Womens' and Masters Womens' awards in
a time of 2:09:53. Many of the runners in this event covered a lot of
extra miles, during the convoluted, north trail section. There were 57
starters and 56 finishers in the 25 km Trail Race.
Phil Sheridan of Ellsworth, KS is the Overall Mens' 50 km winner and new
course record holder with a time of 4:09:33. Pretty fast considering he
ran an extra 2.2 km. Molly Gibb now of Oklahoma City is the Overall
Womens' winner and new record holder with a 6:16:33 showing. Phil Sheridan
was also the Mens' Masters winner while Jan Shirk of Salina, KS in
finishing her first 50 km race took the Women' Masters prize with a time
of 8:48:14. There were 26 starters and 20 finishers in the 50 km event.
Probably the best part of the race was Chuck's Jambalaya after the race.
We also had hamburgers, hot dogs, beans and salad. Next year we will have
some sweet things to help replace all the carbos used up in the race.
When we swept the trail on Sunday we found only beer bottles, diapers and
discarded bait containers. Therefore next year we will be on the lookout
for a runner carrying a baby, fishing rod and case of Coors.
The money raised during this race is used to maintain and repair the
trails at Lake McMurtry and promote trail running in Stillwater. The funds
are split between the Red Dirt Pedalers, a Stillwater Parks, Events and
Recreation recognized mountain bike club and the Oklahoma State University
Running Club. Although all labor is done by volunteers, tools, lumber,
replacement signs (many of you probably noticed the green signs on the
ground or hanging from the metal stakes) all must be purchased. If funds
aren't expended repairing storm damage two bridge projects, one at the
trail junction water crossing (bypassed by the climb up the waterfall) and
the other near the far end of the south trail (Fisherman's Dip) will be
considered. Hopefully runners will cross these areas with dry feet next
year.
During the tornado outbreak the Monday night after the race, one of the
storm cells crossed Lake McMurtry and Perry, OK. There were reports of a
tornado and severe thunder and hailstorms. The mountain bike clubs and OSU
Running Club will be repairing the damage. This is where your race dollar
goes.
The OSU Running Club hope to sponsoring a 8 km Trail Fun Run or "course
pre-run" in the months before next years race. This will allow runners to
navigate the north trail loop. The entry fee will be $5 and can be used
against your Year 2000 LMT entry.
RACE RESULTS
Female 50 km Trail Race Finishers
1 6:18:33 Molly Gibb 37 Oklahoma City OK
2 8:48:14 Jan Shirk 42 Salina KS
Male 50 km Trail Race Finishers
1 4:09:33 Phil Sheridan 42 Ellsworth KS
2 4:12:57 Eddie Mulkey 41 Tulsa OK
3 4:27:20 Randy Albrecht 43 Wichita KS
4 4:51:57 Marc Friesen 24 North Newton KS
5 5:07:53 Ryan Hart 22 Stillwater OK
6 5:30:21 Mike Erickson 39 Norman OK
7 6:04:09 Rick Schmidt 41 Purcell OK
8 6:04:13 Matt Bickhard 38 Derby KS
9 6:18:58 Bob Weaver 39 Stillwater OK
10 6:28:03 Ron Allen 35 Bixby OK
11 6:57:07 John Hargrove 54 Del City OK
12 6:59:39 Steve Beachler 48 Overland Park KS
13 7:03:58 Dave Noltensmeyer 50 Lenexa KS
14 7:04:01 Martin Yecies 54 Bixby OK
15 7:04:08 Dan Little 56 Madill OK
16 7:27:18 Jim Perry 49 Enid OK
17 7:28:54 Bill Shirk 53 Salina KS
18 8:16:26 Sam Livingston Weatherford TX
Female 25 km Trail Race Finishers
1 2:09:53 Sandie Brandenberger 42 Ponca City OK
2 2:45:30 Dianna Hager 42 Sherman TX
3 2:59:40 Karen A. Duncan 37 Oklahoma City OK
4 2:59:40 Robyn Ensminger 42 Oklahoma City OK
5 3:07:40 Julie Kelly 45 Stillwater OK
6 3:17:53 Sarah Staton 26 Stillwater OK
7 3:23:25 Susan Mehnert-Kay 35 Broken Arrow OK
8 3:27:20 Karen Musshafen 36 Tulsa OK
9 3:27:24 Kamala Gamble 35 Oklahoma City OK
10 3:29:08 Audrey Taylor 43 Denison TX
11 3:29:20 Teresa McCoul 41 Sherman TX
12 3:42:47 Denise Smart 36 Tulsa OK
13 3:44:53 Elizabeth Alarafi 28 Bartlesville OK
14 3:47:15 Paula Perkins 42 Denison TX
15 4:09:49 Susan Estes 54 Stillwater OK
16 4:09:55 Pam Hughes 41 Mannford OK
17 4:13:40 Julie Allen 26 Bixby OK
18 4:29:05 Kathy Moffitt 61 Oklahoma City OK
Male 25 km Trail Race Finishers
1 1:53:46 Jeff Ramming 22 Stillwater OK
2 1:54:47 Niels Larsen 33 Stillwater OK
3 1:57:48 Mike Kelly 45 Stillwater OK
4 1:59:49 Raton Parmain 30 Tulsa OK
5 2:02:50 Chris Zingarelli 22 Stillwater OK
6 2:02:51 Randy Galloway 42 Oklahoma City OK
7 2:02:52 Steve Lee 44 Claremore OK
8 2:12:54 Steven Gobel 47 Tulsa OK
9 2:13:55 Roland Dreier 28 Stillwater OK
10 2:13:56 Rick Court 36 Saskatoon SK
11 2:13:57 Sean Slaughter 26 Midwest City OK
12 2:33:20 Kevin Neustadler 36 Ponca City OK
13 2:35:30 Roger Hale 42 Sherman TX
14 2:35:30 John McCoul 39 Sherman TX
15 2:36:50 Brent Walker 41 Oklahoma City OK
16 2:41:25 Matt Greer 26 Overland Park KS
17 2:53:22 David Papas 47 Wichita KS
18 3:00:10 Jim Flesher 49 Stillwater OK
19 3:01:24 Greg Lamb 39 Enid OK
20 3:01:25 Dan Richard 41 Enid OK
21 3:12:45 Jeff Blackwell 45 Edmond OK
22 3:17:55 Dana King 32 Edmond OK
23 3:18:23 Robert Schwaighofer 52 Tulsa OK
24 3:18:34 Jim Musshafen 42 Tulsa OK
25 3:21:15 Jim Beach 44 Tulsa OK
26 3:21:25 Brett Dugan 25 Bartlesville OK
27 3:24:18 Terry Essary 25 Stillwater OK
28 3:27:22 James McCoul 45 Sherman TX
29 3:27:27 Lance Cornman 56 Oklahoma City OK
30 3:30:17 Michael Shriver 51 Enid OK
31 3:30:20 John Castillo 57 Tulsa OK
32 3:30:59 John Coward 48 Tulsa OK
33 3:34:45 Roger Arwood 48 Tulsa OK
34 3:40:17 Keven Stone 29 Meeker OK
35 3:44:53 Andrew Perry 28 Stillwater OK
36 4:18:33 Michael Edsall-Cruz 36 Stillwater OK
37 4:21:30 Richard Price 63 Guthrie OK
38 4:22:30 Floyd Miller 73 Madill OK
Thanks to Earl Blewett, RD.
