Rocky Mountain Runner - Coal Creek CC 2000

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Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge
results

By Bruce Kirschner and Randy Luallin

After four days of rain and overcast skies, the heavens opened up the morning of October 8 to welcome back the second annual Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge (CCCCC). But it took some time for the arriving race participants to realize that they were not in West Virginia. Sure, a mass of rabbits, chickens, and crowing roosters were running quite free on the Luallin Ranch in east Louisville, but this was actually CCCCC World Headquarters.

Runners were treated to a course gloriously abloom in full fall foliage and brilliant blue skies with wonderfully cool temperatures in the high 40s. After literally running through Coal Creek, this year’s runners didn’t have to cross a freshly plowed field like last year, which was now re-vegetated but still a bit mushy from the week’s rain. This year’s racers also had to contend with navigating themselves through a repaired barbed wire fence. The only reported injury was a visiting runner from Michigan who attempted to hurtle Coal Creek (‘Hey, I used to steeplechase...’), only to fall short, slip on some creek rocks, and badly twist his ankle.

Early race leaders Darrin Eisman, Charley Perez, and Dan Black crossed the barbed wire fence okay, but in the wrong place and headed off course for at least a mile. They were immediately followed by a group that made a successful course correction and led the rest of the field in the right direction.

Scott Chamberlin was the official men’s race winner in 36:10. CMRA Master Times editor Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn was the women’s overall winner in 40:59. Meanwhile, the three off-course runners (who would have finished 1-2-3) soon found their way to the finish. Although officially placing further back in the pack, Darrin Eisman and Perez still won top age group awards (while Black received an age group gold medal concession.) But even these unofficial top three all conceded that this was what cross country was really all about -- if you go off course it’s only fair you don’t place on top. This year’s event more than doubled the number of participants from last year, perhaps largely due to booking it a week after the Race for the Cure this year and not on the same exact day as in 1999.

Many thanks to all the volunteers. Rosalia and Jerry Murch did a fine job with the registration. Jim Price ably handled timing duties with Joe Baird taking on finish line and scoring work. Joe Sanchez jumped in on equipment logistics. Nate Pierce did fine as pace biker (and even succeeded in securing open cattle gates along the way) and reported thoroughly enjoying the assignment. Most of the Luallin family came out in force again to support the event, with Donna Luallin (mom), Lori Dill (sister), Gary Luallin (brother), Luke, Jacob, and Zack Luallin (nephews), and Caleb Luallin (son) helping out. Other volunteers along the course and at the finish were Cyndra Dietz, Rollie Erickson, Paul Kirschner, Michael Rossol, Scott Rossol, and Sam Kirschner. Our appreciation goes to the Arvada Great Harvest Bakery's Barry Sparks, Louisville’s Blue Parrot Restaurant, and the Old Louisville Inn for prize drawing merchandise. A very special thanks goes once again to Odell Brewing Company Sales Manager Rick Newell, who distributed beer samples to participants and contributed t-shirts, six-packs, and hats to age group winners (and a case of beer each to the overall male and female winners!)

We hope to double participation for this event again next year, so please talk it up in the next 12 months to every runner and racewalker you know!!

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Coal Creek Cross Country

October 8, 2000 Race Results

Place Name Age Time

1 Scott Chamberlin 44 36:10

2 Mike Bennett 44 36:15

3 Foghorne Leghorne 34 36:43

4 Jim Barlow 42 36:45

5 Bruce Kirschner 47 36:58

6 Darrin Eisman 35 37:20

7 Mike Martin 45 37:51

8 Charley Perez 53 37:57

9 Joe Shirley 53 38:31

10 Dan Black 46 39:20

11 Daryle Dickens 28 40:02

12 Todd Salzer 26 40:19

13 Sean Hudson 29 40:31

14 Mike Allen 41 40:44

15 Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn 30 40:59

16 John Tarin 48 41:00

17 Joyce Cacka 26 41:03

18 Patrick Connor 35 41:12

19 Lara Usinowicz 30 41:32

20 Russell Ely 41 41:32

21 Paul Johnson 35 41:39

22 Dumont Sweeny 30 42:00

23 Karl Pfaffenbach 26 42:29

24 Brett Black 12 42:35

25 Joe Levine 48 42:42

26 Jeff Underwood 50 43:09

27 Polly Zimmerman 44 43:35

28 Chuck Ploof 43 43:38

29 David Sudenholm 53 43:40

30 Anne Hudson 26 43:47

31 Scott Nakauchi-Hawn 44 44:12

32 Ed Hagerman 62 44:28

33 Nancy Deans 39 44:38

34 Bill Faulkner 59 44:53

35 Warren Sill 48 45:13

36 Joy Schwanhuz 29 45:16

37 Neddie Legg 49 45:58

38 Toby Whelan 26 46:08

39 Bob Fancher 60 46:13

40 Lee Bengston 63 46:26

41 Jim Peterson 62 46:44

42 Connie Ahrnsbrak 60 47:02

43 Tom Chambers 57 47:05

44 Clayton Kostelecky 26 47:15

45 Joe Sanchez 63 48:07

46 Gale Meuret 53 48:36

47 Betsy Harrower 63 49:08

48 Michael Benidt 53 49:10

49 Don Robinson 68 49:19

50 Sid Vinall 62 49:43

51 Ken Green 71 49:46

52 Jim di Zerega 60 51:39

53 Jay Gutierrez 47 51:53

54 Pat Emigh 51 51:55

55 Fay di Zerega 57 53:52

56 Pat Phillips 61 54:38

57 Maura Nance 27 54:48

58 Palmer Bean 56 55:22

59 Charlie Schmucker 54 59:40

60 Howard Palmer 71 65:36

61 Rosalia Murch 59 65:43

62 Lee Palmer 70 67:14

63 Laura McCoy 45 69:55

Overall Female Overall Male

Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn 40:59 Scott Chamberlin 36:10

Age Group Results

70 & Over

1. Lee Palmer 67:14 Ken Green 49:46

2. Howard Palmer 65:36

65-69

1. Don Robinson 49:19

60-64

1. Connie Ahrnsbrak 47:02 Ed Hagerman 44:28

2. Betsy Harrower49:08 Bob Fancher 46:13

3. Lee Bengston 46:26

4. Jim Peterson 46:44

5. Joe Sanchez 48:07

55-59

1. Fay di Zerega 53:52 Tom Chambers 47:05

2. Rosalia Murch 65:43 Palmer Beam 55:22

50-54

1. Pat Emigh 51:55 Charley Perez 37:57

2. Joe Shirley 38:31

3. Jeff Underwood 43:09

4. David Sudenhom 43:40

5.Gale Meuret 48:36

45-49

1. Neddie Legg 45:58 Dan Black 39:20*

2. Laura McCoy 69:55 Bruce Kirschner 36:58

3. Mike Martin 37:51

4. John Tarin 41:00

5. Joe Levine 42:42

40-44

1. Polly Zimmerman 43:35 Scott Chamberlin 36:10

2. Mike Bennett 36:15

3. Jim Barlow 36:45

4. Mike Allen 40:44

5. Russell Ely 41:32

35-39

1. Nancy Deans 44:38 Darrin Eisman 37:20

2. Patrick Connor 41:12

3. Paul Johnson 41:39

34 & Under

1.Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn 40:59 Foghorne Leghorne 36:43

2. Joyce Cacka 41:03 Daryle Dickens 40:02

3. Lara Usinger 41:32 Todd Salzer 40:19

4. Anne Hudson 43:47 Sean Hudson 40:31

5. Joy Schwanhuz 45:16 Dumont Sweeny 42:00

* Runner went off course but was still awarded age group winner medal.

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