Coal Creek Cross Country 2001

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Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge
October 14, 2001
Story by Bruce Kirschner

Runners start the 2001 Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge
Photo by Wendy Scipione / SkiPix.com

Well, this time there were no packs of rabbits and attack roosters to welcome participants to this year's Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge (perhaps due to the success of marauding coyotes on the Luallin Ranch in Louisville, also CCCC World Headquarters.) Instead, everyone was treated to perfect fall weather - clear, perky blue skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. The course was awash in fall colors with trees still with all their leaves.

There were other positives this year as well, despite the challenge of a freshly plowed field (good for about a mile of heavy trudging), it was bone dry compared to the soggy conditions of last year. Heck, and no one got lost this year!) The top 3 runners in the 2000 event were well on their way to Broomfield when they realized that something was awry. This year's strategic positioning of several more race volunteers and orange cones ensured that everyone found their way.

Overall winner Chris Valenti of Boulder finished the challenging classic cross country course in 32:28, a comfortable one-minute margin over second place finisher, Bill Fanselow. Laurie Mizener-Edwards, also of Boulder, finished nearly 5 minutes ahead of another Laurie - last year's female winner and CMRA newsletter editor Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn.

This year's event brought out 77 participants, a 22 percent increase over last year's field. Rosalia Murch finished in 1:15, the only racewalker competitor.

What really makes this a unique CMRA event is not just the featured cross country course, but Odell Brewing Company "Easy Street Wheat" beer samples for tasting at the race finish. This is the only CMRA event that features beer as a thirst quencher for undernourished race participants. A very special thanks once again to Odell Brewing Company Sales Manager Rick Newell, who made this possible. Rick not only awarded a case of Odell beer to the male and female race winners, but also contributed t-shirts, hats, and other items to the prize drawing.

For those of you that haven't yet had the opportunity to participate in this event to date, you're missing a different kind of race --- so we'll expect to see you next year -- on October 13, 2002 -- for a unique CMRA experience!

PLACE-NAME-AGE-TIME
1 Chris Valenti 22 32:28
2 Bill Fanselow 34 33:24
3 Phillip Blecker 25 34:31
4 Erick Solof 34 34:40
5 Nathan Kirkland 26 34:54
6 Warren Kish 29 35:10
7 Jeff Bliver 33 36:12
8 Justin McMillan 29 36:27
9 Randy Luallin 43 36:31
10 Scott Chamberlin 45 36:44
11 Ray Rupel 47 37:05
12 Laurie Mizener-Edwards 32 37:12
13 Jim Perry 40 37:54
14 Halperin 34 38:00
15 David Kelble 44 38:09
16 Carlos Vera 44 38:46
17 Max Wilber 15 38:52
18 Jason ??? 31 39:08
19 Mike Bennett 45 39:42
20 Bill Smitham 57 39:54
21 Gary Provost 29 40:45
22 Scott Valentine 43 41:10
23 Todd Dumas 22 41:34
24 Colin Mitchell 51 41:38
25 Jay Trujillo 43 41:53
26 Laurie-Nakauchi-Hawn 31 42:31
27 Jeff Dumas 57 42:36
28 Rich Romero 65 42:48
29 Cathy Wherry 25 43:09
30 Todd Wilson 39 43:41
31 Scott Nakauchi-Hawn 44 44:12
32 Michelle Van Pelt 40 43:58
33 Nancy Deans 40 44:38
34 Warren Sill 49 45:52
35 Thad Smith 53 45:56
36 Kent Mitchell 60 46:35
37 Hugh Jass 45 46:48
38 Bill Faulkner 60 46:54
39 Jack Sanders 30 47:09
40 Jeff Wilber 46 47:27
41 Donni Reddington 26 47:38
42 Adam Vognilo 27 47:39
43 Connie Ahrnsbrak 61 47:56
44 Jim Peterson 63 48:00
45 Steve Walker 4? 48:08
46 Bill Frish 48 48:26
47 Betsy Harrower 63 49:08
48 Mark Bailey 51 48:37
49 Robin Davis 47 50:08
50 Neddie Legg 50 51:13
51 Ray Rodriquez 50 51:47
52 No Name ?? 52:13
53 Melissa Johnson 36 52:31
54 Pat Phillips 61 52:39
55 Amanda Carlson 32 53:06
56 Verne Carlson 40 53:07
57 Jim di Zerega 61 53:28
58 Jeanne Auerbach 45 53:30
59 Melsa Mokee 32 55:07
60 Roger Rybicka 53 55:08
61 Bob Cooper 53 55:11
62 Pat Emigh 52 55:38
63 Joan Keckler 54 56:15
64 Palmer Beam 57 56:27
65 Judy Smythe 64 57:07
66 Jan Canrol 60 59:18
67 Wayne Mathis 58 59:34
68 Sam Dinsnole 45 59:38
69 Rebecca Zingle 32 60:33
70 Allison Weiss 42 60:34
71 Fay di Zerega 58 63:01
72 Vicki Lloyd 36 65:50
73 Lori Llerandi 34 65:50
74 Amy Hubbard 35 70:03
75 Larry Vincent 60 ??:??
76 Charlie Schumucker 55 ??:??
77 *Rosalia Murch 60 1:15:00

* Racewalker

Overall Female Overall Male
Laurie Mizener-Edwards 37:12 Chris Valenti 32:28

Runner Age Group Results

65-69
1. Rich Romero 42:48

60-64
1. Connie Ahrnsbrak 47:56 Kent Mitchell 46:35
2. Judy Smythe 57:07 Bill Faulkner 46:54
3. Jan Canrol 59:18 Jim Peterson 48:00
4. Pat Phillips 52:39
5. Jim di Zerega 53:28

55-59
1. Fay di Zerega 63:01 Bill Smitham 39:54
2. Jeff Dumas 42:36
3. Wayne Mathis 59:34
4. Palmer Beam 56:27

50-54
1. Neddie Legg 51:13 Colin Mitchell 41:38
2. Pat Emigh 55:38 Thad Smith 45:56
3. Joan Keckler 56:15 Mark Bailey 48:37
4. Ray Rodriquez 51:47
5. Roger Rybicka 55:08

45-49
1. Robin Davis 50:08 Scott Chamberlin 36:44
2. Jeanne Auerbach 53:30 Ray Rupel 37:05
3. Mike Bennett 39:42
4. Warren Sill 45:52
5. Hugh Jass 46:48

40-44
1. Michelle Van Pelt 43:58 Randy Luallin 36:31
2. Nancy Deans 44:38 Jim Perry 37:54
3. Ilene Good 52:13 David Kelble 38:09
4. Allison Weiss 60:34 Carlos Vera 38:46
5. Scott Valentine 41:10
6. Jay Trujillo 41:53

35-39
1. Melissa Johnson 52:31 Todd Wilson 43:41
2. Vicki Lloyd 65:50
3. Amy Hubbard 70:03

34 & Under
1. Laurie Mizener-Edwards40:59 Chris Valenti 32:28
2. Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn 42:31 Bill Fanselow 33:24
3. Cathy Wherry 43:09 Philip Blecker 34:31
4. Donni Reddington 47:38 Erick Solof 34:40
5. Amanda Carlson 53:06 Nathan Kirkland 34:54
6. Melsa Mekee 55:07 Warren Kish 35:10

Racewalkers

1. Rosalia Murch 1:15

Chris Valenti on his way to victory at Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge
Photo by Wendy Scipione / SkiPix.com

Laurie Mizener-Edwards runs to victory at Coal Creek Cross Country Challenge
Photo by Wendy Scipione / SkiPix.com