Bent over with her hands on her knees minutes
after finishing 32nd in Sunday's 15th annual World
Mountain Running Trophy Race, Danelle Ballengee
looked up, gave a sigh and said, "It's a jungle out
there."
Ballengee was not kidding. She and three other
U.S. women had just run a very difficult 7.8
kilometers through a tropical rain forest just below
Mt. Kinabalu, the highest peak in southeast Asia and
the crowning point of the island of Borneo. This year
marked the first time the Mountain Running Championships have been
held in Asia, and the Malaysian government was fully behind the event,
eager to showcase the charms of Sabah, one of the 13 states of
Malaysia and a place bursting with the wonders of nature. So committed
was the government that Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad even
took a day off from watching events in neighboring Indonesia to fly from
the capital of Kuala Lumpur to Sabah to give a speech opening the
trophy race.
The Championships alternate each year between uphill-only races
and up-and-down courses, as this year's was. It does not seem to matter
to the Italians how the course terrain goes, as they defended their 1998
senior men's and women's titles and also won the men's junior race this
time around. And the Italians had three individual winners: Rosita Gelpi
Rota in the senior women's race, Marco De Gasperi in the senior men's
and Beniamino Lubrini in the junior men's race. Austrian Cornelia Heinzle
in the junior women's race was the only non-Italian winner. Roughly 300
runners from 26 countries competed, the most ever.
The United States, which did not enter any junior runners, placed
ninth in the men's race with a four-person score of 182 and tenth on the
women's side with a three-runner score of 104. The Italian men had 23
points and the Italian women just 10. Scott Gall of Colorado Springs,
who placed an excellent fifth, led the way for the 10-person U.S.
contingent. Other U.S. finishers in the men's race were Paul Low (42nd),
Rich Bolt (62nd), Jeremy Wright (73rd), Dan Verrington (74th) and
Tom Anderson (88th). Gall's finish is the highest placing by a U.S. runner
since Jay Johnson won in 1992.
Suzy West in 30th was the first U.S. woman, followed by Ballengee,
Julie Peterson (42nd ) and Cassy Bradley-Byrne (45th). "The start was
scary," said West, a dentist from Putney, Vermont. "People were nearly
tripping and going into a ditch. I tried to stay aggressive on the uphills."
Said Peterson, "The first part of the race it was like a herd of animals.
This was definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done; I fell down
twice going downhill, but it was a neat experience and I really enjoyed
it."
Gall, 25, was a two-time Division 3 cross-country All American at
Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. His best post-collegiate finishes
before Sunday were a second in the Pikes Peak Marathon and sixth in
this year's Bolder Boulder 10-K citizens' race. He led through the first,
downhill mile of the men's race. Once he turned onto a single-track
jungle trail for the first steep climb, he dropped back, but not much. He
ran in fourth place until near the end of the 12.5K race, not getting
passed until the final two kilometers.
"Heck, yeah, I'm pleased," said Gall, who works in a running store
and is a member of a punk band called Lesh 9 and the heavy metal band
Massive Ferguson.
According to women's team manager Nancy Hobbs, the strongest
runner on the women's side going in was Bradley-Byrne. Just before the
start of her race, however, Bradley-Byrne tore an already sore Achilles
tendon while doing strides. Told not to run, Bradley-Byrne told
Ballengee to "Tape it up. I'm running."
Not only did she run, but she led through the early going until Rota
passed her on the climb into the jungle. Unable to put pressure on her
ankle, Bradley-Byrne was forced to hobble in.
The finish area after the last race ended sounded like the Spanish
Steps in Rome on a Saturday night, with singing, cheering, dancing and
general carrying on as the Italians celebrated with gusto. "The Italians
dominate every year," explained Irish team manager Douglas Barry.
"They put a lot of money into the sport. Their mountain runners are
virtually full-time professionals. Italy, especially Northern Italy, has had a
tradition in mountain running for years and they have tremendous national
pride in it."
Pride in mountain running is spreading to other countries as well. New
Zealand sent a couple of its top cross-country runners to Sabah, while
World Championships and Commonwealth Games marathoner Dale
Rixon was a last-minute recruit for the Welsh team. After finishing 50th,
Rixon said. "Before I came to Malaysia (teammate) Gareth Davis told
me it would be harder than any marathon I've done. I thought he was
kidding, but it really was. I was in shock.. From now on, I'm sticking to
the marathon."
After a pause, Rixon added, "Well, next year it is an uphill race.
Maybe I'll give it another shot."
That is the attitude the Americans are taking back with them. "We are
all young and in the next five years I think we are going to have a very,
very strong team," said Low.
Mountain running championships have been held since 1985. The
U.S.A. has fielded individuals since 1986, and a men's team since 1990. The
women have attended since 1995. The race format from 1985 - 1992 featured a
short and a long course. The short course was "up/down" in British fashion.
The long course was "up" in the European style of mountain running. The
format was changed in 1993 to alternate each year between the all up (even
years) and up/down (odd years) races. This was done due to financial
necessity.
The popularity of mountain running worldwide has grown as evidenced
by the increasing number of teams competing. This year a record 33
countries were present. The U.S. was able to field full teams despite the
handicap of very limited funding. Athletes were selected based on criteria
which included the following: past world results, other international
mountain running results, USATF mountain race results, recent road and track
times, and other regional mountain race results. Selected athletes are
responsible for all travel expenses for the trip. USATF and IAAF cover
about 20% of the cost, in addition USATF provides team uniforms.
The
majority of the U.S. team traveled from the East Coast. The trip to
Malaysia takes 36 hours including 30 hours of actual flying time. The
championship took place in Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Malaysia.
The day started well for the U.S. as David Eckley (CO) took the open
race in 38:24. Eckley took command after the initial 2k-(1.2m) loop. The
course which climbed and dropped 510m (1660') over the 7.8k (4.9m) multi
loop dirt track. Eckley seemed pleased with his win noting "I've never won
a race". The top 3 finishers were masters in a field of 47 runners
representing 18 countries.
The championship evens were held under cloudy skies and 70-degree
temperatures at
the 1564m (5100') high start/finish line. The first event contested was
the junior women's race of 4.1k (2.5m). Heinzle Corelia of Austria won the
race in 23:47. The team champion was Slovenia with 8 points (2 score) in a
field of 15 countries. The junior men competed over the same 7.8k course as
the open runners and senior women. Sixteen teams toed the line, with
Lubrini Beniamino of Italy taking the gold in 35:51. The team victory went
to Italy with 21 points (3 score).
The first championship event featuring U.S. runners was the senior
women's 7.8k. Cassy Bradley-Byrne (PA), a 2 time team member, lead the
ladies during the initial 2k paved section. After 5k the U.S. had all four
runners (3 score) in the top 45. Suzy West (VT), in her first international
mountain race, utilized her strong downhill running ability to take the top
U.S. spot. Suzy finished 30th in 44:31. Danelle Ballengee (CO) was close
behind in 32nd with at time of 44:35. Five time Olympic trials qualifier,
and 1st time mountain team member, Julie Peterson (MA). Rounded out the
scoring in 42nd (46:36). Bradley-Byrne succumb to a muscle injury, but
gamely held on to finish in 45th (47:01). " I ONLY fell twice" Peterson
stated as she inspected a scratched leg. Rota Gelpi Rosita of Italy took
the victory in 38:00 leading her team (4 in the top 12) to the win with 10
points. The U.S. women took 9th place with 104 points amount the 17 teams
entered.
The men's team looked to improve on last year finish. The six
runners would test themselves on the 12.5k (7.7m) course. The spectator
friendly course featured 4 loops leaving ample opportunity to cheer on
runners from 27 countries. The race looked to be a battle between last
years "up" champion, Jonathan Wyatt (NZL) and Marco De Gasperi (Italy) the
"up/down" champion of 1997. The crowds were not disappointed as they staged
a battle throughout. De Gasperi powered to the win in the final loop with
Wyatt fading to 7th (54:56 to 57:04). Scott Gall (CO) ran from the front
(as high as 3rd) to take 5th in 56:42. Gall was the top U.S. runner in the
1997; his finish was the best for an U.S. runner since 1993. Paul Low (OR)
was originally selected as the first alternate. Low moved up to the team
when Dave Dunham (MA) was injured competing in a mountain race earlier this
summer. Low showed the depth of the U.S. team by taking the second spot in
62:04 for 42nd place. Richard Bolt (NH) was running in his first mountain
championships and took 62nd in 64:15. Jeremy Wright (WY) and Dan Verrington
(MA) finished 73rd and 74th (65:43 to 65:48). Wright rounded out the
scoring for team USA. "I only saw Jeremy on the first and last lap, and
just couldn't close on him" noted 6-time team member Verrington. Tom
Anderson (NH), in his first international race, was the final U.S. finisher
in 71:27 for 88th place. "I was trying to hold off the guy with a walker"
quipped Anderson. The team took 9th with 182 points as Italy was once again
the team champion with 23 points.
The week in Malaysia was quite buys with activities or meetings each
day. Nancy Hobbs (CO) and Dave Dunham (MA) attended the WMRA (World
mountain running association) annual meeting as the U.S. representatives.
The highpoint of the meeting was the bidding for the next up/down race to be
held in 2001. The two outstanding bids from Arte Terme Italy and Sedbergh
England came down to one vote. Italy won by a count of 11 to 10. Innsbruck
Austria expressed interest in hosting the 2002 race. There was also a
report on next year's event. Bergen Germany will host the championship on
September 10, 2000. More information can be found at:
http://www.chiemgau.com/bergen/
Athletes wishing to be considered for next years team should submit
"running resumes" (a list of accomplishments). The women's contact is Nancy
Hobbs ([email protected]) and the men's contact is Dave Dunham
([email protected]).
The USA has sent teams to the Mountain running world championships for the
past 14 years. IAAF and USATF patronize the Worlds. Over 35 countries will
participate in the event which alternates between an all up race and an up
and down race. This year will be an up and down race of 13.4k (3 loops)
which will climb/drop over 2500'. The Worlds will take place in Kinabalu
Park, Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia on Sept 19th. USATF-NE has had members
participate in the Worlds since 1992.
The athletes chosen from the New England Association are Rich Bolt
(Bedford NH), Dave Dunham (Bradford MA), Eric Morse (Barre VT), and Dan
Verrington (Bradford MA). Eric and Dave were automatic selections, as the
top finishers at the USATF New England Championships. The USATF New England
Championships were held at Stratton Mountain VT on June 26th. Dan was
chosen based on previous International Mountain experience. Rich was
selected based on current performances including his third place finish in
the USATF NE mountain running championships. Tom Anderson (Keene NH) was
chosen as team manager, and first alternate. Those selected were chosen
from among the top mountain runners in the country.
Selection criteria included past mountain running experience, the
New England USATF Mountain Running Championships, the USATF Mountain running
circuit, other mountain/trail races, and road race results. Fifteen
athletes, from throughout the country, requested to be considered for the
team. The team will consist of 6 runners (4 score), and a manager. The
remaining runners are Scott Gall (Colorado Springs CO) and Jeremy Wright
(Laramie WY).
Dan Verrington will be competing in his 6th Worlds. Dan was the second
U.S.A. finisher in 1994-95, and was third man from 1996-98, in very close
competition. Dan is coming off a stress fracture this spring, but was able
to finish 8th at the USATF NE mountain championships. Verrington a 37 year
old cemetery superintendent, has PR's of 14:48 5k, 30:35 10k, 65:32 �
marathon, and 2:21:10 marathon. Dan was the Vermont City marathon champion
in 1996.
Eric Morse will be competing in his third championship, last year he was
selected but was unable to attend. At the last up/down event Eric was the
U.S.A. teams second finisher. Eric was the runner up at Mt. Washington in
1997-98. He set a personal best at this year's race, running the 12th
fastest time ever. Eric was the first U.S. finisher at the USATF NE
Mountain championships, and the USATF NE Mountain circuit champion. Morse
also won the USATF NE 12k and 10k championships this spring. Eric a 34 year
old draftsman, lists his PR's of 14:17 5k, 29:29 10k, 63:50 � marathon.
Morse has won 10 New England championships. He has also been named Vermont
runner of the year 9 times.
Dave Dunham will be returning for his 7th time on the U.S. team.
Dave was the top U.S. finisher from 1992-1996, in 1998 he was the second
U.S. finisher. Dave was the 1998 and 1996 USATF NE Mountain running circuit
champion and placed second to Morse in 1999. Dunham finished 3rd at the
Mount Washington road race running the 7th fastest time ever. Dave serves
as the USATF NE Mountain running committee chair. Dunham a 35 year old
accountant for the IRS, has PR's of 14:08 5k, 29:17 10k, 63:52 � marathon,
2:19:28 marathon. Dave was New England runner of the year in 1992 and won
the silver medal at the World Mountain running championships in 1993.
Rich Bolt will be running his first world championships. Rich is
coming off a solid spring in which he has set PR's at many distances. Rich
was 3rd in the USATF NE mountain running circuit, and 3rd at the USATF NE
mountain championships. Rich also finished 10th (65:59) at the Mount
Washington road race with a 5 minute PR. Bolt, a 29 year old operations
manager, has PR's of 14:49 5k and 31:06 10k. Rich was an All-American in
Cross-Country skiing in 1992 and raced in the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Olympic
trials.
Scott Gall will be running his 2nd Worlds. Scott was the top U.S.
finisher in 1997. Gall a 25-year-old teacher, was a 2 time All American in
Cross-Country. Scott was 2nd at Pikes Peak in 1997, and placed 4th in the
1999 Fila Sky marathon.
Jeremy Wright will be competing in his 3rd Worlds. In 1998 he was
the champion at the Pikes Peak ascent, and placed in the top 10 at the Mount
Washington road race. Jeremy has PR's of 14:58 5k, 24:45 8k, and 30:56 10k.
Wright a 26 year old machinist is also one of the top ranked snowshoe racers
in the country.
Tom Anderson will be attending his first world championships. Tom
finished 4th in the USATF NE mountain running circuit, and placed 6th at the
USATF NE mountain championships. Anderson picked up 8th (64:26) place at
Mount Washington in his debut. Anderson has PR's of 14:22 5k, and 29:31
10k. In addition to working as the team manager, Tom will run in the open
race over the same course as the world championships. Tom will also be
first alternate if any of the selected athletes is unable to run.
The five New England runners are members of the Central Mass
Striders and are active in the USATF NE grand prix in addition to local
Mountain races.
The US has fielded a women's mountain running team at the World Mountain
Running Trophy race since 1995. This year, the US women's mountain running
team will compete in Malaysia over a 7.88K up/down course on September 19.
The four-member team was selected based on running performances,
International and World Mountain running team experience and one athlete was
selected at the USATF New England Mountain Running Championships held on
June 26 in Stratton, Vermont.
Danelle Ballengee has the most experience on the US team with a
berth on the '96 and '97 teams. The 28-year-old Ballengee has numerous
course records in mountain runs in her home state of Colorado. She is the
1999 US Skyrunning Champion having earned the title at the US Fila
SkyMarathon in Aspen, Colorado this past June. She is a professional
duathlete and works part time at the Dillon Recreation Center.
Thirty-three year old Cassy Bradley-Byrne is a former pro mountain
bike racer and was an 800M sprinter and 400M hurdler while at Villanova.
Bradley-Byrne was on the '98 US Mountain Running Team and finished second
among the US women's team even as she battled ecoli during the trip. She is
having a banner year on the trails setting course records at most every race
she has entered.
Julie Peterson earned her first slot on the team at the USATF NE
Mountain running championships. The 39-year-old won the championship event
after finishing 3rd at the prestigious Mount Washington race the week
before. Peterson is a five time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier with a
2:37:45 marathon personal best and a 33:54 10K. She is a physical therapist
and mother of one (6 year-old Andrea).
Rounding out the team is Vermont resident Suzy West who also makes her first
US team this year. West, 36, is a former competitive road cyclist having
switched to the trails last year. She was runner-up to Peterson in the USATF
NE mountain running championships, won two of the races on the '99 USATF NE
mountain running circuit, and was 5th at Mount Washington. She owns a
dentistry practice in her home state.
Since '95, Nancy Hobbs has served as team manager and will do so again this
year. The Colorado Springs resident is also the US representative to the
World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and like Dunham, a member of
USATF's subcommittee on mountain, ultra, and trail running (MUT).
The honor of representing the U.S.A. does have a cost however;
currently minimal funding is available for the team. As in past years the
selected athletes are required to make there own financial arrangements for
the trip. USATF provides uniforms, and the host country provides lodging and
food for 2 days, the remainder is the individual athlete's responsibility.