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Hanging Tough - Leaders maintain position; women dominate Ultra division

JULY 27, 2006, CARBONDALE, COLORADO—With 63 races tallied, the 2006 Trail Runner Trophy Series—sponsored by LaSportiva and Golite—enters its final two months of competition. And throughout the summer, early season leaders, Hugh Davis (Marathon & Shorter Division) of Tell City, Indiana, and Van Phan (Ultra Division) of Maple Valley, Washington, both maintained their positions at the top of the pack. Although not household names, these runners have amassed big points by exhibiting a willingness to travel to numerous races and placing high in their respective divisions.

In its third season, the Trail Runner Trophy is the world’s largest off-road running series, and will attract over 20,000 runners from North America and Canada. Encompassing over 110 races, the Series offers two divisions: Ultramarathon and Marathon and Shorter. For complete information on the Trophy Series, including race schedule, scoring, rules and news—please visit www.trailrunnermag.com.

Chicks Rule
In the Ultra division, women hold seven of the top 10 slots, with Van Phan, 35, tightening her grip on to the overall lead, bolstered by wins in the Lake Youngs Ultra, Washington (4^th-place overall), a fast-paced 28.8-miler, and Blackfoot Ultra (100K), in Edmonton, Canada.

(Van Phan at The PigTails Race, 2006; photo courtesy of tonymaniac3) ->

Nipping on Phan’s heels is Tracy Thomas, 44, of Champaign, Illinois. Thomas moved into second with her win in the 100-mile race at the Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Runs, Wisconsin. In third is ultrarunning heavy hitter Nikki Kimball, 35, of Bozeman, Montana, who took first place—third overall—in the sweltering heat of this year’s Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, California.

The top male Ultra division contender is Graham Cooper, 36, of Oakland, California, who also took top honors at Western States, where a dramatic finish-line incident took out race leader Brian Morrison (see Trail Runner No. 41 for a report).

Top 10: Trophy Series Ultra Division

1. Van Phan, 1088.2 points
   

2. Tracy Thomas, 901.8 points

3. Nikki Kimball, 772 points
4. Sue Johnston, 681.2 points
5. Darcy Africa, 600 points
6. Graham Cooper, 574 points
7. Beverley Anderson-Abbs, 560 points
8. Todd Nott, 448 points
9. Erik Skaden, 431 points
10. Christine Crawford, 430 points
    

Midwestern Heat
In the Marathon & Shorter division, cohorts Hugh Davis, 42, and Brian Beckort, 33, hail from the metropolis of Tell City in southern Indiana, and have taken to the air and road to attend Trophy Series races across the country. Recent ticks include the Lake Mingo Trail Run (7.1 miles), Illinois, and Berryman Trail Run (marathon), Missouri, where Davis took second place in his age group and fourth overall. In the same race, Beckort took first overall in a quick time of 3:22.

Adam Blum, 42, of Los Gatos, California, rounds out the top three, and holds the current top standing for running the most Trophy Series races, with a whopping 16 races.

In the women’s Marathon & Shorter division, Annette Van Baalen, 38 of Laramie, Wyoming, has the lead over Anne Kilgore, 50, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gail Leedy, 52, of Laramie, Wyoming.

Top 10: Marathon & Shorter division

1. Hugh Davis, 492.3 points

2. Brian Beckort, 401.9 points

3. Adam Blum, 305.7 points

4. Annette Van Baalen, 204.8 points

5. Anne Kilgore, 170 points

6. Gail Leedy, 169.8 points

7. Ben Nephew, 135 points

8. Christian Hendrickson, 129.8 points

9. Don Frichtl, 126.1 points

10. Jeff Young, 125.8 points
    

At the Series close, we will award 18 champions each a prize package worth over $700, packed with great products from Trophy Series sponsors.

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Trail Runner is the country’s leading magazine for off-road running enthusiasts and athletes. In-depth editorial and compelling photography informs, entertains and inspires readers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and to improve their health and fitness through the sport of trail running. www.trailrunnermag.com

For nearly 80 years, La Sportiva has been leading in technical outdoor-footwear innovation and design. We do this because we believe. We believe your trail-running shoes should never come between you and the planet—they should ground you to it. La Sportiva is always inventing, always rethinking, always dreaming. Trail runners ourselves, we recognize the thin line between dream and belief. And then we erase it by designing the best shoes on the planet. www.sportiva.com

GoLite sparked a lightweight revolution in 1999 when it introduced a full range of ultra-lite equipment and clothing for backpacking and other active outdoor adventures that rocked the outdoor sports world. Today the company sponsors more than 50 professional athletes in trail running, adventuring racing, mountain biking, fast-packing and thru-hiking and regularly shares fast + lite techniques in outreach seminars around the world. For more information on GoLite products, athletes, and outreach programs, visit www.GoLite.com or call 888-5-GoLite toll-free within the U.S.