The Trail Running Sun gods smiled upon the Mullens Cove Loop Trail on Saturday March 27, 2010, as they bestowed a break in the 3 consecutive year streak of rain at the Rock/Creek River Gorge 10.2 mile & 6.5 mile trail race, sponsored by Montrail.
The 10.2 mile race started at 8:30am with brisk morning temperatures and sunshine peering through the sleepy forest, followed by the start of the 6.5 mile race at 9:00am. More than 350 racers, representing over 14 states, experienced the rugged trails along Signal Mountain, which form a portion of the Cumberland Trail within the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area.
Bluff views, steep descents, lush Hemlock groves, gritty mud puddles and the occasional sting from briers guided participants along landmark formations such as Indian Rockhouse, Snoopers Rock, and the underestimated- but well named- "Rock Garden".
Leading the 10.2 Mile race overall win for men two years in a row, with an improved course time of 1:12:29 is the remarkably fast Rock/Creek Race Team Member, Nick Selbo, from Chattanooga, TN whose finish time is a personal improvement from his 1:15:00 time last year, and now the new course record for the Rock/Creek River Gorge 10.2 mile race. Following behind Nick for Second Men's Overall for the 10.2 is Hunter Schimpff from Nashville, TN with a time of 1:15:07 and Rock/Creek Race Team Member, Kevin Boucher from Chattanooga, TN finished Third Men's Overall with a time of 1:16:19.
Returning to the leader board from her 2005 First Female Overall finish in the 10.2 mile race is Alison Hulsey from Birmingham, AL who won Women's Overall for the 10.2 mile with a time of 1:32:15; just one minute shy of her previous first place finish (1:31:38). Coming in at 1:38:16 for Second Female Overall was our Rock/Creek Race Team member, Jan Gautier, from Chattanooga, TN and shortly behind her was Roxanne Zobava from Atlanta, GA who finished Third Female Overall with a time of 1:38:48.
Men's Masters finisher for the 10.2 mile were First Place, Tom Sell from Chattanooga,TN with a time of 1:24:25, Second Place Adam Smith from Dalton, GA with a time of 1:26:43, and just seconds behind in Third Place, Rock/Creek Race Team member, Randy Whorton with a time of 1:26:56.
Women's Masters finishers for the 10.2 mile were First Place Christie Neidich from Chattanooga, TN who finished in 1:42:47. Second Place Female Masters, Yoli Bell from Soddy Daisy, TN finished in 1:47:04, and Third Place Female, B.Enid Gonzalez from Kennesaw, GA finished in 1:50:31.
Competing hard for his second consecutive claim on First Men's Overall for the 6.5 mile race was, Jack McAfee from Chattanooga, TN who finished in 46:09 which is almost half a minute faster that his winning time of 48:54 in 2009. Second Men's Overall for the 6.5 mile goes to a friend and participant for Rock/Creek's Race Team, Clay Warner from Beckley, WV who finished in 47:15 followed by Rock/Creek Race Team member, Owen Bradley from Birmingham, AL who finished in 47:58.
First Female Overall for the 6.5 mile race was Rock/Creek Race Team member, Deb Jones from Chattanooga, TN with a time of 1:00:40. Deb finished two minutes faster than her 2009 winning time of 1:02:26! Second Female Overall for the 6.5 mile is Rock/Creek Race Team member, Cathi Cannon from Chattanooga, TN with a time of 1:02:33 which is three minutes faster than her 2nd place finish time in 2008. Third Female Overall for the 6.5 mile was Kara Wendholt from Chattanooga, TN who finished in 1:04:50.
Men's Masters finishers for the 6.5 mile race were Rick Rapaport from Portland, OR who finished in 50:39, Second Place Men's Masters was Mike Berry from Signal Mountain, TN with a time of 51:05 and Third Masters finisher Robert Mingus from Chattanooga, TN with a time of 1:00:34.
Women's Masters finishers from the 6.5 mile race were First Place Samantha Paty from Chattanooga, TN who finished with a time of 1:11:52. Second Place masters, Lisa Thompson from Chattanooga, TN finished in 1:12:03 and Third Place Women's Masters Melissa Kubic from Chattanooga,TN finished just seconds behind with a time of 1:12:43.
Rock/Creek is so impressed by the turnout at the 2010 Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race, nearly increasing racer participation by 1/3 from last year! Thanks to our presenters Montrail, and race sponsors, Montrail, Patagonia, SmartWool, The North Face, Marmot, Hammer Nutrition and Greenlife Grocery!
To view Full Race Results for the 10.2 mile & 6.5 mile check back shortly on the Rock/Creek River Gorge Race Page: http://www.rockcreek.com/rivergorge/
View Rock/Creek's Photos from the day by Rachel Tucker HERE >
More photos and Video by Andrew Kornylak will come later!