Snowbird, Utah, July 28. Pre-race favorites Kilian Jornet and Anna Frost dominated the 5th annual Speedgoat 50K, the only American race in the World Skyrunning Series. Both led from wire-to-wire over the rugged mountain course, which featured 11,000 feet of vertical and several miles of rough terrain. Six runners finished under the old course record, despite a few changes that made the course even more demanding than in previous years.
Frost, a native Scot who lives in New Zealand, was never threatened and won comfortably. Kerrie Bruxvoort of Colorado was second, half an hour behind.
There was a minor bit of post-race controversy as Jornet repeatedly cut switchbacks on the course – a practice common in Europe, but generally not allowed in American trail racing. According to reports from irunfar.com, Race Director Karl Meltzer decided not to disqualify Jornet, but the prize money was moved down one place and runner-up Rickey Gates will be credited with the official course record.
Men
1. Kilian Jornet, 24, Puigcerdá, Spain, 5:14:00
2. Rickey Gates, 31, Woody Creek, CO, 5:18:27 (course record, old record 5:43:20 by Kevin Shilling, 2010)
3. Max King, 32, Bend, OR, 5:23:10
4. Anton Krupicka, 28, Boulder, CO, 5:23:36
5. Thomas Lorblanchet, 32, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 5:38:51
Women
1. Anna Frost, 30, Dunedin, New Zealand, 6:26:23
2. Kerrie Bruxvoort, 35, Broomfield, CO, 6:56:33
3. Sarah Evans, 39, Alta, UT, 6:58:51
4. Emily Sullivan, 36, Salt Lake City, UT, 7:10:03
5. Denise Bourassa, 42, Bend, OR, 7:31:54
Photos:
Top: Kilian Jornet
Above:Anna Frost (courtesy Salomon)
Above: Jorge Maravilla at mile 22 (Laura Kukta photo)