It was a photo finish for Bruce and Gray at the XTERRA Trail Run World Champions. Photo by Melanie Gonzalez
By Miguel Gonzalez
Editor
Photos By Melanie Gonzalez take on GoPro Hero2
(Honolulu) – In a race full of tremendous competition, courage and amazing athletic ability the XTERRA Trail Running World Championships took place on Sunday at Kualoa Ranch.
The event registered an attendance of over 2,000 runners who came here for a challenge unlike anything they had seen before.
For the first time in the history of the prestigious event, which attracts people from all over the world, there was a tie for first place. After 21 grueling kilometers at the majestic Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii, not even a photo finish – or video replay – could determine the winner.
Ben Bruce and Joe Gray crossed the finish line simultaneously, and were declared officially the co-champions for 2012. After reviewing several angles of video and photos, XTERRA race officials declared it a tie.
“I’m content with his decision Joe Gray is very hard to beat and has a very long stride, it was a hard race and the decision to give us a tie has been taken,” said Ben Bruce after it was announced that each runner would receive $1500.
For his part, Joe Gray said that the race tested a lot of his endurance in front of an athlete like Ben Bruce.
“I had a good lead, we were back and forth for a while and at the end he caught me.”
The consensus among many of the runners of the 21 kilometer course was that the route was very challenging because of the rocky, muddy, steep and sometimes dangerous terrain, which made the run even more of an adventure for participants.
In the women’s division Lucy Smith of Canada proved that age is no barrier when it comes to winning. She was the overall winner of the women’s division, and at 45, is the oldest runner ever to win the overall XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.
“I am just so happy to finish first, the course is tough, but I knew I could do it and when I saw the finish line I gave it all I had,” said a very happy Smith.
More than 2,000 runners from around the world participated in the event, ranging in age from 6 to 77. There were runners from 15 countries and 37 states.
Besides the excitement of the photo finish between Gray and Bruce and the courage of Smith there was another unique moment on the 21 kilometer race when Las Vegas resident Mike Ibasco proposed matrimony to his girlfriend Stephanie Weigel at the finish line of the competition. Weigel said she was blown away by the surprise proposal.
“I was running and about to finish the race and then the medical director of the race told me to stop and turn around and I panicked because I thought I had done something wrong. Then I turned around and saw Mike on one knee so I quickly figured out what was going on,” Weigel said with big smile.
HAWAII AHE EDITORS MEDAL
Hawaii Ahe editors Miguel Gonzalez and Melanie Gonzalez also participated in the 5K run and placed second in their respective divisions of Women’s 30 to 34 and Men’s 30 to 34.
Melanie Gonzalez said that the first mile of the course was very tough because of the quick elevation.
“It was unlike any other race we have experienced. Although the race was hard, we were delighted to participate in it because of the beautiful backdrop the race took place in.”
LOCALS WIN DIVISIONS
Hawaii runners Lee Saltonstall and Ed Fattoumy highlighted the age-group divisions by winning their fourth XTERRA Trail Run World Championship titles.
Saltonstall was first in the 65-69 women’s division with a time of 2:49:28. Fattoumy was first in the physically challenged division with a time of 1:53:16.
Three other runners – all from Hawaii – won their third titles: Mark Speck (men 40-44), Ash Dustow (men 55-59), Edward Bugarin (men 60-64).
Runners winning their second titles were Keith Rieger (men 45-49), Raymond Brust (men 50-54), Lucy Smith (women 45-49) and Vicki Daniels (women 50-54).
MALE
Division Name Hometown Time
10-14 Jase Bell Madison, Alabama 2:07:16
15-19 (2) Jakob Dewald Mililani, Hawaii 1:51:24
20-24 Willie Schefer Kihei, Hawaii 1:26:41
25-29 Joseph Gray Renton, Washington 1:21:58
30-34 Ben Bruce Flagstaff, Arizona 1:21:58
35-39 Jeffrey Moreland Reno, Nevada 1:34:08
40-44 (3) Mark Speck Honolulu, Hawaii 1:34:16
45-49 Keith Rieger Surprise, Arizona 1:38:08
50-54 Raymond Brust Honolulu, Hawaii 1:43:39
55-59 (3) Ash Dustow Honolulu, Hawaii 1:47:39
60-64 (3) Edward Bugarin Honolulu, Hawaii 2:07:27
65-69 Jon Lyon Anchorage, Alaska 2:41:45
70-74 Roger Kemppel Anchorage, Alaska 2:29:47
75-79 Dieter Walz Portola Valley, California 3:07:51
PC (4) Ed Fattoumy Honolulu, Hawaii 1:53:16
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FEMALE
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Division Name Hometown Time
10-14 Kaytlynn Welsch Alvin, Texas 2:02:34
20-24 Polina Babkina Russia 1:45:34
25-29 Nataliia Kravchuk Honolulu, Hawaii 1:47:31
30-34 Amber Moran Asheville, North Carolina 1:43:41
35-39 Kathrin Schambeck Eckental, Germany 2:04:54
40-44 Janelle Lancaster Seattle, Washington 1:55:42
45-49 Lucy Smith Sidney, Canada 1:41:39
50-54 (2) Vicki Daniels Honolulu, Hawaii 2:23:02
55-59 Nozomi Wade Lawrenceville, Georgia 2:41:01
60-64 Nancy Andrade Kapaa, Hawaii 2:48:22
65-69 (3)Lee Saltonstall Honolulu, Hawaii 2:49:28
(#) Denotes number of XTERRA World Titles
Overall Champs in Bold
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TEAM X-T.R.E.M.E.
For the third consecutive year, Team X-T.R.E.M.E. participate in the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship at Kualoa Ranch.
The team of eight runners completed the 21K championship course while wearing Avon Protection Systems C50 gas masks secured to their faces. The team included two wounded veterans on the run this year.
Per tradition, the team skydived into the race site prior to the start, and also brought in another wounded veteran as their guest of honor. This year’s guest of honor was Cpl. Josh Sams.