<Photo by Harper Lee Libbert>
The sixth annual Continental Divide Trail Race not only served as the North Carolina Trail and Mountain Championships, but also the USA 10k Trail Championships. This provided top NC trail runners a chance to mix it up with some of the best from around the country. In addition, runners more accustomed to the roads got a chance to discover the challenge of a serious trail race.
Continental Divide starts on top of a mountain right on the eastern continental divide along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is not a “one trick pony” type of course. True technical trail ability is needed to hang on at the front, but runners need some speed in their pocket too to keep pace on some open trail sections. And you better leave that timidity at home for some of the steep descents. Then again, that grinding granny gear is needed to chug up some steep climbs. Basically, bring a full trail tool bag to this trail race.
Former NC runners David and Megan Roche both brought a loaded tool bag as the couple claimed the National Champion titles. David took the guys’ race out hard at blistering 4:15 pace on the gradual opening descent. A pack of guys were in tow. But once on the first technical section, David used his trail skills to run away. For the NC Trail and Mountain Championship, Jason Bryant made a significant change in placing in the last mile to pass six competitors to move from 9th to 3rd overall. This gave Bryant a podium finish in the US Championship as well as champion titles for NC Trail and Mountain Open, plus both the US and NC Masters. Matt Longworth showed some great trail skills to hold off Bryant until that final 22 percent grade climb to the finish. Longworth stayed right on Bryant’s heels, finishing just 13 seconds back to get 2nd for the NC Championship and 4th in the USA Championship. Marc Jeuland nabbed the 3rd spot in the NC Championships and 7th for the USA Championships. Jason Page and Crystian Kumnick took 2nd and 3rd, respectively, for the NC Masters Championships.
Megan Roche just ran away from the start and continued to expand her lead throughout for the win. Dominique Stasulli led the way for the women in the NC Trail and Mountain Championship and grabbed the silver in USA Championships. Stasulli ran a solid race throughout to show once again that former steeplechasers transition quite well to the trails. Lorraine Young showed that experience really pays off on the trails, taking 2nd for the NC Open Women and claiming the NC Masters Women title. Haley Juno-Galdes continued her steady performances by taking the 3rd spot in the NC Championships and 5th in the USA Championships. Caren Mangarelli and Nancy Kaiser took 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the NC Masters.
With two races to go in the 2014 Endurance Magazine USATF-NC LDR Championship Series, competitors at the top will be deciding if they want to challenge for their respective categories. Duriel Hardy holds a strong lead in the Open Men with 6 points. There is then a three-way tie for 2nd, with Anthony Marios, Tibor Vegh, and Jason Bryant all with 3 points. Caitlin Bullock sits atop the Open Women, also with 6 points. Heidi Bretscher is just behind with 5 points. Then there is four-way tie for 3rd, with all runners holding 3 points. Masters Men are led by Colin Jones with 7 points, Jason Bryant with 6 points, and Tim Pierce with 4 points. Lorraine Young leads the Masters Women with 6 points, followed by Betsy Armentrout with 5 points, and Caren Mangarelli with 4 points.
