BALLWIN, MO. – The course had to wait two weeks to actually be run after the original date was rained out, but one of the steepest trail routes in Trail Run Series history (not including the stairs) was finally unveiled on Thursday, May 29 in the final run of the 2014 Alpine Shop Spring Trail Run Series. Heading around much of the River Scene Trail in Castlewood State Park, the first two miles were mostly flat. But that changed really quickly in the next half mile, going up the equivalent of a six-story stair climb in less than a 10th of a mile.
Champion Andy Koziatek won his second consecutive race, and third of the four-race series, with a final time of 24:35 over the 3.8 mile course. Caleb Brackett grabbed second just under 30 seconds later (25:07.6) and Matthew Corywell rounded out the top three finishers with a time of 26:10.5.
On the women’s side, Aimee DeGuire captured her first women’s championship with a final time of 29:37.9. Beth Sunborn took second in 32:30.1 and Caroline Achard finished third just two seconds later in a time of 32:32.5.
In the masters division (over 50), Bob Alexander and Bill Hurley continued their rivalry from last week’s race on the men’s side, while switching finishing positions. Alexander took this race in 30:16.4 with Hurley a minute behind at 31:18.9. On the women’s side, Bonnie Preete (33:45) finished just 10 seconds ahead of last week’s winner, Bev Ofsthun (33:55.2).
Our thanks to everyone who came out and competed in the first Spring Trail Run Series this May. Registrations for the August Series will be live in the near future, just as soon as Castlewood returns our contracts to use the park to us!
Overall results for the race can be found here.