GRAY SUMMIT, MO. – Temperatures that dipped into the low 30s couldn’t damper the Inaugural Shaw Bloom Trail 10k/20k presented by the North Face on Saturday, March 28 at the Shaw Nature Reserve just west of St. Louis. This loop course trail run featured a variety of terrain from prairie grass meadows to sheer bluffs, from single-track climbs to a boardwalk spanning a lake; but one thing the entire course features is beauty, even with a spring bloom that competitors may have missed by just a few days thanks to a late March chill-down.
Chad Silker took home the 20k Open division title with a final time of 1:23:53 (pace 6:46) over the rolling course. He was almost 13 minutes ahead of the second place finisher, Alpine Shop Adventure Race Team member David Frei (1:36:14) and third place Benjamin Haefner (1:36.59). On the women’s side of the 20k, Renee Rioux was the top finisher with a time of 1:46.15, followed by Caroline Clay (1:56:22) and Jennifer Huber (1:56:50).
In the 10k Open, Jack Wilkinson beat top contender Tyler Blazey by more than a minute with a final time of 42:48.5. Blazey finished at 44:21.2. In third place, just 30 seconds back was Darryl Holman at 44:52.7. Margo Steinlage was the top woman in the 10k with a final time of 51:56.2. She was followed four minutes later by Beth Silker (55:04.0) and Maria Wentzel (55.07.4)
For the men’s Masters Division (50+ for Off-Road Racing League events) in the 20k, David Frei (second overall) took the win followed closely by fellow Alpine Shop Adventure Race Team member Jeff Sona at 1:37:58). Brent Haefner came in 10 minutes later at 1:47:56. For the women, Eva Gonzales was the top finisher at 2:11:13 followed by Donna Halliburton at 2:14:59.
In the 10k Masters men, Darryl Holman was the top finisher at 44:52.7. Joe Walsh (52:47.2) and Doug Mattingly (54:42.3) rounded out the top three. In a highly competitive women’s masters, Bonnie Preete took home the win with a time of 56:18.1, followed closely by Cindy Gaudet (57:29.3). Barbara Winston came in third in a time of 1:05:04.
Results and event photos can be found below:
20k Age Group Results (includes ORRL points) [Revised 04025]
20k Overall Results [Revised 04025]
10k Age Group Results (includes ORRL points)
10k Overall Results
Photos (on Facebook)