BALLWIN, MO — Four Thursday nights. Hundreds of runners. Countless hills, high-fives, and post-race hot dogs. That’s what the Alpine Shop Trail Run Series is all about—and on August 28, the 2025 edition crossed the finish line at Queeny Park with a party worthy of fifteen summers of tradition.
This year’s final course stretched 3.8 miles. While billed as the “flattest” of the series, the opening mile and a half of climbs may have proved otherwise. Runners then cruised through the shaded valley trails before one last grind back up to the top of the ridge and Smith Shelter, where cheers, music, and the smell of the grill pulled them home.
Crowning the Series Champions
The big story of the night wasn’t just the winners of Race 4, but the champions who earned their titles over all four weeks.
- Men’s Open Series Champion: Steven Stallis (34) completed a perfect season, capturing his 12th straight Series win and securing the men’s crown with a flawless 60 points. Stallis now owns three consecutive undefeated seasons—a dynasty in trail shoes.
- Women’s Open Series Champion: Annemarie Rains (33) held off a deep field of more than 20 point scorers, collecting two wins and a runner-up finish for a total of 42 points. Teen phenom Leah Grither (14) stormed into third overall with two wins of her own.
- Masters Men’s Champion: No surprise here—the trio of Mike Barro (57), Peter Manor (50), and Kevin Kozuszek (51) claimed the top three Series spots, just as they did on the trail every single week.
- Masters Women’s Champion: Jenn Ullery (52) swept the division with four straight wins, while Susan Richmond (64) and Elysia Krieger (51) rounded out the top three.
Race 4 Highlights
While the series titles were decided by consistency, the finale still had fireworks:
- Justin Stewart (37) pushed Stallis through two miles before finishing just 36 seconds back.
- Chris Fox (47) landed his second straight podium, proving steady climbs earn hardware.
- On the women’s side, Grither returned with another breakout performance, winning her second race of the month and placing 13th overall. Hannah Floyd (39) impressed again in second with family cheering at the line, and first-timer Ally Griggs (31) chased her in by less than half a second.
Post-Race Celebration
Once again, the real victory came at the finish line party. Runners refueled with hot dogs, veggie burgers, watermelon, and cookies, all washed down with cold pours from our longtime friends at 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Shout-outs as well to Optimal Performance Centers for keeping legs fresh all month long, and to 1st Phorm, who joined us at Race HQ and the Aid Station as first-time supporters. And, of course, congratulations to the lucky winners who left with On Running gift certificates and The North Face Borealis Trail backpacks. Our thanks also to FITS Socks and Terrain Magazine for their continued sponsorship of the Off-Road Racing League, as well.
Until We Meet Again…
That’s a wrap on the 2025 Alpine Shop Trail Run Series. Fifteen summers of sweat, smiles, and singletrack (when available).
If you loved these Thursday nights, remember: Alpine Shop is your year-round aid station. From trail shoes to camp chairs, hydration packs to hammocks, every visit you make with us helps keep the Series alive and the post-race hot dogs grilling. So don’t wait for August—swing by anytime, gear up, and let’s keep the adventure rolling.
See you on the trails!
Photos from Race 4 will be posted Monday—check the link and relive the action.
OVERALL RESULTS | AGE GROUP RESULTS | FINAL POINT TOTALS
PHOTOS (Coming Monday)