The inaugural Ridgeline Trail Race welcomed hundreds of participants to Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock on Sunday. The event featured three different race distances: a 50K, half marathon and 12K. Each course took place on the challenging but fun single and double track trails in the park and within the adjacent Ridgeline Open Space. The weather was perfect, with sunny skies and moderate temperatures, providing a fantastic backdrop for a fall trail race!
The men’s 50K race was dominated by 30-year old Scott Spillman, who finished first in just under four hours: 3:58:22. Coming in second was 21-year old Anthony Carroll of Maryland in 4:19:09, with 45-year old Rick Scott rounding out the top three in 4:24:04.
The women’s race saw the top two finishers cross the line just two minutes apart; Julie Olsen-Smith of Lone Tree came in first in 4:58:09, and 36-year old Whitney Garcia finished second in 5:00:22. Third place belonged to Lindsay Stansfield of Parker in 6:12:39.
In the men’s half marathon, 38-year old Steve Kaye took the win in 1:33:31, just second ahead of second place finisher Gerald Romero, who crossed the line in 1:33:56. Coming in third was Castle Rock’s own Graham Shalvoy in 1:39:45.
The women’s half marathon saw 39-year old Stacey Hunt grab the win in 1:45:33, with 54-year old Lisa Mills coming in second in 1:57:08, and 53-year old Bev Zimmerman crossing the line in third in 1:57:08.
In the men’s 12K, Jess Palmer of Indian Hills lead wire-to-wire, coming in first in 49:29. Finishing second was William Bouldin in 53:32, with Brandon Gittelman of Denver rounding out the podium in 55:37.
Laura Cook not only won the women’s 12K, but she also finished fifth overall in 57:31. Second place belonged to 24-year old Michelle Oberndorf in 59:21, and Alyssa Demario of Boulder crossed the line in third for the ladies in 1:01:55.