Surprising cool – albeit balmy – conditions welcomed runners to the start of the Classic 10K in Colorado Springs on Saturday morning. The race kicked off early in the morning under cloudy skies, providing runners reprieve from the imminent sun that would appear later in the morning, just in time for the ADA 5K start.
The Classic 10K is part of the Colorado Springs Grand Prix of Running, and boasts a fast course that attracts some of Colorado’s top talent. Couple that with prize money on the line and you have a stocked field toeing the line. The 10K is run on a point-to-point course starting at Corporate Center Drive & Woodmen Road, just west of I-25, taking runners along the Pikes Peak Greenway and finishing in North Monument Valley Park.
The men’s 10K saw a close finish, with all three finishers coming in at 30 minutes and change. Tiidrek Nurme of Colorado Springs was the winner in 30:17, with 39-year old Geofrey Terer coming in second in 30:39. Rounding out the top three was 27-year old Tanner Fruit in 30:46.
In the women’s 10K, 25-year old Maor Tiyouri of Boulder grabbed the win in 35:03. Coming in second was Alexis Wilbert of the Springs in 35:23, with 34-year old Natalie Severy of Santa Fe, NM crossing the line in third in 36:15.
The ADA 5K starts and finishes at North Monument Valley Park, providing the perfect spot for a combined post-race celebration. Plus, with a later start time, the 5K participants had quite a cheering section. In the end, the women’s field prevailed with the top two ladies taking the top two overall spots.
Ana Maria De Vries was the overall winner in 18:49, with 33-year old Adrian Neal coming in second overall in 19:15. Rounding out the ladies top three and grabbing fourth overall was 27-year old Hillory Wallis in 20:14.
In the men’s 5K, 17-year old Matt Terry finished first in 20:05, with 57-year old Danny Nelson of Pueblo crossing the line in second in 20:33. Coming off a 4th place age group finish in the 10K was 44-year old Gerald Romero, rounding out the 5K podium in third in 20:45.