The first event in Colorado Runner’s Winter Distance Series kicked off on Saturday with the Santa Stampede 10K and 5K (formerly Rudolph’s Revenge). Taking place at Hudson Gardens in Littleton, the event saw record numbers of over 1,300 participants in both events. With clear – albeit chilly – weather conditions, the course was clear and fast, leading to some new course records and blazing finishing times.
In the men’s 10K event, Colorado elite runner Chris Siemers smashed the event record by several minutes. The 31-year old Arvada resident finished the race in 31:24. What’s impressive about the second and third place finishers, Charles Hillig and Tristan Mitchell, is that they too finished under previous event record times. Hillig finished second in 31:30, only 6 seconds behind Siemers, and Mitchell finished up in third in 33:47.
In the women’s 10K race, 36-year old Bridget Tschappat from Highlands Ranch took top honors in 38:57. Second place female Shannon Kinney from Boulder finished up in 39:12, and 39-year old Connilee Walter from Colorado Springs rounded out the top three with a time of 40:24.
The 5K event saw some speedy finishing times as well, with men’s winner Adam Rich just missing out on the course record by a mere 5 seconds. Rich finished up in 15:55 while Boulder resident Bobby Reyes came in second in 16:38. 22-year old Joseph Negreann rounded out the top three with a 17:05 finishing time.
Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Leslie Luna dominated the women’s field in the 5K and set new event and course records by over a minute. Luna’s finishing time of 17:50 was a minute ahead of second place finisher and top Colorado runner Sarah Pizzo’s 18:54 finishing time. Third place belonged to Nicole Mericle of Boulder who finished just behind Pizzo in 19:12.
Despite the chilly weather, participants enjoyed a stocked vendor area with post-race food and hot chocolate and coffee. The athletes that competed in this first event in the Winter Distance Series have definitely set the bar high, as events two and three – Frosty’s Frozen Five & Ten as well as the Snowman Stampede 5M/10M – are next in the series. Both events will also take place at Hudson Gardens and are expected to be just as successful as Saturday’s race.
For information on registration and future Winter Distance Series events, check out http://winterdistanceseries.com.