Waterville Valley hosts USA Mountain Running Championships

9/29/2019
 
The 2019 USA Mountain Running Championships were held on Sunday Septembe 29 as part of the first year Waterville Valley (NH) Mountain Race presented by Saucony. 
Hosted by acidotic Racing, the event - approximately 7 miles long with 3000 feet of elevation gain - served as the Team USA qualifying race for November's World Mountain Running Championships in Villa La Angostura, Argentina with four team spots up for grabs.
 
Grayson Murphy of Utah led the women's field in the first of two races, clocking 1:01:45 over the single loop route.  Runner-up in 1:05:58, Kasie Enman (Green Mountain AA / Huntington VT), qualified for her sixth World Championship; she was also first age 40+. New Englanders Corey Dowe (Runner's Alley), Kassandra Marin (Whirlaway) and Jessica Marion (Dirigo) finished 6-7-8
 
In the men's race, Joe Grey showed why he remains at the top of US mountain runners as the Coloradan was first finisher over the up-and-down style course in 52:52. Following two more Colorado runners, David Sinclair (Green Mountain AA / Peru VT) secured a USA uniform placing fourth in 55:16 for his first mountain team berth.  Brandon Newbould (Whirlaway) - 10th - rounded out New Englander representation in the top 10.
 
Rosemont Running club men out of Pennsylvania and Western Mass Distance Project women were the team titleists  
 
The two race participant total was 269 finishers, of which 185 were USATF members - an indication of the interest in Mountain Running in the association.