Team USA continued its buildup to the mountain running world championships with a second place finish at the Kitzbuheler horn berglauf on August 27th. The race served as the IAAF and WMRA masters championship and the grand prix championship of Austria. In addition the final spot on the German team for the world championships was selected at Kitz.
Top 3 finishers in the 35+ age group haul off the hardware. Dave Dunham (center) Dan Verrington (right)
Over 10 countries made up the field of 36 women and 219 men who ran from the center of Kitz to the radio tower on the summit. The course is entirely paved, with some cobblestone in the first kilometer. The
The top four
12.9k race (8m) climbed from 2500' to 6600'. The average grade was 12% over the entire distance. The first 4k climbed less than 200', leaving the next 8k to average 13-16% and the final gut wrenching 900m at 20-30% grades.
Jonathan Wyatt, the pre-race favorite, took out the race in the first kilometer. A group of 5 quickly formed, with USA's Dave Dunham and Paul Low running ahead of the second pack. At 3k (9:33), the lead group was caught by Dunham. Low continued to lead the 2nd pack. USA's third man, Dan Verrington, was around 25th and beginning to move through the fast starters. "I came to a dead stop in the first 200m when I almost hit a wooden post" noted Low of the packed start.
At 4 kilometers the long climbed commenced. Wyatt took command of the race. The lead pack disintegrated in the first k of climbing (5 minute / K pace). Dunham moved into second by 5k, Low had moved up to around 10th, and Verrington was close behind. Dunham was caught by Uli Steidle, a German Grad student at Washington State, at the 6k mark. They ran together from that point to 11k. "It was good to have someone pushing me the whole way, I wish I could have stayed with him" stated Dunham.
As Steidle broke away from Dunham, Wyatt was crossing the line in an amazing 55.58. He crushed the record of 57.38 under less than ideal conditions (sun and upper 70's). Steidle took second and earned a spot on the German team, while Dunham held on for third. Low and Verrington staged there own duel with Verrington passing Low at 8k. "I ran a good 10k, now I need to run the last 3k" quipped Verrington. He was passed by Low at the 11k.
Team scoring was based on the top 3 runners times, and the USA team took second behind the strong contingent from New Zeeland which placed 3 in the top 7 to win. The team will race on September 3rd in Oberstaufen Germany in the final preparation for the world championships.
Women 1 Izabela Zatorska Poland 1.07.45 Men 1 Jonathon Wyatt NZL 55.58 2 Uli Steidl GER 59.44 3 Dave Dunham USA 60.28 4 Simon Maunder NZL 60.59 5 Jan Blaha CZE 61.40 6 Roman Skalskz CZE 61.46 7 Aaron Strong NZL 62.18 8 Eckard Wagner GER 62.30 9 Alan Bowness GB 62.38 10 Stefan Wohllebe GER 62.56 14 Paul Low USA 63.44 16 Dan Verrington USA 64.20 Teams 1 NZL 2.59.16 2 USA 3.08.33 3 GER 3.11.07 4 AUT 3.26.00
