US 50K Championships
North Park, Pittsburgh, PA,
March 27, 1999
By Dan Brannen
Ultramarathon World

Jeff Wall's American 50km Run record of 3 hours-flat remained intact by a heartbeat as Mike Harrison of Virginia Beach, Virginia missed it by less than a minute and a half in taking his first national title at the GNC 50km in cool, sunny conditions in Pittsburgh's North Park Saturday.

Harrison dueled early with former UCLA track standout Mark Junkermann (CMS), the pair way ahead of the rest of the field after only 2 miles. Junkermann soon took command, flirting with 5:30 mile pace for a few miles, but then began to unravel after 15 miles. By 20 miles Harrison, a member of the 1998 USA national ultra team and a former Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier, had stormed into the lead, remaining on pace to garner a national title and record. But the Virginian suffered from loneliness on the final 5-mile loop, taking the title but falling shy of the record. Junkermann suffered through the final two laps, but held on for silver, well beaten by Harrison but still over 3 minutes ahead of first Master Jim Garcia (CMS) of Westford, Massachussetts.

Garcia continued beyond the 50K (a mere 31.2 miles) to the 50 mile mark, placing fifth.  This gave Jim first master in both the 50K and 50 Mile.   

USA National 50km Run Championship

    1       Michael Harrison, 32, Virginia Beach, VA  3:01:22    5:50
    2       Mark Junkermann, 33, Marlborough, MA      3:11:59    6:10
    3       Jim Garcia, 40, Westford, MA              3:15:08    6:16
    4       Bill Cuculic, 39, Tucson, AZ              3:18:22    6:23
    5       Mark Godale, 28, Aurora, OH               3:18:31    6:23
    6       Tim Hewitt, 42, Greensburg, PA            3:18:46    6:23
    7       Ian Torrence, 26, Boulder City, NV        3:20:29    6:27
    8       Don Smith, 40, Bellefontaine, OH          3:20:53    6:28
    9       Clark Zealand, 25, Forest, VA             3:22:26    6:31
   10       Brian Teason, 38, Coral Springs, FL       3:23:10    6:32
  
84 total finishers

50 Miles

    1    1  Brian Teason, 38, Coral Springs, FL       5:25:36    6:31
    2    1  Mark Godale, 28, Aurora, OH               5:30:30    6:37
    3    1  Kevin Setnes, 45, Eagle, WI               5:47:02    6:56
    4    2  Michael Carlson, 39, Boise, ID            5:51:00    7:01
    5    1  Jim Garcia, 40, Westford, MA              5:53:23    7:04
    6    3  Bruce Hoff, 36, Malibu, CA                6:12:14    7:27
    7    2  John Geesler, 40, St. Johnsville, NY      6:29:58    7:48
    8    1  Keith Hileman, 50, Fisher, PA             6:31:17    7:50
    9    4  Terry Pann, 39, Waterloo, WI              6:31:23    7:50
   10    1  Daniele Cherniak, 37*, Cohoes, NY         6:38:14    7:58

29 total finishers

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008 04:36 PM