Kastor proves it’s all in the family

The pack heads down Sherwin Creek Road at the start of the Mammoth Rock Race. (Photo: Geisel)

Mammoth Lakes may have received its first dusting of snow Wednesday night, but the Labor Day Weekend weather, typically summer’s last hurrah, held on at least long enough to get in the annual Mammoth Rock Race on Sept. 5.

This year, 93 runners sprinted away from Mammoth Creek Park to head down Sherwin Creek Road and across Mammoth Rock Trail before turning onto Old Mammoth Road for the downhill dash to the finish line.

Men dominated the field, with only 36 females running, but that didn’t stop the girls from giving the boys a good run for their money. In an unusual showing, High Sierra Striders co-founder Andrew Kastor, who typically puts on these events and is more behind-the-scenes, showed he can still post a big win, finishing first overall in 39:42.1. Hot on Kastor’s heels, however, was David Scott, who claimed second overall with a 39:51.5. And not far behind Scott was Christian Fuller, who blazed across the finish line in third overall with a 40:44.0.

Also in the top 10 overall, the Bournes showed some identity, with brothers Andy in 7th at 47:47.6 and Jonathan in 10th with a 48:21.5.

Female finishers started coming in just outside the top 20. Tina Geller was the highest female finisher overall in 22nd place with a 53:36.5. In her rear view mirror, however, was Julie Neumann, who logged a 25th place overall finish at 53:42.0. And rounding out the top 3 females overall was Britt Cogan in 29th with a 54:47.7.

Runners of note include The Sheet’s own Fishing columnist, Chris Leonard, whose morning off from the water netted him a 66th place 1:08:03.9. And Leonard’s boss at his teaching day job, new Mammoth Unified School District Superintendent Rich Boccia clocked a 1:09:00.4, which was good enough to rank him 69th.

Complete results are available at www.highsierratri.org.