Mammoth runners play their cards right in Vegas
Mammoth’s Josh Cox crossing the finish line first in the Men’s Marathon in Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy PhotoRun.net)
It was “winner, winner, chicken dinner” for Eastern Sierra runners, who let it ride and threw down winning hands during this year’s Rock N Roll Half-Marathon and Marathon on Sunday, Dec. 5, in Las Vegas. The weather was ideal — no wind, a brisk 44 degrees — as 28,000 runners lined up at the Mandalay Bay Hotel for another edition of the spectacular race. Rock and roll bands lined the fast, flat race course every few miles, playing for both spectators and the runners, 17 of which came from Mammoth and played to win. And win they did.
Mammoth Track Club’s Josh Cox won the Men’s Marathon with a 2:25:05, Jen Rhines won the Women’s Half-Marathon with a 1:14:57,
A three-time Olympian, Rhines crossed the finish line in 1:14:57, winning easily over Great Britain’s Nicki Archer, who came across in 1:18:01. Johanna Bonfiglio was third, a minute and 8 seconds behind Rhines in 1:19:07. Amy Hastings was 5th in the Women’s Half-Marathon and led off course, which cost her 3 places, but still finished well with a 1:19:40.
“It was a really fun race because the crowds were great on the first half and it was really exciting all the way up the strip,” Rhines told Competitor.com web producer Mario Fraioli. “Today had a really good vibe, and now I’m looking forward to playing some poker.”
In the Men’s Half-Marathon, Scott Bauhs won with a personal best time of 1:02:39, followed less than a minute later by Patrick Smyth in second place at 1:03:31.
High Sierra Striders members also turned in great finishes, with Andrew Kastor coming in sixth in his age group in the Men’s Half-Marathon at 1:22:09. “I ran with Jen Rhines and Josh Cox for the first 3 miles and totally died!” Kastor quipped. Meanwhile, Tomas Rodriguez won his age group with a 1:24:22 and Hilda Adler was third in her age group at 1:55:30. Carrie Meyers crossed the finish line in 2:10:32, followed closely by Pat Smoogen at 2:12:51, and E.L. Smoogen with 2:17:15 and Doug Magit hot on his heels at 2:28:18.
In the full Marathons, Dan Meyers, 3:50:27, Sherryl Taylor finished first in her age group with a 4:20:53 and Jane Hubbard who turned in a 5:05:19.
Other Mammoth locals with stellar Marathon performances included the Getchells, Garth and Kim, who TIED at 4:49:29!
For a full race recap, log on to http://running.competitor.com/2010/12/news/gruca-mammoth-track-club-win-big-in-las-vegas_18524. – High Sierra Striders release/Competitor.com
