Locals Repeat at 2011 Rothrock Challenge
June 6, 2011 by Bryon Powell · 96 Comments
The Rothrock Challenge is not hyperbolically named race. It IS a challenge. I ran it last year… or, rather, started and made it as far as the first aid station before calling it a day. That’s never happened anywhere else before or since. Last year, brutally hot weather made the supremely rocky course even more humbling than usual. This year, runners were at least able test themselves against the course in near perfect weather for trail running. Well, except for the last few finishers who were treated to a thunderstorm.
Rothrock finishers awards? Rocks from the trail!
As with last year, the La Sportiva Mountain Cup included Rothrock. Big-time series competitors often dominate Mountain Cup events, but just like last year, locals stole the show at Rothrock.
After kicking things off with our LSMC race coverage, we’ll take a look at the Mountain Cup standings. Next, we’ll move on to our La Sportiva shoe giveaway contest before calling for your comments and finishing up with the full La Sportiva Mountain Cup schedule.
The Race
Men’s Race
In a special treat, all of the top three men from last year’s Rothrock Challenge returned for a rematch this year. Jacob Loverich, Jason Bryant, and Matt Byrne slugged it out early, with numerous position changes and the three runners essentially together eight miles into the 19 mile race. However, history repeated itself as Loverich pulled away from the other two to win in 2:37:35, which is nearly 10 minutes faster than his winning time last year. Byrne (2:40:05) finished second with Bryant (2:45:27) coming in third in a reversal of the La Sportiva teammates’ 2010 positions.
Men’s Top Five
- Jacob Loverich – 2:37:35
- Matt Byrne – 2:40:05
- Jason Bryant – 2:45:27
- Jesse Johnson – 2:56:49
- Alan Evans – 2:58:09
Women’s Race
Ashley Moyer racing at mile 8.
Meira Minard of nearby State College bested her Mountain Cup competition for the second straight year in 3:11:50. She was ninth overall. Ashley Moyer (3:21:29) finished 10 minutes behind Minard, while Mountain Cup competitor Alison Bryant (3:29:38) took 17 minutes off her 2010 time to finish third. Caitlin Strahota (3:39:57) was fourth less than a minute ahead of Annette Bednosky (3:40:53). Bednosky, who is competing for the Mountain Cup this year, was trying “not to race,” while still picking up some series points. Here’s her race report.
Women’s Top Five
- Meira Minard – 3:11:50
- Ashley Moyer – 3:21:29
- Alison Bryant – 3:29:38
- Caitlin Strahota – 3:39:57
- Annette Bednosky – 3:40:53
Full Results and Additional Reports
Full results are available.
La Sportiva Mountain Cup Standings
Here are the unofficial LSMC standings through 7 races.
Men
With his third place finish at Rothrock, Jason Bryant moved from third to second in the Mountain Cup standings; however, it must be noted that he’s run at least one more race than all the other top competitors. With only five races counting toward the series total, Bryant only has one more big point jump left. That said, he can continue to add points with a sixth or seventh race by replacing an earlier lower scoring race. It only took two races for Matt Byrne to move into fifth place in the standings. Look for both Bryant and Byrne to run more than one of the remaining series races.
Jason Bryant cruising a rocky ridgetop at Rothrock Challenge.
Still, Ryan Woods remains the leader on the course and also has the best overall position to win the Cup. Overall, I see numerous place changes among the men in the final three races. Stay tuned!
- Ryan Woods – 64 points (3 races – Did not race the Rothrock Challenge)
- Jason Bryant – 58 pts (4 races – 15 pts from the Rothrock Challenge)
- Bernie Boettcher – 51 pts (3 races – Did not race the Rothrock Challenge)
- Jared Scott – 39 pts (2 scoring races – Did not race the Rothrock Challenge)
- Matt Byrne – 38 pts (2 races – 19 pts from the Rothrock Challenge)
Women
Alison Bryant closed the gap on Annette Bednosky, but Bednosky retained fourth place in the Mountain Cup standings.
Megan Kimmel still looks unbeatable. Provided she can get to two more races, I’ll pick Ashley Arnold for second. I think she could even take second with just one more race. That leaves one heck of a fight for third through fifth between Rachel Cieslewicz, Bednosky, and Bryant.
- Megan Kimmel – 91 points (4 races – Did not race the Rothrock Challenge)
- Rachel Cieslewicz – 58 pts (4 races – Did not race the Rothrock Challenge)
- Ashley Arnold – 57 pts (3 races – Did not race the Rothrock Challenge)
- Annette Bednosky – 46 pts (3 races – 11 pts the Rothrock Challenge)
- Alison Bryant – 45 pts (3 races – 17 pts from the Rothrock Challenge)
Mountain Cup competitors Matt Byrne, Alison Bryant, Jason Bryant, and Annette Bednosky.
Official Mountain Cup standings can be found here.
iRunFar.com La Sportiva Mountain Cup Contest
John Dayton of Helena, Montana, you’ve just won yourself a pair of La Sportiva Quantums with MorphoDynamic technology. Enjoy!
At Rothrock, I’d want the rock-grippingest shoes I could find. Having tested the La Sportiva Electron (iRF review) on Yosemite’s wet granite slabs last year, I know they and rocks work like velcro together. With that in mind, you’ve got a chance to win yourself a pair!
If you’d like to win and try out the Electrons yourself? Simply leave your name and town (in the US or Canada) in a comment before we write about the next Mountain Cup race, the Vail Hill Climb on July 3rd. As a reminder, if you enter to win the Electrons you’ll also automatically be eligible to win the grand prize at the end of August. Read up on the iRunFar.com La Sportiva Mountain Cup giveaway grand prize.
Call for Comments
If you’ve ever run the Rothrock Challenge, please leave a comment letting everyone know what you think about the event.
Related articles:
- Locals Rock the Competition at Rothrock Trail Challenge iRunFar covers the Rothrock Trail Challenge, the fourth race in the 2010 La Sportiva Mountain Cup....
- Loverich and Kimmel Own Rothrock Challenge Results from the 2012 Rothrock Trail Challenge, a La Sportiva Mountain Cup Race....
- Byrne Scorches Woods At Rock2Rock Run iRunFar covers the Rock2Rock Run, the third race in the 2010 La Sportiva Mountain Cup....
Filed under Races ·
Bryon Powell is the Editor-in-Chief of iRunFar.com, which he founded five years ago. Also the author of Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, he's quickly approaching 10 years as an ultrarunner and 20 years as a trail runner. These days he calls Park City, Utah and its trails home.
All posts by Bryon Powell
Jon, Simpsonville SC
John Jackson
Portland, OR
LOVED the event, I’ll be back.
Great event coverage….Thanks.
Jim K
Alturas CA
Forrest Brown
Springfield, MO
Perry
Harrisburg, PA
Great race coverage as usual!
I hope to run that event next year. It is just up the road from my home after all.
This year it was the same day as TNFEC Wash DC.
Kadie York
Boone, NC
Peter ford
lansing, mi
Alex Jones
Pocatello, ID
Jan U
Harrisonburg, VA
San Luis Obispo CA
My first attempt at a trail race, this was an incredible event. Brutal but beautiful trails, perfect weather, friendly people, and a great setup for hanging out after the race. I will definitely be doing this race again next year!
State College, PA
Wish I made it this year!
Spencer king
Scranton pa
I’m doing Rothrock and Hyner View next year!
Bob Bodkin
Coopersburg, Pa
Chris
Albuquerque, NM
Great coverage, thanks
Cherry Hill, NJ
Jason Walsh
Chugiak, AK
Did Jason Bryant win? I’m confused.
Nope, just an interesting series competitor who I caught on film. He finished third in this race.
Mick Quen
Franklin, PA
It was very rocky course with steep descents. I rolled my ankle hard 2.5 weeks before the race and I was just trying not to re-injure it. Mission accomplished, but the descents left me with some sore quads for a couple days. I thought it was a great event, but I love all the Central PA Trail Runners races.
Jeff Faulkner
Beaver Dams, NY
Kevin Schneider
Newark, DE
Kay Allen
Seattle, WA
Reid Landes
Little Rock, AR
Jeremy Donahue
Harrogate, TN
thanks for a great web site!
cathy bester
gainesville, fl
Chris Talley
Morgan Hill, CA
Gotta Run
Las Vegas
Emiel Hall
Boulder, CO
Ryan Smith
Wilmette, IL
Ryan Smith
Wimette, IL
Fletcher Hamel
Lenexa, KS
D Craig Young
Virginia City, NV
Keep going…
As a ski bum I sure could use a new pair of La Sportiva Electrons to get me onto shape for next years ski season. Thanx
As a ski bum I sure could use a new pair of La Sportiva Electrons to get me onto shape for next years ski season. Thanx
Jackson,WY>
Brad Hashagen
Springfield, MO
Brett Clemmer
Casselberry, FL
Jennifer Kasper
West Bridgewater ma.
Sounds like a challenging race!
Tony Mollica
Athens, Ohio
As a former Penn State student Rothrock will always be close to my heart. It makes me happy to hear about so many people being humbled by the trails of central PA.
Andrew Siefert
Cortland, NY
Todd Segraves
San Antonio, TX
Bret K
Leesburg, VA
Love that plaque!
Garrett Blattner
Kansas City, KS
Patricia Reidinger
Downingtown, PA
Looking into your shoes. Wish I hadn’t been chased away by the rain at the end of Rothrock and would have checked them out. Catch you at the next one!
Jacob, Santa Fe, NM