The 2012 Jeremy Wright North American Snowshoe Championships

Racers were met with balmy spring temperatures and blue skies at the third and final race of the 2012 Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series and the Jeremy Wright North American Snowshoe Championships, held this past Sunday at Beaver Creek’s McCoy Park. The Jeremy Wright North American Snowshoe Championships are held in honor of Jeremy Wright, a former resident of Vail and regular on the local snowshoe racing scene, who passed away in Afghanistan in 2005.

The 5 and 10k routes started at an elevation of almost 9900 feet and kept on climbing, with the 5k route topping out at 10,278 feet and the 10k runners climbing an additional 131 feet to reach a maximum elevation of 10,409. Average course gradients were kept in the single digits, 9% for the 10k and 7% for the 5k, but mandatory ‘powder’ sections, where racers were required to make their own tracks through the snow, kept the course challenging.

“The powder was pretty sugary, making it tough to stay balanced,” according to men’s East West Resorts 5k Quest winner Brian Welch, of Vail, CO, who added that, ‘racing in a short sleeve shirt was great!”

The rolling route took racers through pine forests and high alpine meadows, and best suited runners who enjoy tough uphills mixed with fun downhill sections. Conditions varied from packed powder, sugary powder, and crusty singletrack.

With a winning time of 47:41, Josiah Middaugh ran to his third win in the 2012 Cadillac 10K series, and also claimed the title of North American Snowshoe Champion. Inov-8/ Blackfox Brewing Co./Colorado Running Co. athlete Peter Maksimow, took second with a time of 48:08 and Travis Macy, a Merrell athlete, came in third at 51:14.

Sara Tarkington, racing for Atlas Snow-Shoe Company/Native/Honey Stinger, took first place in the Women’s Cadillac 10k and the title of North American Snowshoe Champion with her time of 58:51. Atlas Snow-Shoe Company athlete Lindsay Krause finished second at 59:45 and Jeanne Cooper, also from Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, was close behind for third, with a time of 59:49.

Welch’s winning time of 33:12 put him in a solid first place for the men’s East West Resorts 5K Quest. Mason Duncan took second place with a time of 34:03, followed by Ethan Pence for third, crossing the line in 35:21.

For the women’s East West Resorts 5K Quest, Jennie Thorne finished in 42:06 for first, Nikki Cunning took second place with 43:34, and Rachel Cambray finished in 44:52 for third.

Other races at the final event of the 2012 Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series included the100-yard Dash for Cash and the Larkburger Kids’ K. Brian Welch and Mariah Blair won the 100-yard Dash for Cash, and received $100 each. Middaugh’s sons, Sullivan and Porter, took first and second place in the Larkburger Kids’ K.

The 2012 Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series was presented by the Beaver Creek Resort Company, Cadillac, Columbia Sportswear, Atlas Snow-Shoe Company and Clif Bar, and presented in part by East West Resorts, Larkburger, Rocky Mountain Reprographics, UrgentRx, The Metropolitan, Rimini, Vail Daily and KZYR The Zephyr.

For more information on the Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series, visit http://www.bcsnowshoe.com.

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