RunColo

The USATF Colorado Grand Prix rolls into Evergreen on Sunday for the second race of the four-race series. The Evergreen Town Race offers 5K and 10K options, both on incredibly fast downhill courses, but it's the 10K distance that is the USATF Colorado State Championship. Last year's race was won by Bob Weiner in 32:07 and Jennifer Valentine in 38:25. With a $2,500 prize purse bringing Colorado's best to the line, look for the men to finish close to 30:00 and the women near 35:00.

Open Men

Charles Hillig (25, Denver) – Competed for the University of Northern Colorado collegiately. Charles ran 14:37 for 5000M on the track at the USATF Mid-America championship this year, was third at the Colorado Springs Classic 10K in 30:30, fourth at the Denver Stadium Stampede 5K in 15:30, third in the elite race at the Louisville Freeman Myre 5K, and was second at the Denver Cherry Creek Sneak 5M in 25:18. RunColo interview with Hillig.

Tyler McCandless (24, Boulder) - Penn State alum currently sponsored by Mizuno. Tyler finished 11th at the Grandma's Marathon in 2:17 and sixth at the 2010 Cal International Marathon in 2:17. He has competed on the roads around the US for the past year, racing a number of US Championship events. He is currently co-owner and coach of Hudson Training Systems, LLC and also coaches locally at the high school level. RunColo interview with McCandless.

Adam Rich (30, Colorado Springs) – Sponsored by Boulder Running Company / adidas. This year, he has runn 15:29 at the Colorado Springs Sailin' Shoes 5K where he place fourth, 15:45 at the Louisville Freeman Myre 5K, 31:12 at the Colorado Springs Classic 10K, and 15:29 at the Denver Stadium Stampede 5K, where he earned a USATF Colorado State 5K Championship.

Justin Ricks (31, Pueblo West) – Twice a 2:22 marathoner, Ricks won the Eugene Marathon in April 2011. He also ran 2:22 at the Cal International Marathon in December. Locally, he was 7th in 30:51 at the Colorado Springs Classic 10K, second at the Colorado Springs Summer Round-up Trail Run 12K, and second at the Boulder Spring Half Maratho ninth 1:09:36.

Robby Young (26, Colorado Springs) - Competed collegiately at Grand Valley State University where he was twice an All-American. Now a member of the Boulder Running Company / adidas team. He has finished 12th at the US 25K Championships and been top-20 at the US 20K Championships. Locally, Young has been a top finisher at the Cherry Creek Sneak and won the Hellacious Trail Challenge and recently ran 31:43 for 13th at the Colorado Springs Classic 10K.

Master’s Men

James Johnson (42, Boulder) - Competed collegiately for the University of Northern Colorado and is now a member of the Fleet Feet Boulder team and one of the top master's runners in the country. James finished 4th at the master's race at the 2009 US Club Cross Country Championships, was a member of the winning master's team at the 2009 Boston Marathon, and finished 7th in the master's race at the 2011 US Cross Country Championships. He ran 16:30 to finish as the first master at the Stadium Stampede 5K, which was the USATF Colorado State 5K Championship.

Open Women

Paige Higgins (28, Littleton) - Having left McMillan Elite and returned to Colorado late last year, Higgins has raced briefly. She ran 1:00:59 to win the Frosty's Frozen Ten-Miler in January. Formerly a US 25K national champion, she's been undergoing a form makeover to improve her stride that was recently profiled in Runner's World.

Cassie Slade (28, Highlands Ranch) - A University of North Carolina - Charlotte alum, Slade is now part of Boulder Running Company / adidas team. She's coming off the biggest season of her life, highlighted by a 32:55 8th place finish at the US Track & Field Championships 10000M. Earlier in the year she ran 16:00 for 5000M on the track at Mt. SAC. RunColo interview with Slade.

Wendy Thomas (32, Windsor) - Part of the new American Distance Project in Colorado Springs, Thomas has run as fast at 16:52 for 5K, 58:30 for the 10-mile, and 1:17:11 for the half marathon. She was third at the Denver Stadium Stampede 5K in 17:48. Professionally, she is a part-owner of Bell’s Running Company in Greeley.

Master’s Women

Mary Alico (48, Boulder) - Three-time Olympic trials qualifer in the marathon and member of the 1997 World Championship team. Holds a marathon PR of 2:32:42 and was ranked as high as 7th nationally in 1996. She now competes on behalf of Fleet Feet Boulder and was the first master at the 2011 BolderBoulder 10K (39:39), the Longmont Sunsrise Stampede 10K (39:02), and the Stadium Stampede 5K (19:14).

To earn prize money, runners must be USATF Colorado members and US citizens. USATF Colorado memberships can be purchased here. USATF Colorado members competing in three of the four Grand Prix races will earn a commemorate jacket. The Grand Prix will conclude with the Boulder Heart & Sole Half Marathon on August 21st and the Marble Lead King Loop 25K on September 18th.

Online registration for the Evergreen Town Race 10K is open through August 6th at $35. Race day registration will be available for $40. The 5K starts at 8:00 AM and the 10K at 8:45 AM. Whether elite and competing for money or not, the courses are incredibly fast and promise a great finish. A post-race brunch will be served at the Evergreen Lake House. The Evergreen Town Race benefits the Alpine Rescue Team.