Charles Hillig (Denver) and Justin Ricks (Pueblo West) jumped to an early lead on pre-race favorites Pat Rizzo (Boulder) and Tyler McCandless (Boulder). Rizzo, wearing Mizuno’s neon orange, was the first to cover the move and had joined Hillig and Ricks by mile two, with McCandless further back in fourth. Rizzo would pull away soon thereafter and run the final half of the race solo for an uncontested win in 29:59.
Mizuno and Runner's Roost's Pat Rizzo finishes first.
Behind him, McCandless, also in a Mizuno singlet, had caught Hillig and Ricks by mile four and soon moved ahead into second place. With third place being the last money spot, Ricks covered McCandless’s first move and tried to get away from Hillig going into the last mile. Hillig wasn’t done though and came back for yet another third-place finish. McCandless ran the downhill course in 30:17, Hillig in 30:25, and Ricks in 30:33.
McCandless overtakes Ricks and Hillig near mile 4.
Behind Rizzo, McCandless, Hillig, and Ricks, the rest of the top 10 went – Boulder Express’ Pat Hunt fifth in 31:04, Boulder Running Company / adidas’ Robby Young sixth in 31:07, Stanford’s Andrew Berberick seventh in 31:43, Brandon Johnson (Thornton) eighth in 31:44, 19-year-old Ian Butler (Lakewood) ninth in 31:47, and Evergreen master Bob Weiner, sponsored by Newton, was tenth in 32:01.
Rizzo was presented with $500, a case of Honey Milk, an art print of Evergreen Lake. McCandless collected $300 and a case of Honey Milk, and Hillig $200 and a case of Honey Milk.
Hillig collects another third-place prize.
Bob Weiner was the first master and earned $250. Fleet Feet Boulder’s James Johnson, the winner at the USATF CO State 5K Championships, was second master in 32:29.
Cassie Slade (Highlands Ranch) was the heavy favorite in the women’s race and she did not disappoint. In a BRC adidas green top, Slade crossed the line in 34:40. Last year, Slade won the 5K here in 16:55.
BRC's Cassie Slade shows off her first-place hardware.
Behind her, Paige Higgins dropped from the race near the two-mile mark and that left Wendy Thomas (Windsor) and Candice Chavez (Fort Collins) to battle it out. Thomas, who will join the American Distance Project this fall, ran 35:07 for second place and Chavez, a former Univ. of California - Irvine competitor, was third in 35:36. Chavez unfortunately was not a USATF Colorado member, allowing Kristen Johansen (Greenwood Village) to be bumped up into the last money spot with her 36:35 run.
Chavez nears the finish in third place.
Runner’s Roost’s Kelsey Jones and Heather Utrata ran 36:49 and 37:17 for fifth and sixth overall in the competitive field. Shannon Filar (37:28), Danielle Quatrochi (37:39), Mary Alico (38:10), and Amy Lane (38:23) rounded out the top 10. Just as she was at the USATF CO 5K State Championships, Fleet Feet Boulder’s Alico was the first master.
The 10K had 1,198 finishers and raised money for the Alpine Rescue Team. The USATF Colorado Grand Prix continues in two weeks at the Heart & Sole Half Marathon in Boulder.
Look for video coverage and post-race interviews, provided by Honey Milk, later in the week.
Without Limits
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