Carbondale runner outpaces field at Mount Sopris Runoff
Glenwood Springs correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
CARBONDALE – Drew Scott took up running a dozen or so years ago to clear his mind. In Saturday’s 16.5-mile jaunt known as the Mount Sopris Runoff, he had plenty of time to do just do that.
And more.
Completing a course rich in elevation gain, Scott clocked in at 1 hour, 58 minutes and 16 second to win the 31st annual runoff, a fixture of Carbondale’s Mountain Fair festival.
Runners got their start at 7-Eleven in Basalt and crossed the finish line just outside Mountain Fair’s Sopris Park digs. Along the way, the hearty 40 or so race entrants had to contend with an ascent of approximately 1,500 feet on West Sopris Creek Road and an 1,800-foot descent on Prince Creek Road as they trudged into Carbondale.
Scott, a 31-year-old Carbondale resident who moved to the Roaring Fork Valley from Richmond, Va., in 2000, is plenty initiated with the challenging course.
“It’s in my backyard,” he said. “I actually ran the course twice before today. I run trails back there too.”
Scott’s also a runoff veteran. He estimated he’s entered the race some four or five times. Saturday marked his first victory.
“This is my best time,” he said. “I got second three years ago.”
Tailing Scott across the finish line were Austin Allen (2:03:13) and Jeff Conklin (2:05:06).
Jennifer Mendez finished first among women, timing in at 2:14:43.
May Selby (2:18:04) and Marta Darby (2:23:10) took second and third in the women’s field.
jcaspersen@postindependent.com
Coal Ridge’s Ben Simons pitches no-hitter in baseball season opener
Ben Simons, the reigning Western Slope League Player of the Year, is setting the stage for another dominant season.