Runners survive a warm Rumble

The 14th edition of the Peterson Ridge Rumble 20- and 40-mile trail race started Sunday, April 10, with a crisp clear morning that turned into one of the warmer race days in the history of the event. Nonetheless, a total of 452 runners completed their respective courses, making it the largest overall finish number since the race began back in 2003.

Race director Sean Meissner could not recall temperatures climbing into the mid-70s in previous years.

"That made it a little tougher than normal, especially for the 40-milers," he said.

"The silver lining is that the fantastic weather made the post-race hang-out conditions very pleasant for all the tired runners as they feasted on food and drink on the infield of the track," he said.

Meissner's prediction of a runner breaking two hours in the 20 mile race did not quite pan out, but Thomas Morgan of Bend gave it his best shot on his way to winning in 2:03.31. Ian Dobson, a former Stanford University star and Olympic 5,000-meter qualifier in 2008 who grew up in Klamath Falls, finished second in 2:06:13.

Local favorite Ashley Nordell creamed the women's field on her way to 18th place overall with a time of 2:33:32. Ann Ciaverella of McMinnville finished second in 2:44:14 among women and thirty-third overall among 332 finishers.

Local finishers in the race included Vince Grace (3:07:48), Ramon Alonso (3:12:57), Jessica Slaughter (3:18:05), Jessie Durham (3:21:20), Winter Lewis (3:45:10), and Lucie Pronold and Shannon Beutler (4:19.46).

Rick Stilson of Bend won the 40-mile course in 4:26:05, while Kyle Ormsby of Portland finished second in 4:39:14.

Joelle Vaught of Boise, Idaho finished fourth overall and first among women in 4:57.05. Second place was a battle as four women finished within three minutes of one another, but it was Alice Nielsen of Portland who claimed runner-up honors in 16th place overall in 5:40:04.

A total of 120 runners completed the 40-mile course. Two Sisters residents completed the 40-mile race. Kelley Moen finished in 6:08:10 and Dave Roberts clocked 6:44:22.

Meissner thanked the Sisters community for its continued support of the race.

"Since I don't live here anymore, I rely on all sorts of friends and volunteers to pull this event off every year," he said. "I got compliments all day yesterday about how well racers were treated at aid stations, at junctions and at the finish, which I know, along with the great trails and beautiful scenery, is what makes people want to come back year after

year."

Meissner said that the comments he got over and over included two major themes: "People commented on how friendly everyone was and how unbelievably nice the trail system is here in Sisters."

The 15th annual race will take place in April, 2017, and Meissner, who works as a professional running coach in Durango, Colorado, hopes a few more locals will enter the race.

"If people start planning and training now there is no reason they can't take part in the 20-miler!" he said.