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Boulder’s Lovato runs away with Howelsen Hill 8-Miler

Luke Graham
Runner Michael Lovato races toward the finish line of the Howelsen 8-miler.
Luke Graham





Boulder triathlete Michael Lovato finishes the Howelsen 8-miler on Saturday. Lovato, who is training for his 30th Ironman, was the top men’s finisher.
Luke Graham

Greg Ross races to the finish of Saturday’s Howelsen 8-miler. Ross finished third in the men’s division.Luke Graham

— Oh, the athletes who show up in Steamboat Springs.

Olympians are dotted in with weekend warriors at just about every event. Saturday was no exception when one of the top triathletes in country made his presence known at the Howelsen Hill 8-Miler, the sixth event in the Steamboat Springs Running Series.

From the start, Michael Lovato didn’t have to hand out his resume to let others know who he was.



One look at Lovato and it was a safe assumption that he was quite the athlete.

By the time Lovato completed the 8-mile course in 54 minutes, 41 seconds, the first runner across, he had logged the second-fastest time in the event’s history.



Moffat County cross-country coach Todd Trapp set the record in 2008, finishing in 54:00.

“I absolutely loved it,” Lovato said. “It was smooth the whole way. They were a couple sections that were tricky, but the bulk of the run was uphill.”

Lovato is a professional triathlete in Boulder. He currently is training for the Aug. 11 Ironman U.S. Championships in New York City.

Should he complete it, it will be the 30th Ironman triathlon he has done. He has won three Ironman races and finished ninth at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships three times.

“I’m going there to try and win it,” Lovato said of the U.S. Championships. “It’s going to be one of the most competitive races of the year. I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

Hannah Williams was the top women’s finisher in the 8-mile, clocking in at 1:01:14. Williams, typically a fixture at the Running Series, made her debut Saturday. She has been competing in races across Colorado in preparation for September’s 100-mile Run, Rabbit Run.

Williams has done two 50-kilometer races, a 25-miler and a marathon this summer. She’ll also do the Honey Stinger Trail Marathon in August, all in preparation for tackling her first century run.

“I feel semi-confident about it,” Williams said. “It’s hard to say because I’ve never done anything like that before. But it’s good to do something shorter and faster like this for me. It’s good to switch it up.”

Connor Drumm was second in the men’s 8-miler, finishing in 57:47. Greg Ross was third in 57:53.

Jenny Fox was second in the women’s 8-miler in 1:06:52, and Wendy Puckett was third in 1:10:08.

In the 4-mile race, Lovato’s wife, Amanda, won on the women’s side in 29:49. Laura Hager was second in 29:58, and Mary O’Connell was third in 31:51.

On the men’s side, Ian Boucher was first, logging a 25:01. Tyler Smith was second in 25:14, and Harry Niedl was third in 26:04.

The race served as a benefit for the Routt County Riders trails committee. Race Director Walter Magill said he anticipates the event raising more than $700.

Saturday’s event was the largest in its history, with more than 150 runners taking part.

It also served as a kickoff to a Sept. 8 benefit bike race. The inaugural Ride for Dirt event will be another fundraiser for Routt County Riders. It will feature 12.5- and 25-mile rides.

“It’s a great crowd,” Magill said. “We had record numbers.”

Results

8-mile race

Men

Place, name, age, time

1 Michael Lovato, 38, 54:41

2 Connor Drumm, 23, 57:47

3 Greg Ross, 34, 57:53

4 Scott Nalback, 36, 1:00:11

5 Tom Krabacher, 29, 1:03:43

6 Billy Diazell, 41, 1:04:33

7 Walter Magill, 42, 1:05:18

8 Dale Walker, 47, 1:05:47

9 Justin Baker, 35, 1:06:47

10 Matt Eggen, 29, 1:08:09

11 Rick Schuette, 52, 1:08:35

12 Jeffery Hill, 47, 1:08:37

13 Kevin Krajewski, 39, 1:09:25

14 Jeremy MacGray, 35, 1:09:46

15 Elijah Stevenson, 33, 1:10:07

16 Sam Jones, 44, 1:10:35

17 Ben Cassedy, 30, 1:11:34

18 Patrick Janin, 44, 1:11:47

19 Joe Leslie, 40, 1:11:49

20 Erik Graab, 52, 1:12:04

21 Zachary Walker, 32, 1:12:05

22 Martin Robb, 32, 1:12:18

23 Avrom Feinberg, 42, 1:12:32

24 Ryan Spaustat, 34, 1:13:01

25 James Todd, 41, 1:14:03

26 Ken Rogers, 58, 1:14:16

27 Carl Spangler, 47, 1:15:24

28 Dave Nagel, 43, 1:16:01

29 Brett Sargent, 50, 1:16:48

30 Rob Lutz, 47, 1:17:15

31 Brian Elliott, 43, 1:17:22

32 Thomas Nelson, 66, 1:17:39

33 Rec Vertuca 35, 1:18:06

34 Henry Evans 28, 1:18:56

35 Mark Freirich, 53, 1:20:09

36 Tony Requist, 48, 1:21:13

37 Arlo Lott, 31, 1:23:20

38 Iry Felman, 55, 1:26:57

39 Bryan Boer, 35, 1:27:08

40 Neal Neumiller, 39, 1:29:33

41 Sean Spiegelman, 22, 1:29:51

42 Jason Mark, 38, 1:31:21

43 A Luke, 50, 1:40:50

44 Jim Escue, 53, 2:03:57

45 Wes Breeding, 67, 2:04:01

Women

Place, name, age, time

1 Hannah Williams, 29, 1:01:14

2 Jenny Fox, 32, 1:06:52

3 Wendy Puckett, 43, 1:10:08

4 Anne Midgett, 42, 1:13:04

5 Danica Novgorodoff, 37, 1:15:01

6 Jill Lacourse, 35, 1:15:42

7 Jessica Stevenson, 33, 1:15:56

8 Sarah Kostin, 32, 1:18:13

9 Cara Marrs, 42, 1:19:15

10 Talaya Thomas, 35, 1:22:31

11 Jennifer Kerr, 41, 1:25:18

12 Lisa Mansfield, 44, 1:27:34

13 Sally Borgerding, 46, 1:27:58

14 Anita Pukenoa, 48, 1:29:34

15 Cindy Ptach, 53, 1:30:01

16 Shannon Derby, 44, 1:31:26

17 Joan Alisberry, 48, 1:31:32

18 Janet Lott, 30, 1:33:41

19 Jenniver Calderazzo, 36, 1:34:25

20 Millie Flanigan, 43, 1:35:02

21 Jennifer Baker, 39, 1:35:55

22 Heidi Rich, 41, 1:35:56

23 Melissa Debow, 40, 1:37:47

24 Pam Wooster, 49, 1:38:05

25 Anna Leavitt, 40, 1:43:37

26 Carin Geist, 46, 1:44:29

27 Carolyn Storz, 44, 1:46:55

28 Diana Mead, 52, 1:53:47

4-mile race

Men

Place, name, age, time

1 Ian Boucher, 16, 25:01

2 Tyler Smith, 19, 25:14

3 Harry Niedl, 38, 26:04

4 Spencer Knickerbocker, 19, 26:43

5 Charles Von Thaden, 18, 27:21

6 Tanner Heil, 16, 27:55

7 Ron Thomasson, 46, 28:49

8 Alek Gantick, 29:22

9 Dustin Powell, 23, 31:19

10 Ben Clark, 43, 31:55

11 Greg Longbottom, 17, 32:58

12 John Reinsma, 33, 33:33

13 Wade Schroeder, 47, 34:33

14 Ward Longbottom, 50, 34:53

15 Chris McConnell, 46, 36:50

16 Coyt Majure, 16, 37:43

17 Michael Stern, 52, 37:45

18 David Majure, 44, 37:54

19 Michael Peilet, 51, 38:01

20 Jay Ohare, 45, 43:12

21 Travis Gurney, 28, 43:19

22 Bob Lutz, 53, 43:51

23 Fred Austin, 15, 46:28

24 Jim Hansen, 54, 46:30

25 Tyler Jacobs, 37, 47:41

26 Dan Barnhart, 63, 47:50

27 John Schwella, 71, 1:54:36

Women

Place, name, age, time

1 Amanda Lovato, 40, 29:49

2 Laura Hager, 35, 29:58

3 Mary O’Connell, 18, 31:51

4 Haley Piske, 18, 32:00

5 Cara Piske, 16, 32:15

6 Cassady Daley, 19, 32:18

7 Rebecca Hession, 30, 33:02

8 Madison Keeefe, 17, 33:18

9 Lisa Adams, 42, 33:38

10 Emily Stout, 21, 33:55

11 Valreie Powell, 25, 35:44

12 Lucy Hackman, 28, 37:27

13 Marylynn Hansen, 46, 39:08

14 Emily Fisken, 28, 39:18

15 Michelle Geleb, 36, 40:15

16 Michelle Richter, 27, 40:38

17 Cheryl Fullerton, 42, 42:10

18 Meghan Alexander, 36, 42:10

19 Krista Drobek, 43, 43:07

20 Carie Pateman, 09, 44:02

21 Mia Migdall, 43, 44:13

22 Christi Pott, 33, 44:20

23 Laura Stout, 52, 44:35

24 Kayla Sehnert, 16, 46:28

25 Becky Berge, 36, 47:04

26 Jillyn Fowler, 45, 47:10

27 Janine Taurchini, 14, 50:07

28 Deborah Altshuler, 8, 50:26

29 Beth Altshuler, 45, 50:27

30 Becky Brynestad, 43, 54:28

31 Laura Harrison, 49, 54:28

32 Meghan Lukens, 19, 55:36

33 Cathy Fischer, 59, 55:40

34 Cece Carsky, 48, 55:49

35 Jennifer Cahill, 44, 56:41

36 Lana O’Nell, 30, 1:19:16

37 Barbara Robinson, 60, 1:19:20

To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com


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