2010.10.14: October 14, 2010: Togo RPCV Todd Braje to Defend U.S. 50-Mile Crown
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Togo:
Peace Corps Togo :
Peace Corps Togo: Newest Stories:
2010.10.14: October 14, 2010: Togo RPCV Todd Braje to Defend U.S. 50-Mile Crown
Togo RPCV Todd Braje to Defend U.S. 50-Mile Crown
Todd Braje never had to look over his shoulder en route to capturing last year's USA 50 Mile road title at the Tussey Mountainback, convincingly winning the race by more than 42 minutes.
Togo RPCV Todd Braje to Defend U.S. 50-Mile Crown
Braje To Defend U.S. 50-Mile Crown
Updated: Oct 14th 2010 12:10 PM EDT by Mario Fraioli
Crosby-Helms leads women's field; 2008 Olympic marathoner Brian Sell will serve as event's starter.
From: Running USA
BOALSBURG, Pa. - Todd Braje never had to look over his shoulder en route to capturing last year's USA 50 Mile road title at the Tussey Mountainback, convincingly winning the race by more than 42 minutes.
While Braje of Arcata, Calif. will be back to defend his national title on Saturday, October 16, at the 11th Mountainback, he is in for a fight this time.
Not only is this year's ultramarathon the largest in event history with 116 entrants, it also might be the most competitive.
The men's field is highlighted by Michael Wardian, one of the most prolific long distance runners in the United States, who will be making his Mountainback debut.
Wardian of Arlington, Va. is a two-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and the winner of countless races across the country including last Saturday's ING Hartford Marathon. He's also won USA 50K and 100K titles and has been a frontrunner at international ultramarathon championships. Last year, he collected his second straight USATF Ultra Runner of the Year Award.
Wardian said his goal is not only to win Saturday, but to break the course record of 5:48:34 set by Eric Grossman in 2008.
Braje, who won last year's Mountainback in 5 hours, 57 minutes, 18 seconds, picked up another U.S. title this year when he won the USA 100 Mile Trail Championship in Ohio last July. Mark Godale of Aurora, Ohio, who was runner-up to Braje at the national 100 miler, also will be in Saturday's race.
Michael Arnstein of New York City is another title contender. Last year, he placed second at the prestigious JFK 50 Mile in Maryland in 5:50:58, recording the 4th fastest time in the 47-year history of the race.
Other top contenders include: David James of Somers, N.Y. who recorded the world's fastest 100 mile time of 2009 (13:06:52); trail standout Jason Bryant, of Elkin, N.C. who placed third at the 2008 Mountainback in 6:15:16; and superstar veteran Howard Nippert of Pembroke, Va.
While Nippert, 45, might be the oldest runner in the lead pack Saturday, he seemingly is the most proven. His résumé includes four top 10 finishes at the World 100K Championship (2004-07).
The women's field is led by Devon Crosby-Helms of San Francisco who placed fourth at the World 100K in 2009.
While Crosby-Helms made the trip to Central Pennsylvania for last year's Mountainback, the flu prevented her from racing. If she's healthy Saturday, she probably can't be beat.
The women's course record is 6:36:16, set by Anne Lundblad in 2007.
Crosby-Helms won last year's JFK 50 Mile in 6:29:21, breaking Lundblad's course record there by 21 seconds.
Larissa Abramiuk of Wayland, Mass., who won last year's Mountainback in 7:26:26, said she hopes to be in the race again Saturday. But a hamstring injury has had her recently sidelined.
Veteran Connie Gardner of Medina, Ohio, a perennial frontrunner at ultramarathons across the U.S., also is a contender. She was the women's champ last month at the USA 24 Hour Championship in Ohio.
Brian Sell, the 2008 Olympic marathoner who currently is a grad student at Penn State, unfortunately won't be competing here, but he will serve as the honorary starter. Proceeds from the event will support the current renovation project for Centre House, the emergency shelter program of Housing Transitions, Inc. in State College, Pa.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: October, 2010; Peace Corps Togo; Directory of Togo RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Togo RPCVs; Sports
When this story was posted in March 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| How Volunteers Remember Sarge As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge." |
| Support Independent Funding for the Third Goal The Peace Corps has always neglected the third goal, allocating less than 1% of their resources to "bringing the world back home." Senator Dodd addressed this issue in the "Peace Corps for the 21st Century" bill passed by the US Senate and Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter proposed a "Peace Corps Foundation" at no cost to the US government. Both are good approaches but the recent "Comprehensive Assessment Report" didn't address the issue of independent funding for the third goal at all. |
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Running Competitor
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Togo; Sports; Running
PCOL46570
29