For the week of July 24 - 30, 2002

Jensen smokes field in Backcountry Run

---

There were plenty of amazing and determined athletes in Saturday’s 22nd annual Backcountry Run sponsored by The Elephant’s Perch of Ketchum—none more amazing than Michelle Jensen of Boise.

Michelle Jensen of Boise turned in an incredible 1.59:27 time to win her fifth Backcountry Run women’s 16.5 mile title. Express photo by Willy Cook

Jensen, 32, just demolished her own record in the women’s 16.5-mile run and finished third overall of 94 long-course runners in 1.59:27. Back in 1996, she established the course record of 2.05:10. She beat it by 5:43.

And she’s still nursing her third child, organizer Bob Rosso said. "She told me she’s been running quite a bit so she decided to do the 16 miler this year. She smoked it. Michelle is just a phenomenal runner," Rosso said.

It was Jensen’s fifth victory in the Ketchum trail run since 1995 but the first time she broke two hours.

Men’s winner was Wayne Bunce, 32, of Clarkston, Wash. in 1.56:15. Rosso said the "most tenacious," runner was also the oldest, 63-year-old Dick Dorworth who conquered the course at his own pace in 3.49:12.

Besides Dorworth, local class winners at 16.5 miles were Tyler Davis-Jeffers and Kristen Albright.

Ketchum’s Grant Folske, 25, won the men’s 10-mile run in 58:56. Finishing 5-6-7-8 was a strong Ketchum contingent of Derrick May (1.02:51), Pat Casey (1.02:53), Drew Michener (1.03:11) and Jedd Young (1.06:54).

Boise’s Cynthia Mauzerall, 28, paced 10-mile women in 1.07:19, good for 10th place. Her time was 1:13 faster than runner-up Kitty Marcroft, 40, of Hailey. In third 1:17 back was Ketchum’s Angenie McCleary.

Other local age class winners on the shorter course were Dick Andersen, Hannes Thum, John Swyers, Consolata Pennay and one more amazing athlete, 75-year-old Charley French of Ketchum, 138th of 175.

Showing the biggest time improvements over last year were 10 milers Joe Yelda (5:21), Ashley McQueen (4:58), Kaelin Kiesel (4:20) and, drum roll, Charley French (3:40).

There were 175 runners ages 14-75 in the 10-mile run and 94 finishers ages 21-63 in the 16.5-mile test. Local contestants comprised 99 slots out of the total of 269 finishers.

For more photos, check next week’s (Wednesday, July 31, 2002 edition of the printed Idaho Mountain Express) Local Life section. 

For complete results including out-of-town runners, check this week’s Mountain Express web site.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.