Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Tobin returns with gusto, grabs third Backcountry title

259 runners finish 16.5-mile, 10-mile tests


Michael Tobin relaxes after his men's 16.5-mile win Saturday. Photo by Willy Cook

Community School graduate Michael Tobin, 41, of Boise made a triumphant return to The Elephant's Perch Backcountry Run Saturday.

Tobin, who won the 16.5-mile men's event on the old course in 1989 and 1990—setting the old course record in 1990—came back for the first time in 15 years and literally ran away with the 16.5-mile race.

Moving along at a rapid pace of 6:50 per mile, Tobin (1.52:52) outlegged his nearest pursuer by eight minutes and became the first man in the 25-year history of the event to win three 16.5-mile Backcountry Runs.

Former local runner Grant Folske and Michael Carlson of Boise are two-time winners. Otherwise, the list of men's 16.5-mile winners is a "Who's Who," of Intermountain area runners. There have been 21 different winners in 25 years.

The Wood River Valley is accustomed to Tobin's exploits.

A professional multi-sport athlete and former world duathlon king, Tobin won the Baldy Hill Climb six times and still holds the course record. He's the son of another avid hill climber, the late Jim Tobin, who at one time owned Scott USA in Ketchum.

Wood River Valley runners accounted for six of the top 12 spots among the men. Hailey's Jeff Roth, 40, was a strong third in 2.03:35. Brad Mitchell and Whit Albright placed 6-7, while Will Raff, Jim Hilding and Miles Fink-Debray were 10-12.

Women's 16.5-mile winner for a second straight year was Boise's Joelle Vaught, 30. She was 16th overall in 2.21:23.

On a very warm morning, 259 runners (82 at 16.5 miles, 177 at 10 miles) finished the trek along the Adams Gulch and Fox Creek trail systems north of town. There were 77 locals running, 30% of the field, meaning that 70% came from outside the Wood River Valley.

One interesting aspect of Saturday's event was the participation of 17 members of the Tamalpa family from the Bay Area of California. They were having a family reunion at Wild Horse Creek Ranch and decided to take a morning run.

Another durable athlete who excelled Saturday was Boise's Michelle Jensen, 35, who won the 10-mile women's race for the first time in 1.05:12.

Jensen, a five-time 16.5-mile women's winner (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002) was seventh overall and 1:41 ahead of Fairfield's outstanding endurance athlete Morgan Arritola, 19. Arritola (1.06:53) ended up 12th overall out of 177 runners .

Alan Newton, 42, of Boise was the men's 10-mile winner in 57:14. Ketchum runners Ryan Still, 31, and Taylor Sundali, 15, finished fifth and sixth in times of 1.04:07 and 1.05:07.

Local class winners in the 16.5-mile test were Will Raff, Miles Fink-Debray, Tiffany Larson and Kristen Albright.

Raff, 51, finished his 20th Backcountry Run event—19 of them on the long course and one at 10 miles. He has now finished 15 consecutive Backcountry Runs. And he's done it every year by placing among the top 10 or 15 of all runners.

Local 10-mile class winners were Jenny Busdon, Linda McClatchy, Lauren Kulik, Angenie McCleary, Morgan Arritola, Dale Closner, Ryan Still, Owen Hanley and Taylor Sundali.

Complete results for all 259 finishers, plus a history of race winners dating back to the inaugural race July 11, 1981 for 40 long course runners and just five 10-milers, can be found on the accompanying web site story this week.




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