Scott USA's Tucker finishes Kona Ironman
Scott Tucker, 48, of Ketchum successfully completed the 34th Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship on a 140.6-mile course Saturday, Oct. 9 at Kona, Hawaii.
In only his second attempt at the Ironman distance of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile marathon run, Tucker was 132nd in the Men's 45-49 age class with a final time of 11.18:30. He placed 1,109th overall of the 1,926 finishers.
The director of the Running Division of Ketchum-based Scott USA clocked splits of 1.10:36 for the swim, 5.41:46 bike and 4.17:18 for the marathon.
Tucker had qualified for the Kona Ironman by finishing third in his 45-49 age class during the 28th annual Subaru Ironman Canada Aug. 29 at Penticton, British Columbia. His time was 9.57:32 with splits of 58:51, 5.23:57 and 3.28:06.
It was Tucker's second visit to the Kona Ironman but the first as a competitor. Last year he attended the Ironman World Championship working for Scott Sports and promoting its performance running shoes.
Two Australians won Saturday's Ironman. They were 37-year-old accountant Chris McCormack (8.10:37 with splits of 51:36, 4.31:50, 2.43:31) and 29-year-old Mirinda Carfrae (8.58:36, 42nd overall, with splits of 55:53, 5.04:59, 2.53:32).
McCormack, in 19th place after the swim and fifth after the bike, won by 1:40 over Andreas Raelert, 34, of Germany (8.12:17). In the absence of three-time defending queen Chrissie Wellington (flu symptoms), Carfrae had the fourth-fastest time in Ironman women's history, and the best marathon ever among the gals.
City of Trees is good to Jones-Wilkins
Ultramarathoner and Community School Head of School Andy Jones-Wilkins, 43, finished second overall and won the Masters Division in Sunday's City of Trees 26.2-mile marathon run in Boise.
Jones-Wilkins (2.51:05) was second of 126 men behind winner Jimmy Grant, 32 (2.32:40). Winning the Men's 55-59 age class of Sunday's marathon and placing 44th overall was Ketchum's Will Raff (3.42:44).
There were 211 marathon finishers including Wood River High School teacher Stephanie Spindler, 35, who was 14th in the Women's 35-39 age class and 53rd among women in 5.00:21.
City of Trees half-marathon finishers at the 13.1-mile distance Sunday included Jennifer Schultz, 42, in 1.53:05 (2nd 40-44, 39th woman); Frank Sweiding, 55, in 1.43:12 (5th 55-59, 56th overall); and Susan Gundy, 55, in 2.01:35 (2nd 55-59, 85th woman overall).
Some local runners might not be included in this report because the race Web site did not include home addresses with its results. If you want your results included, drop a note to sports@mtexpress.com.
Sunny day for Valley Club Pro-Am
Ideal weather conditions greeted golf pros and amateurs from all over southern Idaho Friday, Oct. 8 during The Valley Club's Pro-Am sponsored by the Snake River Chapter of Rocky Mountain PGA.
Valley Club assistant professional Jonathan Strellow (2-over-par 74) finished second among pros in the 18-hole competition behind winner Jim Empey (even-par 72) from Quail Hollow Golf Course in Boise.
Low Senior Professional was Boise pro Ron Ptacek (75).
Idaho Falls pro Tim Reinke with amateurs Ray French, Wes Mills and David Smith (132) won Team Sweeps ahead of three teams tied for second including The Valley Club team with head pro Jaime Sharp, Buzz Griffin, Richard Shelton and Paul Hartzell (134).
Hartzell in Flight Two tied for the second gross amateur honor at 86, while another Valley Club golfer, Jerry Mells, won Flight Two first net by five strokes with a score of 65.
Golf pros from southern and central Idaho each brought three of their amateurs to play the four-person team competition along with individual sweeps for pros and amateurs.
Farrow back from Chile
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation alpine skier Tanner Farrow, 17, an Alpine Olympic Development Team member, returned last week from the U.S. Ski Team's training camp in Chile.
Farrow was one of three J1 (17-19 year-olds) athletes selected to join the USST camp because of his standing on the national rankings. He spent two weeks training with USST members in Chile. According to Nate Schwing, SVSEF Head J1-J2-FIS Coach, Tanner's selection "put him into an elite group of skiers on the U.S. Ski Team's radar. Tanner is on track to make the USST."
His trip was funded by the Olympic Development Team Foundation, a fundraising organization of the SVSEF.
Farrow placed seventh in slalom and 10th/12th giant slalom during the Australian national championships Aug. 9-11 at Thredbo. He won the bronze medal in slalom at the 2010 National J2 Championships in March at Sugarloaf, Me.
Conor Davis in telemark skiing film at Whiskeys Oct. 20
Local skier, Sun Valley athlete and Community School graduate Conor Davis will appear in Telemark Skier Magazine's movie "The Freeheal Life 2: Hippies, Punx and Misfits," to be screened Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Whiskey Jacques in Ketchum. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. All ages are welcome, $10 at the door. Of the $10, $2 goes to the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center.
High School Activities Week
The Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA) is observing National High School Activities Week Oct. 10-16. Specific days include: National Youth Health Awareness Day on Wednesday, Oct. 13; National Coaches, Sponsors and Advisors Day on Oct. 14; National Fan Appreciation Day on Oct. 15; and National Community Service Day on Oct. 16.
Bring leashed dogs to Saturday's "Furry Run and Walk"
The Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley is inviting runners and walkers to a 6-kilometer "Furry Trail Run & Walk" Saturday, Oct. 16 starting at 9 a.m. from Hailey's Quigley Canyon (use the high school parking lot). Fee is $20. Dogs must be on a leash or you can borrow one from the shelter. Visit active.com.
"Willie's Run" is Oct. 31
As his senior project, Wood River High School senior Brandon Wade is hosting a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) running and walking race called "Willie's Run for the Environment" on Sunday, Oct. 31 at Hulen Meadows Park three miles north of Ketchum. All proceeds go to the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund.
BCRD starts open gyms, indoor playground
The Blaine County Recreation District will start two of its fall/winter indoor recreational programs Monday, Oct. 18. Site is The Community Campus gym, Hailey. Visit bcrd.org.
Evening gym sessions are Adult Volleyball on Mondays from 7-10 p.m.; Family Night (batting cage, bounce house and pickleball) on Tuesdays from 6-10 p.m.; Indoor Soccer on Wednesdays from 7-10 p.m.; Adult Basketball on Thursdays from 7-10 p.m.; and Indoor Soccer on Fridays from 7-10 p.m.
Indoor Playground for kids ages 2-6 and parents takes place Mondays through Thursdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. starting Oct. 18 and continuing through March 31 at the BCRD gym inside The Community Campus.
Trail Creek 12k Oct. 30
Sunvalleyrunning.com is planning the first Trail Creek 12-kilometer (7.7 mile) Trail Run Saturday, Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. starting and finishing near Sun Valley's Trail Creek Cabin. Register at active.com. Race director Brad Mitchell (720-3759) is hosting Tuesday group course runs that wrap up Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. from Hemingway Memorial parking area on Trail Creek Rd.
SVSEF Ski Swap is Oct. 21-24
Mark calendars for the Sun Valley Ski Education Ski Swap Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 21-24 at The Community School barn, Sagewillow Farms, and the Game Dinner/Auction Saturday, Nov. 13 in the Sun Valley Inn Limelight Room.
