Possible contenders at White River (revised)
July 27, 2010Below is an informal look at some of the top runners entered in this Saturday’s White River 50. If I’ve omitted your favorite contender, please leave a comment!
MEN
Tony Krupicka. A last-minute entrant, Tony needs no introduction after breaking Uli’s course record here last July.
Me. I hesitate to call myself the favorite, but I am the top returnee from ran well last year (3rd place, 7:01:59) and am fitter now than I was then — I think.
Aaron Heidt. Finished right behind me at White River in 2008 (7:08), then whipped me and everyone else at the 2009 Chuckanut 50K.
Adam Lint. Ran an excellent 6:59 here in 2008, and stayed close to me on a recent double-Cougar workout that went extremely well for me.
Scott Jurek. Has always run solidly but unspectacularly at White River, with times in the 7:13 to 7:16 range. Expect the same this year, as the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc on August 27th is probably a higher priority for him.
Josh Brimhall. Has previously posted respectable times of 7:14 (2008) and 7:15 (2006), and has enough speed to have won the Pemberton 50K four times.
Yassine Diboun. Seems to race quite frequently and often quite well. Finished 4th in the Bighorn 100 a few weeks ago, for example. Could challenge Jurek for “top vegan” honors.
William Emerson. Won the first USATF title ever contested at White River back in 2001 with a time of 6:58. More recently, has won the masters division in 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009, with a time of 7:19 last year.
Chris Charles. An ultrarunning novice, but those who’ve seen him clean up at the Cougar Mountain races know that he’s a man to be feared on the trails. Could he surprise us the way Ian Fraser did last year?
WOMEN
Meghan Arbogast. Returning to White River for the first time in several years; ran 8:34 in 2004 and 8:41 in ’06. A threat to run much faster than that, but may be a bit tired after her great 2nd-place finish at Western States.
Susannah Beck. Crushed Kami Semick here in 2008 with an outstanding course record of 7:32. Not in that kind of shape this year, but did win Chuckanut in March. Like Arbogast, a masters runner who could win overall.
Pam Smith. Like Arbogast, may be tired from Western States (where she was 10th). Displayed good speed earlier in the year with a runner-up finish at the American River 50.
Amy Sproston. I don’t know much about her, but she was 4th at the Miwok 100K in May.
For race-day updates, your best bet may be to follow the
whiteriver50 Twitter account and/or search Twitter for #WR50.
My Track Record 
Susannah Beck will not be racing White River this weekend.Good luck, Greg. I'm looking for 6 and change out of you!
No "may" about it, I AM tired! Why didn't anybody tell me running 100 miles is hard?? ;)I am driving up with Amy, Yassine and William – not a bad carpool,huh?I think Helen Cospolich will be a contender in the women's race as well.I look forward to seeing you Saturday. Go Ephs!
Good luck, Greg! Thanks for the Twitter link
I'm pretty sure Dakota Jones is running. Can't wait to see how he does out there!
hey greg…best of luck and i hope you at least break through the 7 hr barrier. i also wouldn't overlook Alex Henry. He ran faster than Kyle's CR at Orcas this year and also posted a speedy 6:35 at the Capitol Peak 50 in April.
Oh, and a women's dark horse to look out for: Ashley Arnold.
[…] Before my 2010 ultras (Rocky Raccoon 100, Mad City 100K, White River 50), I researched the competition and wrote detailed race previews. […]