The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Racing and winning against professionals
[ by Kinlee Whitney, Communications Content Coordinator for WCU ]
Last summer, the Western Mountain Sports Trail Running team took two teams of three to Austria to represent Adidas X Terrex in an international race. Each group of three runners competed in a 100-kilometer race (about 62 miles) divided into three parts. The unique and challenging routes were distributed across 21-kilometer, 35-kilometer and 44-kilometer sections.
The two Western teams placed sixth and seventh in the mixed-gender category. Of the 130+ teams participating in the race (mixed gender, men’s only and women’s only), the Western teams placed 23rd and 22nd overall.
Jack Breezley, who competed with the team that placed seventh in the mixed category, said that the most challenging part of the race was the terrain. He added that he had run faster on courses 6+ miles longer in distance than this race just because of how technically challenging it was.
“The course was constantly climbing or descending, sometimes on what felt like cliffs with two tall steps over rocks or roots,” said Breezley. “Still, I believe this was my strongest performance yet.”
Brianna Rickert said she went into the race with low expectations since she didn’t know how she would compete against professional athletes. Though her team placed sixth in the mixed category, Rickert finished 39th overall, third overall American and first American female.
“Once the race started, I went out with the goal of staying with the people I was around at the time and quickly realized that I could start moving forward in the large pack of runners,” said Rickert. “My race went so smoothly, and I felt incredible the entire time.”
The runners both gave their gratitude to Josh Eberly, the Mountain Sports Trail Running coach, and the Adidas Terrex team for the opportunity to race at an international level.
“It was without a doubt the coolest week of my life and a sneak peek of my end-all goal, to travel and race professionally,” said Breezley.
