News Release

Contact: Mark Elmore, (518) 643-8806
Kathy Day, 868-4884 or 229-2470

80 ATHLETES FROM 18 STATES COMPETE IN U.S. NATIONAL SNOWSHOE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ANCHORAGE

ANCHORAGE, AK – March 5, 2005 – Aaron Robertson of New York and Nikki Kimball of Montana are the new national champions in snowshoeing. A total of 80 athletes from across the country competed in the 5th Annual Nike ACG U.S. National Snowshoe Championships at Kincaid Park in Anchorage today.

Members of the U.S. National Team include Aaron Robertson of NY, Charlie Wertheim of CO, Jesse Haynes of CA, Mike McManus of OR, Mike Decker of MI, Nikki Kimball of MT, Karen Mellar-Smith of CO, Lynann Lorenz of NY, Laurie Lambert of TX and Cindy Brochman of MN. Junior winners (19 and under) are Anna Leib of Colorado and Jason Ayr of Massachusetts. At today’s awards ceremony, U.S. Snowshoe Association Sports Director Mark Elmore announced that next year’s U.S. National Championships will be held at Bolton Valley Resort in Vermont. Today’s championships were dedicated to Jeremy Wright, who is a former winner of the North American Snowshoe Championships and was killed in Afghanistan in January 2005.

Snowshoe activity continues tomorrow at Russian Jack Springs Park. REI will offer a free snowshoe demonstration and clinic for the public at 11 a.m. The Tubb’s Snowshoes 4 X 2.5K Snowshoe Team Relay event begins at 1 p.m. (registration from 11:30 to 12:45 p.m.), with an awards ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m.

U.S. Snowshoe National Championships Race Results

Juniors
Ladies-Jr. Nat’l Champion-Anna Leib, CO, 27:53, Lindsay Dick, CO, 33:58, Heidi Lovett, AK, 36:23

Mens-Jr. National Champion-Jason Ayr, MA, 23:15, Zachary Rivers, NY, 23:46, Nicholas Wujciak, NY 27:08

Ladies National Team
Nikki Kimball, MT, 49:33, Karen Mellar-Smith, no time reported, CO, Lynann Lorenz, 54:44, Laurie Lambert, TX, 54:47, Cindy Brochman, MN, 55:53

Mens National Team
Aaron Robertson, NY, 42:19, Charlie Wertheim, CO, 43:12, Jesse Haynes, CA, 43:40, Mike McManus, OR, 43:55, Mike Decker, MI, 44:11

Age Group Winners

20-24 Women
Meghan Young, MA, 55:59, Maggie Masella, NY, 79:42

20-24 Men
Nathaniel Grabman, AK, 49:09

25-29 Women
Heather Gasaway, AK, 56:50

25-29 Men
Mark Churchill, VT, no time reported, Chris Beill, OR, no time reported, Victor Vilar, WI, no time reported

30-34 Women
Christine Cannard, AK, 56:32, Michelle Mitchell, AK, 61:16, Amy Carroll, AK, 1:11:13

30-34 Men
Tom Moser, AK, 54:25, Tim Mose, AK:, 52:24, Chad Carroll, AK, 49:54

35-39 Women
no competitors

35-39 Men
Kenny Brown, CA, 47:44, Eric Bohn, CA, 48:04, Brian Gunnarson, CO, 51:12

40-44 Women
Amy Johns, AK, no time reported, Laura McDonough, AK, 62:12, Andrea Kinzey-Wheeler, CO, 69:25

40-44 Men
Gary Fancher, NY, no time reported, John Clark, AK, 46:53, Dan Verrington, MA, 47:26

45-49 Women
no competitors

45-49 Men
Tom Borschel, ID, 44:14, Brian Purcell, CA, 50:46, Jamie Boese, CO, 55:05

50-54 Women
Shane Holonitch, CO, 1:12:03

50-54 Men
Rocky Reifenstuhl, AK, 53:42, Ed Myers, PA, 53:54, Jim McDonnell, MN, 54:19

55-59 Women
Colleen Cannard, AK, 1:13:34, Chary Griffin, NY, 1:13:48, Tina Oberhide, CO, 1:29:51

55-59 Men
Brent Weigner, WY, 53:32, Paul Fiondella, NY, 60:18

60-64 Men
Jim Graupner, MN, 54:29, Bob Durband, MN, 1:20:44

70+ Men
Richard Busa, MA, 1:25:30