Sacramento Running News

Hanna (left) and Pommier lead the pack. (Photo by Joe McCladdie)

There is a certain appeal that has kept one of the regions oldest ultras going year after year. While some races tout scenic or difficult routes, the Jed Smith Ultra Classic, hosted by the Buffalo Chips, is where ultrarunners go to be fast.

The race features two ultra distance races–50 mile and 50 km–as well as a 30 km and new 13.1 mile “fun run.” All of these are run on a 4.9 mile loop course along the American River, between Watt Avenue and the Guy West Bridge at CSUS.

This year, despite being early February, the weather was more like fine spring day, which made for pleasant running, spectating, and volunteering.

Bev Anderson-Abs running alone. (Photo by Joe McCladdie)

Typically the first race in the PAUSATF’s Ultra Grand Prix, the 50 km race draws competitive runners from around the region. So despite the relatively modest size of the field, the race, especially the 50 km, will typically feature some of the country’s fastest times.

This year was no exception and Sacramento’s Rich Hanna won the 50 km in a time of 3:13:06, which appears to be a new men’s 45-49 American record.

The race for second was won by Jean Pommier, 49, of Cuppertino, in 3:25:18, and Karl Schnaitter, 31, of Mountain View, finished third in 3:27:59.

Lisa Hughey, 34, of Livermore, was the top female finisher in 3:59:09, and Brenda Blinn, 47, of Napa was second in 4:18:42. Rounding out the top three in 4:31:08 was Belden, California’s Kyria Wilson, 35, who finished in 4:31:05.

In the 50 mile race, it was all about the women, as they took the top-four places overall. Red Bluff’s Beverley Anderson-Abbs, 49, led from the start to win handily and set a new course record in 6:14:46.

Following Anderson-Abbs was Clare Abram, 43, of San Carlos, in 7:07:57, Granite Bay’s Julie Fingar, 38, in 7:21:29, and Anita Fromm, 42, Colorado Springs, with a 7:23:33.

Christian Watt (left) and Alfred Martinez were the only under-18 finishers in the 50 km. (Photo by Joe McCladdie)

The first man to finish was Tony Marshall, 36, of San Rafael, who completed the 50 miles in 8:07:56. Rounding out the top three men were John Nichols, 49, of El Dorado Hills, in 8:37:51 and  Michael Peoples, 50, of Orangevale, in 9:18:46.

In the 30 km sprint, Folsom’s Jesse Barragan, 35, shot to an early lead and took the overall win in a pretty brisk 1:51:04.

Following up in 2nd and 3rd overall was a “battle of the Jens,” where ultimately Jennifer Pfeifer, 42, of El Dorado (not El Dorado Hills) prevailed over Jenny Capel, 41, of Reno, with finishes of 2:09:10 and 2:10:03. Rounding out the top-three women was yet another “Gen,” Sacramento’s Genevieve Clavier, 50, who finished in 2:28:44.

The 2nd man, and 4th overall finisher, was Elk Grove’s Eddie Schmidt, 49, who came in at 2:16:48. Schmidt was followed to the finish by David Bowers, 40, of Elk Grove, with a 2:20:00.

The race “piloted” a half-marathon fun run this year, and the top finisher was yours truly with a 1:30:13. The top woman was Mendocino’s Sarah Carvill, 30, who finished in 1:50:50.

The half-marathon fit well into the overall event this year and you can expect to see this race expanded significantly for next year.

Results for the 50 km are here.

Results for the 50 mile are here.

Results for the 30 km are here.

Results for the half-marathon are here.

More details, including age group results and laps can be found at Capitol Road Race Management.

In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I am co-R.D. for this event.

Bev Abbs gets a post-race hug from husband Alan Abbs. (Photo by Joe McCladdie)