Last weekend Lee Vining hosted the 30th Annual Tioga Pass Run, and what an anniversary celebration it was! Over 100 participants raced up Highway 120 west, starting in front of the Mono Lake Committee in Lee Vining, and finishing at the east entrance to Yosemite National Park. That’s 12.4 miles … but only one hill!
The locals once again dominated the run, with 52 participants coming from the Eastern Sierra communities of Bishop, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining, and Bridgeport. But participants also came from all over California, from Nevada, and from as far away as Colorado.
Mammoth Lakes resident (and Olympian!) Ryan Hall, age 27, set a new course record of 1:20:57, besting the old record by nearly eight minutes! Rebecca Sopp, age 23, from Lee Vining, was the first-place female finisher, with a time of 1:51:50.
Bill Dickey, 71, of Arcadia, received a lifetime achievement award for the most Tioga Pass Run finishes. Bill has only missed two out of the 30 races! Bill was also the oldest participant in this year’s race. The youngest participant was Michael Walecke of Lee Vining, age 14, who finished in just over two hours and 30 minutes.
This year several fire crews participated in the race, including Boundary Peak Hotshots from Bishop, Forest Service Crew 2 from Mammoth Lakes, Forest Service Engine 11 from Lundy Canyon, and BLM Engine 3132 from Lundy Canyon.
Congratulations to all who participated!
A huge thank-you goes to all the volunteers who checked everyone in, handed out water and Gatorade, recorded finishing times, and shuttled racers back down the mountain. Thank you to all the sponsors of the Tioga Pass Run, especially the Whoa Nellie Deli, who provided delicious lunches for all participants and volunteers after the race. We’d like to give a special thank-you to Ken & Elizabeth Corathers, who have been working hard for nearly a year to organized the Tioga Pass Run. It truly wouldn’t have happened without you!
For information on next year’s Tioga Pass Run, keep checking the website.