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August 19, 2000

By Luke DeCock/The Gazette

Among the 1,800 runners who will line up on Manitou Avenue at 7 a.m. today for the Pikes Peak Ascent are 43 who didn't have to walk very far.

As residents of Manitou Springs - representing almost 1 percent of the population - they can walk to the starting line.

An advantage? Maybe. There are plenty who had to go a little longer to get there.

All 50 states will be represented in Sunday's Pikes Peak Marathon and the Ascent isn't far behind.

But even they are locals compared to some. Today's Ascent has entrants from Canada, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland and Venezuela.

Last year's Ascent winners, though, were both from the Front Range and both were repeat winners. Jeremy Wright of Laramie won the men's division in 2 hours, 18 minutes, 32 seconds and Manitou's Cindy O'Neill won the women's division in 2:45:17, 8 minutes ahead of second place.

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