This story has been archived from the Sunday, August 21, 2005

An adventure for all ages

Teen top man: 40-somethings lead women

By MERI-JO BORZILLERI
THE GAZETTE

Colorado Springs teenager Ryan Hafer, 19, became the youngest to win the men’s Pikes Peak Ascent in race history Saturday, but Lisa Goldsmith of Nederland led a trio of 40-somethings — including Manitou Springs’ Cindy O’Neill — in the women’s Ascent’s top four.

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE Four-time winner Anita Ortiz rounded the last curve of the Pikes Peak Ascent on Saturday. She finished fourth. Lisa Goldsmith, 40, of Nederland won the women's race. Ryan Hafer, 19, of Colorado Springs won the men's race.

While this Ascent was one for the ages, it was also a showcase for ageless Mother Nature. A late-morning storm that dumped six inches of hail on Pikes Peak Highway stranded up to 600 people — many of them exhausted runners — for hours atop the 14,115-foot peak.

The misery didn’t stop there. For the second straight year, the threat of lightning forced organizers to close the race course, turning back about 200 competitors just three miles from the summit’s finish line. Many had to walk the 10 miles or so back down the mountain to the race start.

“It’s been miserable for them,” said Rick Johnson, Pikes Peak Highway ranger. The 50th Pikes Peak Marathon begins at 7 a.m. today in Manitou Springs. The forecast for Manitou Springs today from weather.com is 80 percent chance of precipitation including thunderstorms with a high of 72 degrees.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0259 or merijo@gazette.com

Copyright 2005, The Gazette, a division of Freedom Colorado Information. All rights reserved. Used with permission.