Jul 19 2010
Rattlesnake Trail 50k Results & Final Race Report
Saturday July 10, 2010
The 16th Rattlesnake Trail 50k is in the books. Adam Casseday was the race winner {4:27:04}. When the race began, there was a 19 year old in the lead pack {Ricky Campbell}. It was his first ultra run and a very good run against veteran racers. Second place was Trevor Garretson {4:45:00} followed by Jack Lenhoff {4:48:12}. The race up front was much closer until Adam started pushing the uphill sections. Considering the Rattlesnake course has 10 major climbs and many intermediate uphills, Adam pushed a lot.
The women’s field was another tight race until about 22 miles. Elizabeth Minnick {5:29:18} and Sharon Marks {5:40:14} stayed close together followed 3 minutes behind by Susan Donnelly. Sharon won’t mind me telling her age. She is 52. She has always run strong at the Rattlesnake. Last year, Susan Donnelly stopped to help a runner {my friend, John Sheets}. This year she pushed through warm temperatures to capture 3rd {6:21:06}.
Dale Fleckenstein was this years Male Masters winner {5:14:36} Local runner and all around good egg, Joni Adams took the Women’s Master division in a time of 7:12:20.
This year we had runners from 16 states and Canada. In the 16 years of the race, we have had runners from all across the country run one of the toughest and most enjoyable trail races you will find.
When the Rattlesnake Trail 50k began, my youngest son, Aaron, was just a 9 year old. My oldest, Paul, was 11. He has a son, Aidan, who is now 6. Wow, time really does go by quickly.
16 summers in a row, my wife Mary Anne and myself have either helped or race directed the Rattlesnake Trail 50k. Over the last 26 years, I have directed one run or another. This year marks our last Rattlesnake. We wanted to go out on a high note. Great finisher awards from Gauley River Pottery. Super shirts from Sport Mart and sponsorship, for the 16th year from John Sheets and Hammergel. The greatest thing we have had as well as the runners is our volunteers. Glenn Jarrell, Terry Tomlinson, Forrest and Patrick Allen, Steve and Sandy Childress, Steve Marshall, Missy Nicely, Kenneth Wheeler, June and Jerry Hicks, Joe Richards {Kanawha Amateur Radio Club}, Aaron Hamrick, Paul Hamrick, Aidan Hamrick, Kanawha State Forest and my very best friend, Mary Anne, my wife.
I have had a great time with the race. Every finisher has been special. The middle to the back are the folks I relate to the most. That’s where I run. The last runner is always special. They are competing against the course, not other runners.
Thanks for everything. I’ll see you out on the trails
Dennis Hamrick
Results
| PLACE | NAME | TIME | AGE | M/F | STATE |
| 1 | ADAM CASSEDAY | 4:27:04 | 29 | M | WV |
| 2 | TREVOR GARRETTSON | 4:45:00 | 35 | M | OH |
| 3 | JACK LENHOFF | 4:48:12 | 37 | M | OH |
| 4 | JAMES A. BRENNAN | 4:49:52 | 31 | M | VA |
| 5 | NATHAN MILLER | 4:50:15 | 35 | M | OH |
| 6 | JOE DUDAK | 4:56:10 | 36 | M | VA |
| 7 | RICKY CAMPBELL | 5:10:48 | 19 | M | WV |
| 8 | ABRON MOORE | 5:11:38 | 30 | M | NC |
| 9 | DALE FLECKENSTEIN | 5:14:36 | 46 | M | NC |
| 10 | CHRISTOPHER GOETZMAN | 5:21:10 | 29 | M | VA |
| 11 | ELIZABETH MINNICK | 5:29:18 | 29 | F | VA |
| 12 | JACK KILISLIAN | 5:31:18 | 40 | M | TN |
| 13 | SCOTT ROBINSON | 5:35:30 | 44 | M | OH |
| 14 | BRADEN CATT | 5:39:01 | 23 | M | IN |
| 15 | BRUCE TANKSLEY | 5:40:04 | 50 | M | TN |
| 16 | SHARON MARKS | 5:40:07 | 52 | F | WV |
| 17 | NEIL BRAGUE | 5:40:14 | 42 | M | OH |
| 18 | JEFFREY L. NOLAN | 5:41 | 47 | M | KY |
| 19 | RICK MOODY | 5:43:50 | 51 | M | OH |
| 20 | JAY MAST | 5:48:15 | 34 | M | OH |
| 21 | DAN LEHMANN | 5:48:41 | 59 | M | WV |
| 22 | MARTY COLEMAN | 5:51:11 | 49 | M | GA |
| 23 | DOUG JONES | 6:03:56 | 45 | M | KY |
| 24 | RICK GRAY | 6:04:09 | 49 | M | TN |
| 25 | MATTHEW YOUNG | 6:08:15 | 35 | M | WV |
| 26 | LEE PIERCE | 6:18:41 | 21 | M | TN |
| 27 | JASON HUBER | 6:18:52 | 29 | M | NC |
| 28 | SUSAN DONNELLY | 6:21:06 | 47 | F | TN |
| 29 | MARK BARTON | 6:27:26 | 53 | M | OH |
| 30 | JEFF MCGONNELL | 6:29:27 | 50 | M | NC |
| 31 | CARROLL FOSTER | 6:31:01 | 37 | M | SC |
| 32 | IAIN HUGHES | 6:36:01 | 47 | M | OH |
| 33 | SARAH E. ISON | 6:39:28 | 21 | F | WV |
| 34 | FADWA NATOUR | 6:39:58 | 39 | F | DC |
| 35 | DAVID MOORE | 6:40:00 | 52 | M | NC |
| 36 | JEFF ASLEN | 6:40:10 | 36 | M | VA |
| 37 | BILL PLATT | 6:50:17 | 56 | M | WV |
| 38 | PETER HUDEC | 6:54:37 | 40 | M | NY |
| 39 | VINCE CHARBONNEAU | 6:55:12 | 39 | M | ON,CA |
| 40 | RICHARD BARTON | 6:57:20 | 57 | M | OH |
| 41 | CRYSTAL BARTON | 6:57:21 | 35 | F | OH |
| 42 | RYAN R. SPEED | 6:57:30 | 37 | M | OH |
| 43 | NED BARRETT | 6:57:49 | 47 | M | SC |
| 44 | LORI LADD | 7:03:50 | 44 | F | MS |
| 45 | RANDY SAXON | 7:03:51 | 49 | M | MS |
| 46 | FAROUK ELKASSED | 7:09:28 | 60 | M | VA |
| 47 | TOM MUELLER | 7:11:07 | 53 | M | NC |
| 48 | JONI ADAMS | 7:12:20 | 54 | F | WV |
| 49 | TANA REPELLA | 7:14:05 | 29 | F | IL |
| 50 | IVA LIGHTSEY | 7:29:57 | 49 | F | MS |
| 51 | TONY STUDER | 7:31:48 | 54 | M | VA |
| 52 | JO ANNE STUDER | 7:31:49 | 52 | F | VA |
| 53 | KATE MONTGOMERY | 7:31:50 | 40 | F | VA |
| 54 | WM. M. KEANE | 7:32:00 | 65 | M | NC |
| 55 | MARK HEINTZMAN | 7:36:20 | 56 | M | WV |
| 56 | RANDY WARD | 7:40:50 | 56 | M | PA |
| 57 | ERIN HARDEN | 7:41:38 | 30 | F | MD |
| 58 | RUSS GRAY | 7:41:39 | 43 | M | WV |
| 59 | BILL GENTRY | 7:41:39 | 49 | M | VA |
| 60 | TOM ELMORE | 7:41:40 | 51 | M | VA |
| 61 | SARA WHITTINGTON | 7:42:00 | 31 | F | VA |
| 62 | DONITA ROBINS | 7:43:01 | 47 | F | TX |
| 63 | RON MCKINNEY | 7:46:18 | 63 | M | WV |
| 64 | JULIE MAYE | 7:57:23 | 33 | F | OH |
| 65 | SHAWN BOWMAN | 8:00:57 | 39 | M | MD |
| 66 | KATHLEEN BELSAN | 8:00:58 | 36 | F | MD |
| 67 | J. J. JESSEE | 8:01:33 | 55 | M | VA |
| 68 | THERESA TODD | 8:01:47 | 24 | F | NY |
| 69 | ALEX MORTON | 8:01:48 | 61 | M | NC |
| 70 | MAUREEN KILISLIAN | 8:04:40 | 42 | F | TN |
| 71 | MICHAEL R. WILLOUGHBY | 8:06:40 | 56 | M | VA |
| 72 | THOMAS W. SKINNER | 8:16:09 | 64 | M | GA |
| 73 | MILTON WEBB | 8:22:45 | 54 | M | WV |
| 74 | ROB APPLE | 8:22:46 | 48 | M | TN |
| 75 | PAUL OWEN | 8:33:18 | 51 | M | KY |
| 76 | MARY VICTORIA MCDONALD | 8:37:55 | 57 | F | AR |
| 77 | ROSEMARY EVANS | 8:49:20 | 56 | F | KY |
| 78 | LAURENCE MACON | 8:51:28 | 65 | M | TX |
| 79 | DIANE ROLLER | 8:54:10 | 49 | F | OH |
| 80 | JEFFERY GALFORD | 8:56:01 | 27 | M | WV |
| 81 | GARY NUSS | 9:06:33 | 51 | M | OH |
| 82 | SCOTT WILLIAMS | 9:06:42 | 41 | M | OH |
| 83 | VIC WARE | 9:20:10 | 74 | M | WV |
| 84 | KATHY BARTON | 9:23:18 | 54 | F | OH |
| 85 | GREGORY R. SCHOENER | 9:25:00 | 50 | M | OH |
| 86 | JANETTE MAAS | 9:42:48 | 51 | F | GA |
| 87 | DIANE TAYLOR | 10:06:50 | 53 | F | TN |
| 88 | TERRI HAYES | 10:17:52 | 67 | F | SC |
| 89 | DAN WELLS | 10:36:20 | 63 | M | KY |
| 90 | EUGENE BRUCKERT | 10:46:37 | 75 | M | IL |
| 91 | GREGORY DOYLE | 11:29:27 | 64 | M | PA |
Dennis and Mary Anne, Thank you both for all of the wonderful years. This was my 5th Rattlesnake and I have always looked so forward to it each year. I certainly understand your desire to step down from directing the race, but I have to say I will miss it. You have always had the best volunteers and this year was no exception. They are always there and ready to help us and to give us encouraging words. My congratulations to all who finished the 16th Rattlesnake and to Beth and Adam for their wins. They are true competitors. Thank you again for all of the great times, great memories and for the challenge that you have placed in front of us so many times. Rick
So sad you won’t be doing it again Dennis. I have been building up and practicing so that I could make a better show of that race. I am very sad. But I totally understand, and I’ll be happy to see you out on the trails.
Thanks for all of your hard work in the past.
Dennis,
Thanks for a great race and for your committment over the years. I’m sorry to hear this race is ending after 2010. It was my first ultra and left a lasting impression on me. See you out there-
Dennis, Mary Ann and all your faithful volunteers,
I am sad to see the last Rattlesnake, but understand where you are with the race after 16 years. RTR was my first ultra in 1999 and it kicked my butt. I’ve run many more since then and will miss the annual July trek up and down the hills of Kanawha State Forest.
You’ve put on 16 great races and spawned several more ultras here in West Virginia.
Thanks
There is something really enjoyable about simply showing up to a starting line, running a race, then being able to go home. That does not happen as a Race Director or volunteer.
I greatly appreciate those racing experiences now since I direct a race (soon to be raceS) myself. Only because of directing an ultra can you understand all the planning, headaches, stresses, loss of sleep, and axieties – all just for the love of the sport and the enjoyment of seeing others push their limits and striving to reach a goal. There is no fame or fortune to be had.
All good things must come to an end. It is no different with the Rattlesnake 50K. It was a great race and I thank you Dennis for the great contributions you’ve made to the sport that I we all love.
Now, enjoy the time to just show up and be a runner. You deserve it . . . you’ve made a bigger impact than I’m sure you’ll ever know.
– Adam
I hate to see that Rattlesnake is coming to an end. I enjoyed the three years I was able to run the race and will be sad when July rolls around next year. Dennis, thank you for everything you have done and to the volunteers who supported you over the years. Hope to see you out on the trails! Beth.
I was a competive runner since the late sixties until the late 90′s. Then I quit running in races. I had run over 40 marathons and a couple of ultra’s. I continued to run enough to keep from getting fat. Back in May I saw your race and got that itch to run in a race again. I trained hard to get back into shape enough to at least finish the Rattlesnake. I finished toward the back of the pack in a little over 8 hrs. Excellent race! Friendly and helpful volunteers. I thank you Dennis for directing a great race. and giving me the desire to run in organized races again. I am registered to run the Cheat Mtn 50 mile run next. Thanks again