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Wanderers Rise to Trail Challenge
The Wissahickon Wanderers dispatched their amphibious assault
team for this year’s Evansburg Challenge 10-mile trail
run on October 25. They returned to Philadelphia after the
race laden with silverware.
The field conditions encountered included the following:
Two crossings of the 30-yard wide Skippack Creek, numerous
streams, various bog holes and many mud flats. Wanderers refused
to be deterred. They all finished muddy but successful.
Making up the team were Jeff Hayes, Jen
Scales, Megan Boyle, Chris
Moore, Matt Palombaro and Rock
Steady who traveled the 45 minutes to Evansburg State
Park in Collegeville for the event.
Jeff grabbed third place overall in a field of almost 300
runners. Jeff was timed in 1:03:59, a mere 40 seconds off
the winning time and won first place in the 40-49 age group.
Matt finished eigth overall in a time of 1:08:51 and captured
fourth in the 20-29 age group. Both received medals for the
performances.
Chris finished 33rd in 1:15:35. A gap between Wanderer runners
followed with Rock finishing 148th in 1:32:51, followed by
Jen in 201st in 1:41:18 and Megan in 213th in 1:43:02.
Lack of experience out on the course might have hurt the
Wanderers. Rock when he encountered calf-deep water elected
to walk across the Skippack Creek. He paid the price for his
caution by being passed by at least four competitors running
full tilt across the creek. “I won’t make
that mistake again,” Rock commented.
The Evansburg Challenge, because of the demanding course,
should become a fixture on the Wanderers race calendar.
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