January 12-13 – Reunion Tower – Dallas
It was only the 3rd edition, but the Dallas Vert Mile initiated by Paul Sampson has already established itself as the traditional opener of the US Towerrunning season
The race is part of the Towerrunning Tour as well as the WFGT (World Federation of Great Towers) Towerrunning Challenge. And it is a 200 for the Towerrunning USA ranking, the highest category except the National Championships
Athletes from all parts of the United States and a strong team from Mexico and even a well known athlete from as far away as Denmark enjoyed enjoyed two days of stairing. Yes – a great innovation this year was to extend the four different race divisions to two days – 1/2 Mile and Sprint on Saturday, Full Mile and 1/4 on Sunday.
Chronologically it started with 1/2 MIle meaning 6 times up Reunion Tower. Michael Caviston was fastest beatimg Mexican Arturo Velazquez by one minute. Fastes female was Amy Brown. This Seattle based climber is also the founder of the Ultra Stair Climbing Group on FB and lived this by becoming the only athlete finishing all fore races on this weekend !
For our TWA Ranking as announced and as in the past years in contrary to usual procedure the Sprint is evaluated. Clear winner with a record time of 3:43 was Alex Workman beating Jason Larson (4:o1) and local hero and newcomer of last season, Harrison Kieffer (4:07). The two fastest females came from “South of the Border”, Maria Elisa Lopez (5:10) and Alejandra Sanchez (5:42) with Amy Brown (5:59) completing the podium.
The male podium of Sunday’s Full Mile (12 climbs) was exactly the same as for the Sprint ! One of the famous Charlotte climbers, Stephanie Hucko crowned herself female Vert Mile Champion beating Maria Elisa Lopez and California’s Christine Soskins.
Finally Amy Brown again and Harrison Kieffer won the 1/4 Mile Division finishing two eventful days in Dallas. And many participants already look forward with new goals to the 2020 Vert Mile !