Hal Koerner completing lap 1
Hal on Loop 3
It’s not every day you can simultaneously run a 100 mile race and watch as both the existing male and female course records vanish before your eyes. Participants in this year’s Javelina Jundred witnessed a rare event this November as both Hal Koerner and Evan Honeyfield went under the previous best time of 14:20 set by Dave James in 2009 and Liza Howard dismantled Jamie Donaldson’s best of 17:11 set in 2010. Javelina’s unique “washing-machine” style (reverse direction each lap) repeats the 15.4 mile Pemberton Trail, allowing not only for the elite runners to see where they stand against their competition, but also for the rest of the field to watch the race up front unfold. This year’s full moon schedule pushed the race into mid-November, allowing for cooler daytime temperatures and ideal running conditions, albeit a few late night / early morning showers.
Karen Williams (3rd place female, 5th overall in 2003) returns to the Javelina Jundred
When Geri Kilgariff (race founder) first promoted the Javelina Jundred to the ultra community back in 2003, she dubbed it the “fast 100”, “virgin 100”, “slowpoke 100”, “goof-off 100” and “DNF-redemption 100”. Geri admits that the six and a half loop race in the desert (modeled after the existing Pemberton 50K) started as a sick joke to be played on unassuming runners who would be tortured into running the monotonous loop repeatedly day and night. Going along with the “spirit” of this joke, a fun party atmosphere was born that first year that has earned Javelina a reputation as 100 mile trail running’s weird, eclectic brother. Costumed runners circling the desert, a “best ass” award handed out to a runner showing their “full moon”, a Jalloween / “Day of the Dead” theme, loads of pumpkin pie and plenty of purposeful misspellings don’t exactly focus energy towards promoting any sort of legitimate athletic competition. Despite this, Javelina has drummed up some of the best runners in the country each year looking for a warm, late season race to close out the year.
Michael Miller, the big, bad, wolf.
A fast field of Javelina “virgins” (100 mile champions in other races) including Jay Aldous, Zach Gingerich, Hal Koerner, Liza Howard and Evan Honeyfield took advantage of the mild race morning conditions, all finishing their first lap within minutes of each other. Talk of course record splits were already in the air as these five reversed direction and headed back out on Loop 2. Hal Koerner assumed the lead shortly thereafter and built up a 5 minute lead, finishing his first 50K in 3:50. Evan, Zach and Jay essentially came in together in 3:56 and Liza wasn’t far behind in 4:04 (just 2 minutes off the Pemberton 50K course record). Hal continue to run very consistent laps, completing 46.2 miles in 5:49, 61.6 miles in 7:56, 77 miles in 10:10, 92.4 miles in 12:25 and setting a new course record in 13:47:43. This was Hal’s second sub 14 hour 100 mile finish time this year.
Liza Howard completing Lap 2
Liza with her pacer, Paulette Zillmer
Evan stayed close in Hal’s shadow, between 6-14 minutes back through the remainder of the race, and also finished under Dave James’ course record in 14:00:59. Jay faded a bit, but finished strong with the 4th fastest time ever on the course in 15:20:56, establishing a very stout master’s record. Despite having ample access to diet soda on the course, Zach Gingerich couldn’t pull his race together and was spat out at mile 77. Liza continued her stellar race, putting down splits of 6:21 at mile 46.2, 8:50 at mile 61.6, 11:29 at mile 77, 14:08 at mile 92.4 and setting a new course record in 15:46:59. Liza finished 4th overall, ran the 6th fastest time ever on the course, and was an hour and 24 minutes under Jamie Donaldson’s 2010 record, adding a third sub 16 hour 100 mile time to her stellar running accomplishments.
2nd Place, Evan Honeyfield
Mark Matyazic from Irvine, California rounded out the top 5 with a 100 mile PR of 16:34 and his 3rd straight Javelina finish, while Brenda Corona ran another consistent race, placing 2nd female and also setting a PR of 19:54 in her 5th straight Javelina Jundred finish.
Catra Corbett completes her 4th Javelina Jundred dressed as "Lady Luck"
Runners benefited from an additional aid station (Rattlesnake Ranch) and water only checkpoint (Tonto Tavern) on the course this year, meaning aid was an average of only 4 miles apart. While a storm was first predicted to hit the race on Saturday, the rain held off until early Sunday morning, but finally hit with a vengeance. A nice layer of clouds held off the seventy degree temperatures through the day, but the course turned cold, wet and muddy in places into the early hours on Sunday morning. Despite this, there were a total of 174 finishers of the full 100 mile distance and 126 more who opted for the 100 kilometer option.
Gabi Schenkel (Best Ass winner), Van Patterson, Paul Maisel
Best female costume went to Kristin Searing who dressed as a peacock (complete with real feathers) in her first 100 mile finish and best male costume went to George Velasco who ran a full 100 kilometers wearing a toilet costume. Our youngest finisher was 24 year old Arizona local Michael Carson who finished his first 100 mile race in 18:53 and our oldest was 69 year old Todd Leigh from San Diego, California who completed his 2nd Javelina in 29:26.
Alexa Dickerson
Rumor has it that now former course record holder Dave James was seen celebrating (or maybe sulking) with a couple shots of tequila while out pacing in the evening after receiving word at the Tonto Tavern checkpoint that Hal Koerner just broke his 2 year old course record. We’re sure this will give Dave the needed motivation he needs to return next year and attempt to reclaim his title.
Mark Matyazic, 5th Place finisher
Although once dubbed the “goof-off 100”, the Javelina has quietly grown into the 3rd largest 100 mile race in the country, with 339 starters this year. If trends continue, the race will likely pass Western States in total numbers of starters by next year, scheduled for the full moon weekend closest to Jalloween, October 27-28, 2012.
3rd Place, Jay Aldous