The 24th Crown King Scramble 50K is in the books and ‘the hill’ was conquered by many with the sweet reward of beer and a festive finish line. This year had the noticeable disadvantage of high temperatures throughout the day but the advantage of flowing creeks from the rains earlier in the month. The starting line was relatively cool but as soon as the sun peeked its head above the horizon it started to scorch the trail and those on it. Almost 75 runners took advantage of the early start and an additional hour of darkness with the remainder of the total 234 starters heading out an hour later.
Tracy Dimino at the start of the race on the climb out of Lake Pleasant. Photo by Sweet M Images.
With the remote nature of the course the Maricopa County Emergency Communication Group was out providing radio support and being our eyes and ears as the spectators, volunteers, and event crew drove up to Crown King to await the first runner. The finish line came alive quickly with the help of our amazing volunteers which was good as it did not take long for Art DeGraw of Flagstaff, AZ to fly through the finish in first place with the 3rd fastest time ever on the course in 4:05:37! As Art was finishing Jacob Puzey and Dean Dobberteen were battling it out for second. Jacob Puzey, also of Flagstaff, bested Dean about 3.5 minutes in the end by seeming to fly down the final stretch to the finish in a time of 4:23:48.
Jacob Puzey flying down into Crown King. Photo by Sweet M Images
In 3rd place (4:27:24), Dean may have been just as excited about getting to keep the $20 he had pinned to his shorts for beer (a reward he could keep for not letting Angela Shartel or Tracy Dimino beat him to the finish). Team Aravaipa member, Michael Carson, finished fourth (4:30:44), Harlow Robinson bested the men’s masters crowd, and Ian Torrence checked off ultra #190 with a 2nd place masters finish in 4:50:08.
Men’s Podium. Photo by Sweet M Images
Angela Shartel of San Diego knocked out the 8th fastest time ever on the course with 5:06:36 and an incredibly strong finish and win. In an emotional finish, Tracy Dimino finished second in 5:15:09 and was greeted to a big embrace from fellow San Diegan and friend, Angela.
Angela and Tracy. Photo by Sweet M Images
Mary Houchin of Birmingham, AL rounded out the top three in 5:40:48. Laura Sweeney came through as first master’s female in 6:02:24.
Women’s Podium. Photo by Sweet M Images
As the runners rolled in, or cartwheeled in, the band, Cellmates Traveling Roadshow, kept the beat. Runners were treated to a lunch from the Crown King Saloon and the bar was packed with sweaty, salty runners who, from the seeming collective dismay of the town, were offered showers from a nearby hose. For the town of Crown King this is a community event and everyone from the General Store to The Prospector Mall came out to support the race in one way or another. Everyone (population 104) knows about “the race” and the crazy runners who run up the 4×4 road. Aravaipa is incredibly thankful to the town and its hospitality.
Erica Smith and her signature finish. Photo by Sweet M Images
As the last of the runners crossed the line and the course sweeps and volunteers made it up to the top from their shifts it was apparent that the volunteers had stolen the show. From beer and whiskey offerings at Fort Misery to Ice Pops at Silver Mountain this race could not have happened without the passion and dedication of the volunteers out on the course and at the finish. The shuttles soon whisked away tired runners and family members packed drop bags and weary but victorious finishers into their cars and drove off. However, about 100 people still remained. Those lingering individuals danced the night away to a revival of Cellmates Traveling Roadshow that night inside the Crown King Saloon. It was a party worth the climb.
Thank you to Ron Ceton and Sweet M Images for being out on the course to capture the emotions of the day! Photos will be available within the next two weeks.
Isidro Mora running into Crown King. Photo by Sweet M Images