Alright people, it’s time. Mesquite Canyon- the grand daddy of them all- is just over a week away and you’re on the cusp of bringing home some hardware in our Desert Runner Trail Series. Or are you?
The DRT Series spans seven races from October through March as it carves its way around the Maricopa County Regional Parks, culminating with the Mesquite Canyon Championship at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. While the first six races are based on a total of 1000 points, given the toughness of our courses winding up and around the White Tanks, it was determined that the final race would award 1250 points for the winner. Plus, it just makes it more fun.
This, as you might imagine, means a lot. If you’re at all in the running for an award in the DRT Series, you kind of need to come run Mesquite. The beautiful thing about the DRT Series that I always field questions about is that you do not have to podium in a race to still be in the running for an award for the overall series. Many of the runners who do podium or win a race don’t run multiple races or enough to keep them in the running for the year end party. Some of you runners who have joined us for the DRT Series have been able to put together some great times and accumulated a trifecta of great scores that stands up with the best of them.
Nearly every division in the series is separated by 200 points or less and some are less than 100 points. In fact, Dan Watson leads the Owl Open Division by 3 (3!) points over Seth Rutt. Technically, these two won’t be toeing the line together as Dan just finished his first 100K at Black Canyon and Seth is eyeing a 50 mile finish at Mesquite….but you get the point.
Remember, we base your final score off your top three races. So, obviously, if you run three or more you have the best chance of getting a score that best represents your running abilities, respectively. You can run one or two races, but you better win them both to expect a spot on the elusive podium at the lake.
In addition to overall awards, we will also have a masters category for runners 40 years of age or older. In 2018 we added awards to our top “Grandmaster’s,” a special division for all you bad a** runners still getting after it into your 60’s and 70’s! Lastly, the junior division, overall winner, for those of you hitting the trail scene under the age of 17 is back in 2019 as well!
Here are a couple things to remember with the Series standings:
-Points are allocated based upon your finish percentage time off the winner’s time.
-We score only your best 3 races in the whole series (of 7 races).
-If you ran 2 races in the Quail division and 3 in the Roadrunner division, they do NOT combine and will be listed in the results separately.
–(Pro-Tip) Mesquite Canyon results are out of 1,250 points rather than the standard 1,000 which can make a significant difference in jumping the rankings.
-Any runner with an asterisk (*) next to their points has not completed 3 or more races and has a great chance of jumping up in the rankings as well.
-If you are 40+ years of age and in the top 3 of the Open Division, you will be awarded in the Open/Overall Division and your ranking within the Master’s or Grand Master’s Division will go to the next runner on the list.
^^This [master’s] factor specifically moves a lot of names around each year which is why you’ll see up to 10 names listed for each division. You never know!
The full point standings are currently on Ultrasignup can be found here:
Quail Standings (Short Series)
Roadrunner Standings (Middle Series)
Owl Standings (Trail Series)
Hawk Standings (Ultra Series)
With Easter Sunday landing on Dam Good Run’s typical race day in April, awards will be presented at our March 24 Dam Good Run at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Join us for a fun day on the lake!
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*Again, we’ve denoted below with an asterisk (*) which athletes have only completed two or fewer races in the series. They have the highest likelihood of moving up in the standings by just finishing Mesquite Canyon.
Quail Series: 5 Km – 12 Km 
Women’s Quail Series Open Division
- Margaret Brosnahan (53) – 2759
- Rebekah Helpingstine (40) – 2586
- Gin Ronis (37) – 2381
- Tara Belisle (33) – 2317
- Holly Bowers (44) – 2305
- Amy Burnett (45) – 2264
- Janice Bever (36) – 2122
- Crystal Fudge (33) – 2031
- Carly Kappus (37) – 2004
- Hayley Yaglom (30) – 1975
Women’s Quail Series Master’s Division
1. Margaret Brosnahan (53) – 2759
2. Rebekah Helpingstine (40) – 2586
3. Holly Bowers (44) – 2305
4. Amy Burnett (45) – 2264
5. Kathleen McDowell (50) – 1868
6. Tracy Wingo (43) – 1812*
7. Patti Brown (64) – 1802
8. Jennie Ofstie (52) – 1756*
9. Brandy Boley (49) – 1659
10. Rita Noret (57) – 1632
Women’s Quail Series Grand Master’s Division
(overall winner only)
1. Patti Brown (64) – 1802
2. Ann Blatte (60) – 1009*
3. Joanne Smith (63) – 1002*
Women’s Quail Series Junior’s Division (17 or under)
(overall winner only)
1. Addison Wingo (11) – 1388*
2. Carolyn Baumann (9) – 891*
3. Emerson Martin (16) – 795*
4. Coral Rasmussen (12) – 719*
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Men’s Quail Series Open Division
- Brian Pasero (40) – 2729
- David Brewer (32) – 2679
- Jacob Adamson (39) – 2524
- Chris Worden (40) – 2197
- Tony Asbell (52) – 1989
- Braeden Leftwich (11) – 1870
- Alex Allion (46) – 1745
- Cole Fahrenbruch (28) – 1705*
- Mike Ramirez (53) – 1661*
- David Hilderandt (55) – 1637
Men’s Quail Series Master’s Division
1. Brian Pasero (40) – 2729
2. Chris Worden (41) – 2197
3. Tony Asbell (52) – 1989
4. Alex Allion (46) – 1745
5. Mike Ramirez (53) – 1661
6. David Hildebrandt (55) – 1637
7. Matt Monroe (53) – 1613
8. Rick Kerr (64) – 1535*
Men’s Quail Series Grand Master’s Division
(overall winner only)
1. Rick Kerr (63) – 1535*
2. Christopher Henson (60) – 1456
3. John Lamb (60) – 1401*
4. Tom Curran (64) – 1382*
5. Marvin Winters (78) – 885*
Men’s Quail Series Junior’s Division (17 or under)
(overall winner only)
1. Braeden Leftwich (10) – 1870
2. Marshall Smith (17) – 952*
3. Finley Danks (10) – 818*
4. Cj Dobbins (16) – 810*
5. Bradley Cordova (13) – 784*
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Roadrunner Series: 10 Km – 22 Km
Women’s Roadrunner Open Division
- Catriona Forrest (35) – 2553
- Alynn Davis (44) – 2394
- Karen Weller (61) – 2322
- Rebecca McGirr (37) – 2319
- Nicole Ostrom (36) – 2230
- Amy Boodry (40) – 2219
- Cynthia Monroe (45) – 2196
- Erika Wendelin (34) – 2088
- Misty Stevenson (46) – 2041
- Crystyl Fudge (33) – 2016
Women’s Roadrunner Master’s Division
1. Alynn Davis (44) – 2394
2. Karen Weller (61) – 2322
3. Amy Boodry (40) – 2219
4. Cynthia Monroe (45) – 2196
5. Misty Stevenson (46) – 2041
6. Michelle Edwards (46) – 1857
7. Rosa Ayala (48) – 1798
8. Julie Ellis (40) – 1775
9. Kelly Helms (41) – 1751*
10. Michelle Eier (51) – 1702
Women’s Roadrunner Grand Master’s Division
60+ years young (overall winner only)
1. Karen Weller (61) – 2322
2. Florence Pool (78) – 1024*
3. Theresa Dunn (64) – 881
4. Marilyn Huot (65) – 806
5. Sharon Vaughn (66) – 800
Women’s Roadrunner Junior’s Division
17 and under (overall winner only)
1. Hallie Nichols (14) – 847*
2. Alyssa Hall (14) – 725*
3. Maggie Shumway (15) – 724*
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Men’s Roadrunner Open Division
- Mike McLean (46) – 2917
- Yuval Zarai (46) – 2807
- Alex Tunas-Corzon (24) – 2758
- Andre Lee (48) – 2374
- Tj Gardner (44) – 2264
- Dave Morgan (37) – 2191
- Aaron Schmidt (43) – 2163
- James McDonald (56) – 2122
- Joshua Walsh (45) – 2069
Men’s Roadrunner Master’s Division
1. Mike McLean (46) – 2917
2. Yuval Zarai (46) – 2807
3. Andre Lee (48) – 2374
4. Tj Gardner (44) – 2264
5. Aaron Schmidt (43) – 2163
6. James McDonald (56) – 2122
7. Joshua Walsh (45) – 2069
8. Jamie Gappa (45) – 1943
9. Kamran Mousavi (41) – 1928
10. David Boodry (46) – 1810
Men’s Roadrunner Grand Master’s Division
60+ years Young (overall winner only)
1. Terry Murphy (62) – 1560
2. Randy Bowman (61) – 1208*
3. Jeff Owings (60) – 1057*
4. Richard Rashid (67) – 1022*
5. Robert Kazar (63) – 1016*
Men’s Roadrunner Junior’s Division
(overall winner only)
1. Kaden Clark (15) – 773*
2. Mignon Ritz (16) – 773*
3. William Watkins (15) – 692*
4. Noah Fish (16) – 681*
5. Keaton Flake (17) – 672
*Again, we’ve denoted below with an asterisk (*) which athletes have only completed two or fewer races in the series. They have the highest likelihood of moving up in the standings by just finishing Mesquite Canyon.
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Owl Series: 24 Km – 35 Km 
Women’s Owl Open Division
- Liz Trokey (42) – 2734
- Heather Larson (45) – 2563
- Stephanie Whitman (54) – 2389
- Rebecca Vanderford (45) – 2044
- Lindsay Mastry (38) – 2035
- Angela Pietrofeso (51) – 1994
- Jessica Anderson (23) – 1984* (one win)
- Melissa Johnson (51) – 1942
- Rainey Weaver (53) – 1889
Women’s Owl Master’s Division
1. Liz Trokey (42) – 2734
2. Heather Larson (45) – 2563
3. Stephanie Whitman (54) – 2389
4. Rebecca Vanderford (45) – 2044
5. Angela Pietrofeso (51) – 1994
6. Melissa Johnson (51) – 1942
7. Rainey Weaver (53) – 1889*
8. Janet Bain (43) – 1791*
9. Jennifer Berry (47) – 1757
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Men’s Owl Open Division
- Dan Watson (43) – 2912
- Seth Rutt (31) – 2908
- James Breyfogle (37) – 2392
- David Santiago (54) – 2264
- Joseph Cowin (36) – 2173
- Andrew Smith (23) – 2080
- Josh Blanchette (34) – 2079
- Tim Hackett (52) – 2015
- Charlie Ware (33) – 2000 (2 wins!)*
- Daniel Wong (25) – 1991 (1 win)*
Men’s Owl Master’s Division
1. Dan Watson (43) – 2912
2. David Santiago (54) – 2264
3. Tim Hackett (52) – 2015
4. Charlie Smith (50) – 1989
5. Bill Dietz (47) – 1883
6. Anthony Tadajewski (41) – 1793*
7. Sam Pietrofeso (55) – 1725
8. Todd Van Zuiden (51) – 1637
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Hawk Division: 50 Km – 52 Mile 
Women’s Hawk Open Division
- Karleen Dirmantes (39) – 2671
- Colleen Lingley (40) – 1996 (one win)*
- Carin Dietz (44) – 1788
- Meghan Slavin (33) – 1788*
- Shana LeNeveu (48) – 1550*
- Jennifer Gustafson (47) – 1479*
- Kathy Roberg (57) – 1476*
- Lisa Buzzeo (37) – 1443
- Lauren Sieberg (37) – 1439
- Cynthia Pickett (45) – 1364*
Women’s Hawk Master’s Division
1. Colleen Lingley (40) – 1996*
2. Carin Dietz (44) – 1788
3. Shana LeNeveu (48) – 1550*
4. Jennifer Gustafson (47) – 1479*
5. Kathy Roberg (57) – 1476*
6. Cynthia Pickett (45) – 1364*
7. Michelle Wagher (46) – 1347*
8. Chrissie O’Brien (44) – 1344*
9. Connie Price (55) – 1223*
10. Christina Pacheco (50) – 1183*
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Men’s Hawk Open Division
- John Maroushek (52) – 2080
- Catlow Shipek (40) – 1919 (1 win)*
- Bill Nictakis (58) – 1804
- Daniel Swensen (30) – 1789*
- Robbie Raubolt (44) – 1758
- Diego Espinosa (57) – 1706*
- Eliseo Perez (24) – 1654*
- Chris Haines (60) – 1632
- Dean Hansen (63) – 1595
Men’s Hawk Master’s Division
1. John Maroushek (52) – 2080
2. Catlow Shipek (40) – 1919*
3. Bill Nictakis (58) – 1804
4. Robbie Raubolt (44) – 1758
5. Diego Espinosa (57) -1706*
6. Chris Haines (60) – 1632
7. Dean Hansen (63) – 1595
8. Nathan Haws (45) – 1569*
9. Ian Torrence (46) – 1533*
10. Tom Hoffman (57) – 1489
*Again, we’ve denoted with an asterisk (*) which athletes have only completed two or fewer races in the series. They have the highest likelihood of moving up in the standings by just finishing Mesquite Canyon.
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Shameless plug to make sure it gets interesting: Mesquite Registration!
