They had to make do for snow. They didn't have to make do for a champion.
Unseasonably warm temperatures even as far north as upstate New York left the course a melting mess of slush. That is, it was a melting mess of slush where there was even snow to be found. In order to contest this year's World Snowshoe Championships, snow had to be distributed over the course. And, the course had to be shortened from the usual 5K to a more manageable 4K.
Course temperatures hovered around a balmy 55 degrees on race day on Saturday.
Soleil Gaylord evidently didn't find any of that too much of a problem. Gaylord ran 18:19.54 to take the win, which included beating all male contestants in the junior race. That probably trumps her win at last year's USA Junior Championships in Utah.
Gaylord missed the Colorado state snowshoe championships earlier this winter due to an injury, but came back in time to tackle the world event.
Gaylord works her way toward the lead early in the Junior race.
For those who pay attention to the larger Colorado running scene, Joseph Gray won the World men's championship with a time of 28:22.05 over an 8K course.
