The trails around CMC Leadville were busy Saturday, Jan. 26, with snowshoe, skate ski and fat tire races running most of the day. The Colorado Cup started in 2009 and now brings high school, college and community athletes for winter sports competition.
PRESS RELEASE | Athletes of all ages and from all over Colorado competed in Colorado Cup races at Colorado Mountain College Leadville on Jan. 26.
The Colorado Cup featured a 6.4K skate ski race, an 8K fat bike race and 5K/10K/sprint/medley snowshoe races at the Leadville campus. Beginners to experts competed in one or all three of the races.
The 5K snowshoe race determined the Colorado High School Snowshoe State Championship. Claiming the title was Tyman Smart of Central High School in Grand Junction, who was followed by teammates Jordan Leblow, and David Cardenas.
On the girl's side of the competition Elizabeth Jones made it a Central (GJ) sweep by claiming the title. She was followed by teammate Jamie Brown.
"This was the most competitive Colorado Cup in years," said Darren Brungardt, coach of CMC's cross-country team. "The Grand Junction racers came to win, and boy did they win!"
Participation was at a peak in Saturday's frigid temperatures. The Colorado Mountain College ski area operations students made sure racing conditions were primed by grooming the course three times the day before. Leadville community members and families came out to support the racers, joined by CMC students, faculty and staff.
Maybe the most versatile athlete of the day was CMC running club member Ethan Moyer, 19, of Steamboat Springs. Moyer won the skate ski and fat bike races and ran in the 5k snowshoe race. "He was tired!" said Brungardt.
All proceeds from the Colorado Cup benefit the Colorado Mountain College Competition Club, which supports the college's running club. The club is joining the National Junior College Athletic Association in fall 2019, earning the designation of a team. For more information about the race, the club or the team, contact Brungardt, coach of the college's running club, at 719-486-4296 or dbrungardt@coloradomtn.edu