More than 200 runners hit trails for OAT races

More than 200 runners participated in this year’s Olympic Adventure Trail runs this weekend with near-perfect Olympic Peninsula weather greeting athletes from around the U.S.

Runners on April 17 participated in a 12-kilometer race and a half-marathon along the Olympic Adventure Trail west of Port Angeles. Most of the runners came from Washington state, but some came from as far away as Minnesota and South Carolina.

Lorrie Mittmann, race director for Peninsula Adventure Sports, said the event went great and ended up with 207 runners.

“Everyone I talked to had a really great time … they were so happy to be out there, and so many people thanked us for putting it on. So many said they will be back again. The weather was amazing,” she said.

“And a huge shout-out to all of the volunteers that made the race happen ­— they do such an amazing job. I am just to grateful to have them,” Mittmann said.

Winning the 12k race was Sophie Blackburn of Seattle, with a time of 57 minutes, 1.76 seconds. She was the only runner to crack an hour, beating Charlie Inman of Seattle by five minutes.

The best local runner in the 12k was Julie McCrorie of Sequim, who finished fourth with a time of 1:07.54. The best local male was also a Sequim runner, Greg Good, who finished fifth with a time of 1:09.08.

In the half-marathon, the winner was David Ottenheimer of Seattle with a time of 1:34.59. Coming in second was a Port Angeles runner, Spencer Larsen, with a time of 1:39.12.

The best women’s time in the half-marathon was Gael Gebow of Everett, who came in 14th overall with a time of 1:50.07. The best local female was Ami Bryant of Port Angeles, who came in second among women and was 18th overall with a time of 1:51.36.

The next event on Peninsula Adventure Sports’ 2021 race calendar is the first race of the Gravel Unravel gravel bike race, the Hoh-ly Roller, set for May 1 in the Hoh River Valley.

The next running race will be the Frosty Moss Relays, set for May 15. Those relays go from the Sol Duc Valley to Blyn, with a shorter Mini Moss going from Ediz Hook to Blyn.

See all results at tinyurl.com/OATRun2021Results.

2021 OAT Run, Saturday, April 17

• Top 20 finishers — 12k

Sophie Blackburn, Seattle, first, 57:01.76; Charlie Inman, Seattle, second, 1:02.24; Andrew Becker, Rochester, Minn., third, 1:02.39; Julie McCrorie, Sequim, fourth, 1:07.54; Greg Good, Sequim, fifth, 1:09.08; Isabella Smith, Seattle, sixth, 1:12.11; Marioher Hernandez, Seattle, seventh; 1:12.29; Mauro Felizia, Wenatchee, eighth, 1:13.13; Jesse Rowe, Arlington, ninth, 1:13.26; Malleck Braun, Port Angeles, 10th, 1:14.05; Erica Tillinghast, Kenmore, 11th, 1:16.05; Jeff Tillinghast, Kenmore, 12th, 1:16.05; Jose Gamino, PA, 13th, 1:16.34; Bill Pech, Bellingham, 14th, 1:18.26; Natalia Ruiz, Seattle, 15th, 1:19.01; Rachel Hardies, PA, 16th, 1:20.04; LT Clay, Eugene, Ore., 17th, 1:20.04; Kristin Kinnamon, Marysville, 1:20.14; Susan Baquero-Young, Bellevue, 19th, 1:20.37.

• Half-marathon

David Ottenheimer, Seattle, first, 1:34.59; Spencer Larsen, PA, second, 1:39.12; Benjamin Miller, Seattle, third, 1:39.17; Aaron Perez, Florence, S.C., fourth, 1:40.12; Mike Higuera, PA, fifth, 1:40.31; Aaron Haugen, Bremerton, sixth, 1:42.37; Morgan Scherer, Shelton, seventh, 1:43.52; Mark Lagioia, Port Hadlock, eighth, 1:44.54; Luke Moilanen, PA, ninth, 1:44.56; Paul Larsen, PA, 10th, 1:45.11; Corey Peak, Seattle, 11th, 1:45.59; Jake Session (no town listed), 12th, 1:46.40; Trevor Thompson, Tulalip, 13th, 1:48.17; Gael Gebow, Everett, 14th, 1:50.07; Darryl Wolfe, PA, 15th, 1:50.49; Samuel Harris, Salem, Ore., 16th, 1:50.58; Willis Hughes, Seattle, 17th, 1:51.36; Ami Bryant, PA, 18th, 1:51.36; Katherine Braun, PA, 19th, 1:51.46; Andrew McLarty, PA, 1:51.52.