Ultra Runner Ron Nicholls

WSU 100 Km Run
Pullman, WA
April 11, 1999

Country farm roads

  1. Kevin Foreman, OR                09:05:04
  2. Bryan Beel                       09:49:22
  3. Dori Robertson           F       09:51:38
  4. Dave Dutton                      10:09:14
  5. Larry Carroll                    10:18:10
  6. Hal Koerner, CO                  10:27:57
  7. Tom Rowe, MT                     10:54:05
  8. Mark Hannig                      11:50:31
  9. Howard Brown, OR                 11:52:37
10. Jim McKenzie, MT                  11:52:37
11. Ron Nicholl                       12:09:21
12. Leon Rothstein, ID                12:09:52
13. Derrick Hannigan                  12:19:04
14. Mary Jane Sullivan      F         13:22:57
15. Will Aslin                        13:22:57
16. Steve Pierce, ID                  13:29:05

 21 Starters

Pullman, WA Kevin Foreman of Lake Oswego, OR won the 10th annual WSU 100K. Kevin and Dave Dutton ran together through the first two check points but by the third, Kevin took the lead and held on for an uncontested 9:05:04 win. Dori Robertson of Spokane ran a fantastic race, setting a new women's course record of 9:51:38, knocking 14 minutes off the previous seven year record and finishing 3rd over all. Bryan Beel, who gave himself a late start handicap, moved up from 11th at the first check point to an impressive 2nd place finish.

The WSU 100K, held in conjunction with a relay, was established 10 years ago as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of Washington State University. This year 90 ten member teams started two hours after the ultras. The teams provide good company as well as encouragement as they started over taking the ultra runners from the half-way point on.

Spring weather in the Palouse wheat field region of Washington is known to produce the unexpected. This year was no exception. It was beautiful. The last two weekends had 2-6" snowfalls and Thursday before the race another spring blizzard hit, blanketing everything in white. We were all prepared for the worst. Race morning arrived with 33 degrees and clear skies. The temperatures eventually warmed up into the 60's, an excellent spring day.

The loop course heads out from the campus through the rolling wheat fields for 14 miles. At the "breaks", a six mile descent begins to the Snake River. Sixteen flat, not too exciting miles run along the river then the course heads back up Steptoe Canyon for 6 miles. At the top of the canyon, it is back through the wheat fields to Pullman and the finish on campus. Many first time runners are surprised at the beauty of this very fertile wheat producing region. One such runner commented at the finish that this was a beautiful course but he sure wouldn't want to make a living running this challenging a course. (Leon, we always knew you were out for the prize money.)

A special award was presented to myself, the only runner to have finished all ten WSU 100K runs. The afghan depicting campus historical buildings is something that I am especially proud to possess. The first three winners of this race were Dave Lygre and Mark Bodamer, both on the faculty of Central Washington State University at the time. Now, Dave and Mark, after 10 tries a WSU graduate has won an award at the home race.

Thanks to R.D. Marty Mullen, her crew from WSU Activities/Recreational Sports, and all the wonderful volunteers. A special thanks to Gary Bryan, who after ten years is stepping down from his role as Race Coordinator and general "be everywhere" role. The WSU 100K has successfully made it through its first decade with the help of all these people.

Submitted by
Ron Nicholl

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