On a brisk, windy morning in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, elite, open, and community runners came out by the hundreds to support and compete at the inaugural Bay Area Cross Challenge (BAXC).
American 5k record holder Molly Huddle of Saucony led wire-to-wire to win the women's 6k race in 19:19 over Renee Baillie and Magdalena Lewy-Boulet who ran 19:31 and 19:32, respectively. Rounding out the top five were Alissa McKaig (19:33) and Reilly Kiernan (19:49).
Huddle breaking the tape
In the men's 8k race, David Torrence led at 2k but Jon Pierce quickly took over and led through 4k. It eventually became a three-man battle for the win, with Ben Bruce of the Oregon Track Club out-kicking Max King and Kevin Chelimo to claim victory. All three men were given the same finishing time of 23:12.
Bruce out-kicking Chelimo and King
Jon Pierce finished 4th in 23:49 and local favorite Phil Reid finished 5th in 23:55.
Alice Baker won the junior women's 4k race in 14:18 and Nolan Tonkyn won the junior men's 6k in 20:42.
Huddle and Bruce earned $2000 for their victories, with the remaining six finishers in each race earning $1000, $750, $300, $200, $150, and $100.
The Corporate division was won by Santa Cruz Endurance, supported by Oxylent, a daily multivitamin geared towards athletes.
Full results can be found at recordtiming.com.
The BATC graciously acknowledges the help and support of the BAXC sponsors, without which the event would not have been possible:
New York Road Runners; GU Energy Labs; Record Timing; Penske; Sports Medicine Institute; St. Jude Medical Center; Oxylent; Sports Basement; Transports; Hotel Kabuki; Bayley Fit; Sports and Orthopedic Leaders; Feetures!; Whole Foods; Innersport; Avanzare; and Nathan Performance Gear.
