Allen and Olson Win 2024 Collegiate Mountain Running National Championships
Allen Earns Spot on U.S. Vertical Mountain Running Team; Record number of college entries as athletes race in Utah; USATF Championships held concurrently
July 15, 2024 - SNOWBIRD, UTAH – Christian Allen (Brigham Young University) and Oakley Olson (Utah Valley University) were crowned the 2024 Collegiate Mountain Running National Champions on the slopes of Snowbird Mountain Resort in Snowbird, Utah as part of the Cirque Series-Snowbird Race.
Allen, a recent BYU graduate with track bests of 13:34 for 5,000m and 28:26 for 10,000m, seized the lead early and did not look back. With over 3,500 vertical feet of elevation gain he pushed on the uphill sections and executed technical descents with ease. By the time he reached the summit he had a sizeable lead over Zachary Erikson (BYU), David Kennedy and Cole Campbell. In the end, Allen not only won the collegiate title, he also crossed the finish line in 1:18:17 to claim the top spot overall and win the USATF National Championship and earn a spot on this year’s U.S. Mountain Running Team. Erikson (1:21:09.02), Kennedy (1:22:40.39), Campbell (1:23:17.18) and Scott Klingonsmith (1:31:34.57) rounded out the top five among college finishers.
Among the college women, Oakley Olson (Utah Valley University), a former member of the USATF U20 Mountain Running Team grew her lead throughout the race teaming up with open runners to push the pace. Oakley ended up winning by over 3.5 minutes over runner-up Janel Zick (UT) who ran a tremendous race. In third was Colleen Sands (UMASS) who ran 2:04:08. Rounding out the top five among collegians were Julia Paulson (UT) and Kasandra Aulenbach (UT).
The sold-out Cirque Series in Snowbird welcomed a record number of collegians for the 2024 Collegiate Mountain Running Championships as over 80 college students from across the U.S., along with the nation’s top mountain runners, converged on the Snowbird Race hosted by Cirque Series. For their efforts the top 3 male and female college finishers earned prize money of $750, $500 and $250. Along with prize money, top collegians will take home JAMBAR, the official nutrition bar of the Collegiate Running Association.
In the fast-growing sport of mountain running this tough 8.7 miles race forced participants to climb over 3,566 feet. The race course is located on the Salt Lake Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest with the fun starting at Creekside base area located at 7,760 feet in elevation. At the start competitors ran up towards Mid-Gad, then participants headed east onto Rothman Way, connecting to the steep Peruvian service road on Peruvian Gulch Trail. From there runners turned onto the Ridge trail where they felt their legs burn as they took in large sweeping views of Snowbird’s Cirque and Mt. Baldy. Participants ended up on Hidden Peak with expansive views of the entire Wasatch Range. With the beautiful, dramatic views it provided an opportunity for runners to catch their breath as participants looped around the backside of Hidden Peak and made their way down to Gorilla Pass and straight up to the Summit of Mt. Baldy, the highest point in the race at an eye popping 11,068 feet elevation. From the high point runners made their way down a steep and technical section of trail, saving enough energy for one more uphill section to the cool refreshing shade and air of Snowbird’s Ski through Tunnel. From this iconic spot on the course, they faced a final mix of dirt roads and single track for the final 3 mile stretch down Peruvian Gulch, passing by Oktoberfest plaza & the Mountain coaster, then into the Finish Line back in Creekside.
A Cirque Series event, the Snowbird Race was open to the public. This is one to place on your summer schedule as a destination event in the future.
View results of all Collegiate Running Association Championships in Road, Mountain and Trail running at www.CollegiateRunning.org.
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Contact: Collegiate Running Association