WILLIS BREAKS GRIZZLY RECORD
GRANDFATHER
MOUNTAIN, NC – Mark Willis, 32, placed first in the Grizzly bike
race Friday morning. Willis, of Charlotte, broke the previous first-place
finishing time of 3:10.15 with a heart-pounding 3:04.18.
“The weather was good for the race,” said Willis. “I couldn’t have broken the record without the other riders helping me.” This was Willis’ first Grizzly.
Over 100 people registered for the second-ever Grizzly at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and 95 riders actually completed, a great increase from last year.
The race began and ended at MacRae Meadows with 65-miles of winding mountain roads in between. Cyclists went through the towns of Elk Park, Beech Mountain, Banner Elk and Newland while climbing a staggering 7,000 feet.
Placing second in the Grizzly was Noah Niwinski, 23, of Boone, NC. Niwinski had a time of 3:04.43.
“I was just talked into doing this race last night,” said Niwinski, who was a first time Grizzly competitor.
The third place award went to Ross Bowden, 23, of Boone with a time of 3:04.49.
The
first woman to arrive back at MacRae Meadows was Beth Frye of Boone.
Frye, 39, had a time of 3:22.00. This was the second Grizzly for Frye,
a professor at Appalachian State University. In 2007 she finished in
second place.
“At the beginning of the race I was apprehensive about the weather and how muggy it was,” said Frye. “It started to clear up and it turned into a perfect day for riding.”
The second woman to arrive was Heidi Campbell, 40, of Boone with a time of 3:55.24.
“Ask me tomorrow,” was Campbell’s response when asked if she would compete in the Grizzly next year. Campbell added that the race was the toughest thing she has ever done.
The third place woman was Susan Rash, 48, with a time of 4:03.02. Rash, from Kingsport, TN, said she most enjoyed riding in the mountains and the peacefulness of the course.
Saturday the racing action will continue at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games with the Mountain Marathon that boasts the reputation of “America’s Toughest” marathon.
In addition to the Marathon, Saturday will also be filled with heavy Scottish athletics, mass bands, piping competitions, track and field events, food, fun and colorful personalities.
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