FIEGL RECORD BEING CHALLENGED Rival Winter Group Cites Rules Infraction

Watertown, MA, April 2-- Three weeks following the record-setting winter Patch Sprint victory by Jason Fiegl, three other successful winter sprinters are protesting the result, claiming that they, not Fiegl, should be declared the 2006 Champions.

In a legal statement filed with attorneys in Boston, Dan Herbert, Marc Metakis and Eric Bauer (left, at the starting line) accuse Fiegl of violating one of the most fundamental rules of the Winter Sprint.  Metakis asks "Was Fiegl accompainied by someone else?"  Adds Bauer:  "I believe he was alone.  I am calling Shenanigans!"  In the report, Herbert cites the rule: Competitors must be accompanied by at least one other person on each mountain.  (see division rules) Herbert asks:  "Does Fiegl's record count?  Was Fiegl solo? I smell a winter patch sprint cover up."

FIEGL STATEMENT      Fiegl (right on Pok-O), who's time of three hours, thirteen minutes bested his own winter record by 18 minutes, finished over two hours faster than the plaintiffs.  But was he alone?       "I was with my dog Zoe the whole way, and someone told me that would be O.K.  Also, I passed by Reinckens house, so someone was with me on Bare; I saw some guys on Rattlesnake; I thought I heard some voices on Sugarloaf; and my friends met me at Pok-O.  So you see, I wasn't really ever alone."

District attorneys and Patch Sprint officials are weighing  the evidence with no set date for a decision.  "Until whatever time a decision is reached Fiegl is being recognized as the 2006 Patch Sprint winter world champion of the world and Olympic gold medalist," said official Greg Henderson.  "However, for the time being his record time and victory are being kept out of the offical results."  The trio will share the silver medal.      Both the plaintiffs and defendant accepted the temporary agreement, but not before some parting shots.  "They may be the ones who cheated," said Fiegl.  "Look at that photo at the start.  They're a good five yards ahead of the official start line at the pillars!"      Countered Herbert:  "Tell him to quit throwing all his empties along the side the road.  We found numerous Dale Junior Budweiser 20oz cans along the "winter" route, which one must conclude that only Fiegl could have done (because there is no way the enviromental-concious people of Willsboro would ever do a thing like that)!"

VOLUNTEER INCENTIVE:  As the Patch Sprint continues to search for essential volunteers, event officials have offered what they hope will be an incentive:  Anyone who registers for the 2006 Patch Sprint and contacts race director Sandy Solomon directly may receive a free t-shirt and entry into the post-race party.  The offer is for a limited time only.  "Volunteers are essential to the success of the race," said Solomon.  "We can't thank them enough for their contributions."  (Email Solomon here)

SEE WHO IS REGISTERED FOR 2006 EVENT