BUT IT WON'T BE EASY AT THE 2009 PATCH SPRINT
Are any of those records in danger in 2009? "With the expected field, both in numbers and talent," says oddsmaker Danny Sheridan, "there is no doubt that a few of these marks will go down."
Sheridan, who will release his eagerly anticipated race predictions a few days prior to the May 22-24 event, always cautions that several factors go into a finish time. "The weather is probably most important; not just on race day, but also going in. If it's hot on race day, forget about fast times. Also, a lot of rain before the event will mean a wet course, and several minutes added on."
5 – Jim Kobak, Jason Fiegl (left)
OFFICIAL PATCH SPRINT RECORD:
Jim Kobak - 2:09:34 (2004)
“Based on both my expectations and my spring training, I didn’t expect to be this fast,” Kobak said at the time, but conditions were perfect and Kobak was in optimum shape, winning the race by over 16 minutes (another record).
The two hour, fifteen minute mark has only been bettered two other times, but one of those - 2:13:41 by Fiegl in 2008- suggests that Kobak’s long standing record is beatable.
OFFICIAL PATCH SPRINT RECORD- WOMEN:
Deborah Nordyke – 2:19:37 (2006)
The two-time Olympian (left) is entered into this year’s race after missing out on the overall title by just six seconds in 2006.
WINTER SPRINT RECORD:
Jason Fiegl - 3:13:18 (2006)
This record was contested by the race runners-up, who accused Fiegl of violating the rules of the winter sprint. Following arbitration, the record was upheld.
OLDEST PATCH SPRINT FINISHER:
Ike Mercado– 75 (2007)
Entered into the Men’s Masters division, Mercado (left) covered the course in 6:22:30.
YOUNGEST PATCH SPRINT FINISHER:
Ben Resnick - 11 (2004)
This year’s field includes another 11-year old, and a nine-year old aspiring to cover the entire course. The youngest female to go the distance is Emily Lounsbury, 13, in 2007.
MOST PATCH SPRINT FINISHES:
Tim Singer- 14 (1996-2008)
The veteran (lower left), entered again in 2009, has completed every Patch Sprint, as well as two winter sprints.
"KINDERSPRINT" RECORD:
Joseph Zimmerman – 25:30 (2008)
In 2008, both Zimmerman, and runner-up Alec Gonzalez (lower left, with 3rd place finisher Nora Canning), shattered the previous Kindersprint mark of 30:11.
FASTEST INTERVALS:
Start-Bare – 9:59
Bare-Rattlesnake – 26:02
Rattlesnake-Sugarloaf – 45:43
Sugarloaf – Pok-O-Moonshine – 47:50
All four split records were set by Kobak in 2004, en route to his record time. “Conceivably, many runners in the field could better any of these,” says one racing expert, “but they risk burning out along the way, which would effect their overall time.”
