UMCA Championship The winnersi trophies and windbreakers.

The UMCA 24-hour championships, held September 20 in Eldridge, IA, drew one of the best fields of the 2003 ultra season. Two time RAAM winner, Bob Fourney, drove east from Colorado to race four other RAAM strong men: Tom Buckley, Tom Davies, Reed Finfrock and Fredi Virag.

Each of the John Marino Competition division leaders was there: Sam Baugh is the overall Men's JMC leader, after very strong rides at the Texas, Michigan and Mississippi Valley 24s. Before Iowa, John Guth had a scant three point lead over Reed Finfrock in the Men 50-59 division. Nancy Guth is one of the steadiest women on the ultra circuit. Before Iowa she'd already competed in six JMC events and was leading the JMC Women's 50-59 division. She showed up at the 24 Hour Championships to celebrate her 53rd birthday. Jim Cartwright, was leading the Men 60-69 after completing six JMC events, and was still hungry for more JMC points. John Gallovic, coming off a quad century at the Mississippi Valley 24 would be racing Cartwright.

Several strong new racers challenged these established leaders. Karen McKee rode 428 miles at the National 24-hour Challenge, winning the women's race and shattering the 13 year old women's record. Iowa would be her second ever 24-hour race. Although not an ultracycling veteran, Mike Trevino is a leading ultra runner. Trevino was the 2001 Badwater champion and lead for 30 miles at Western States 100 this year, finishing in the top 15. Dennis Grelk has been one of the top finishers in the midwest doubles this summer.

Only 24 hours to go!

The race started under sunny skies. During the day the temperature was ideal, in the lower 70's, and the wind was only 5-10 mph out of the south.. As night fell, however, the temperature fell, to a low of 38.. The air had a distinct fall season feel, causing both riders and crews to scramble for spare clothing.

The 24-hour event is non-drafting. The racers enjoyed a 134-mile day loop that was quite lovely in September, well worth the trip to Iowa. After the large loop, riders chased each other around multiple laps of the 19-mile night loop.

Mike Trevino

Mike Trevino, 28, from San Diego lead from the start and dominated the men's field with an impressive 463 mile total, a 19.3 mph average. Reed Finfrock, 57, from Springville, CA was second overall with 447 miles. Third was Paul Riehemann, 40, Middleton, WI with 441 miles.

Karen McKee, 40, from Bowling Green, OH was the first woman with 400 miles. McKee's been cycling competitively since 1987 and had done two double centuries "once in 1988 and again in 1998, and after each I said never again!" After having so much fun at Michigan, she and her boyfriend, Mark Armstrong, decided to race at Iowa. Afterwards she said "The whole ride turned out to be rather grueling . . . the constant rollers (we had thought Iowa was flat) and wind took its tool on our bodies. . . . The cool morning and cold night also added to the overall difficulty of this race." Nancy Guth, 53, Stafford, VA was second with 333 miles.

Five riders qualified for RAAM and will receive the coveted letter inviting them to race:

Mike Trevino, 28, San Diego, CA	463
Rainer Kiworra, 39, Schaanwald, Liechtenstein	431
Jeff Weible, 46, Wildwood, MO	428
Richard Eischen, 51, Toledo, OH	400
Karen McKee, 40, Bowling Green, OH	400

A quick hand-off

Weible said afterwards that he had an excellent first 12 hours, logging 227 miles. Although he was aching all over 18 hours into the race, "That RAAM qualifier was starting to look within reach. My eyes were glazed over and every light had this neat rainbow circle around it and I couldn't focus very well. Cool, a drug-free high."

Six other riders who'd previously qualified for RAAM again reached the RAAM qualifying benchmark. The standards are:

age	men	women
18-49	425 miles	400 miles
50-59	400	375
60-69	375	350

After the UMCA 24 results were in, Sam Baugh (190.01 points still leads the John Marino Competition Senior Men's group and the overall competition despite some physical problems at the Iowa 24 Hr.

Reed Finfrock turned in a monster ride of 447 miles to retain his lead in the 50-59 category (171.21 points). John Guth turned in 351 in Iowa and is in second in the 50-59 group and third overall (165.78 points).

James Cartwright had a great ride at Iowa with 375 miles and still leads the 60-69 category. With 162.07 points, he is very close to Guth!

McKee and Trevino.

Nancy Guth's 333 at Iowa to extend her margin over all other women in the JMC and position herself for high placement for the overall championship at the end of the year.

Special congratulations to 70-year young Wayne Donahue from Red Oak, IA, who rode 335 miles. Don't we all wish we could ride this far at any age!

Paul Pierce was involved in an accident; however, he is doing fine. He was struck from behind by a moving vehicle; the person driving the car was not intoxicated. Pierce suffered minor scrapes and bruising, plus several small hairline fractures to his right femur. He was released from the hospital about 4:30 Sunday morning and is in great spirits. We wish Pierce a speedy recovery and our thought are with him and his wife.

Congratulations to all!

Complete results