The North Face Endurance Team Claims Five Top-15 Finishes at Western S

Posted: 07/01/2009 In Category: Outdoor Manufacturer

Written By: Amy Goldhammer

The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announced team results of the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run 2009, which took place June 27 – 28, 2009.

The North Face Global Team athletes Tsuyoshi Kaburagi (Japan) and Jez Bragg (UK) took second and third, with times of 16:52:06 and 16:54:26, respectively. Kaburagi, who won The North Face 100K in China in April, broke the 40+ men’s age group record by twenty minutes in this year’s Western States. US-based athletes Leigh Schmitt placed seventh with a time of 17:49:37, and Michael Wardian, who ran a grueling 100k just seven days prior, took 15th overall (13th men’s) with a time of 19:32:08. This was the first Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run for all.

After a slow start, three-time Western States 100 champion Nikki Kimball rallied to a fourth place finish in a time of 20:55:.43. This is her fourth time running the race and fourth top-five finish.

“Endurance running is a sport that spans the globe,” said Aaron Carpenter, VP of Marketing for The North Face. “We are a thriving community with healthy competition that encourages and inspires each other and others to go the distance.”

The course started at 6,200 feet in Squaw Valley, California, leading runners up a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4.5 miles to Emigrant Pass at 8,750 feet. The majority of the trail passes through remote and rugged territory, accessible only to horses, hikers and helicopters. Following the original trails used by the miners of the 1850s, the course travels west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet to end in Auburn, California, at 100.2 miles. Runners battled 90+ degree dry heat in this year’s race.

For 40 years The North Face has teamed up with the world's finest mountaineers, alpinists, climbers, skiers, snowboarders and endurance adventurers who have defined the limits of what is humanly possible. The North Face Athlete team works closely with Research, Design & Development, creating innovative designs that push new technologies and inspire cutting-edge products. For information on The North Face Endurance Team and where they’ll be next, head to www.thenorthface.com.

In addition to The North Face global endurance events such as The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc and Ultra Maratón de Los Andes, several members of The North Face Endurance Team will be running in The North Face Endurance Challenge in Washington, DC, Madison, Wisconsin, and San Francisco, California. For more information about The North Face global endurance events check out www.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge.

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

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