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Locals shine at Steamboat Stinger

Matt Stensland
Matt Read competes Saturday in the Steamboat Stinger.
Matt Stensland

— Many of Saturday’s Steamboat Stinger athletes will be able to put their feet up and enjoy the rest of the weekend, but the work is not over for several others, who will push their limits again Sunday.

Saturday’s race involved two laps of mountain biking for 52 miles on Emerald Mountain. On Sunday, the discipline turns to running, with marathon and half marathon options. Athletes who complete in both the bike and marathon portions of the event will be in the running for queen and king bee.

“I’ve never done a marathon,” said Steamboat resident Steve Warfel. “What better time to do it than after a 50-mile mountain bike?”



Saturday marked Warfel’s third time to compete in the Steamboat Stinger mountain bike race, sponsored by Honey Stinger, but he committed to training for running this summer to tack on the marathon.

Warfel was the third-fastest male king bee competitor. The first-place competitor came in 22 minutes before Warfel. The man with the fastest combined times will be crowned king.



Warfel said he was happy with his performance on the bike and is ready for the run.

Steamboat’s Kelly Boniface was the third-fastest woman in the bike race and will also compete for the queen bee title. She has not run a marathon since the 1990s.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Boniface said. “Tired, a little sore.”

Despite the long run still ahead, Boniface said she did not hold back on the bike.

“I was chasing,” she said.

Denver’s Megan Carrington was the fastest woman in the bike race, with a time of four hours, 57 minutes, four seconds.

Boulder’s Chris Baddick was the fastest man, with a time of four hours, 10 minutes, 28 seconds. He has raced in the Steamboat Stinger all six years, but this was his first win.

“Knowing the course is so important, because there are so many turns,” Baddick said. “You have to be on your game for four hours, which is a challenge.”

Steamboat cyclists Trevor Walz and Ken Benesh won the men’s duo race. They each did a lap on the course and finished in four hours, 10 minutes, 45 seconds.

Steamboat’s Brad Bingham and Hannah Williams won the coed duo race in four hours, 29 minutes, 22 seconds.

“I think it’s a stellar event,” Bingham said. “One of these years, I’ll have to do the whole thing solo. I’m afraid. It’s a real tough 50 miles.”

Manic Training gym owner Graham Muir beat out 17 other men weighing more than 200 pounds to take the mens solo Clydesdale title.

There were 498 people registered for Saturday’s race, and 419 competed.

Sunday’s marathon will begin at 7 a.m., and the half marathon will begin at 7:30.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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