A lot of people start lying about their age when they hit their late 30s, but not Patty Murray. The Boulder runner turns 40 in August, and she can hardly wait.
Murray, who once again proved she is one of the best citizen runners in Colorado on Sunday by claiming her fifth Cherry Creek Sneak title, figures to do some major damage when she becomes a masters runner next summer.
“It’s really growing,” Murray said of the masters scene after claiming the women’s title in the 5-mile Sneak with a time of 29 minutes, 6 seconds. “There are a lot of masters-only races, there’s prize money, you get invited to races. It’s getting special.”
Her first invitation came from Park Forest, Ill., the town where she grew up. Folks there want the former NCAA 10-kilometer champion (1987, Western Illinois) to make her masters debut in the Park Forest Scenic 10-miler on Labor Day. They want her to speak at a clinic and feel like a celebrity.
“It’s also my mom’s 79th birthday,” said Murray, who ran in the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in 2000 and 2004. “It’s going to be real special to go back home for that.”
As usual for the Sneak, Sunday was a lousy day to be a spectator but a perfect one to race. Between the 5-mile main event and a 5-kilometer preliminary, plus short events for youngsters designed to promote physical fitness, an estimated 10,000 runners raced under leaden skies that made for uncomfortably cool temperatures but fast times.
Patty Rogers of Denver, 30, finished second in the women’s results in 29:31, and Jocelyn Petiella of Denver was third in 31:56.
Kevin Sheppard of Oxford, England, a 26-year-old steeplechaser who is spending seven weeks training in Colorado Springs in hopes of representing his country in the 2007 Commonwealth Games, won the men’s race in 25:07. Greg Augspurger of Colorado Springs, 27, was second in 25:53, and Jason Hill of Boulder, 26, was third in 26:08.
Sheppard is taking time off from his job as a soldier in the British army to make his national team.
“I’m pretty heavy-legged,” Sheppard said. “I’m used to running only 50 miles a week because I work full time. Since I’ve been out here, I’ve doubled it, because I can rest all day.”
Two 13-year-old boys made an impression in the 5K. Jose Guerro of Denver won in 17:37, and Scott Fauble of Golden was third in 18:07. Scott Kukel, 31, of Castle Rock was second in 17:46.
Unofficial results
Men’s 5-mile run – Kevin Sheppard, Oxford, England, 25:07; Greg Augspurger, Colorado Springs, 25:53; Jason Hill, Boulder, 26:08.
Women’s 5-mile run – Patty Murray, Boulder, 29:06; Patty Rogers, Denver, 29:31; Jocelyn Petiella, Denver, 31:56.
Men’s student mile – Ryan Finnefrock, Arvada, 9:10; Mark Maguire, Denver, 9:33; Christian Vaughan, hometown unavailable, 10:10.
Women’s student mile – Jacqueline Macke, Centennial, 9:52; Angela Shepard, hometown unavailable, 10:03; Amy Robertson, hometown unavailable, 10:15.
Men’s 5K – Jose Guerro, Denver, 17:37; Scott Kukel, Castle Rock, 17:46; Scott Fauble, Golden, 18:07.
Women’s 5K – Alison Steele, Boulder, 20:45; Jacqueline Mariash, Denver, 20:53; Emily Steele, Boulder, 21:02.
John Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com.
