FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Kostman
AdventureCORPS
(310) 472-1983
www.badwaterultra.com
KIEHL'S BADWATER ULTRAMARATHON:
SAN FRANCISCO ADVENTURE RUNNER DEAN KARNAZE WINS
BY A MERE SEVEN MINUTES AFTER 135 MILES
Death Valley, CA - Seventy-two runners from eleven countries and seventeen
American states ran 135 miles non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney on
July 12-14, 2004 in the Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon, the most demanding,
extreme, and prestigious ultramarathon running race in the world. The
victory was decided during the final push up Mt. Whitney, with Dean
Karnazes, 41, of San Francisco, CA besting his nearest rival by just seven
minutes, thirty-two seconds. With a time of 27 hours, 22 minutes, 48
seconds, Karnazes won with the narrowest margin of victory in the
twenty-seven year history of the race.
Ferg Hawke, 46, a rookie entrant from White Rock, BC, Canada, placed second
with a time of 27:30:20. Fellow Canadian Monica Scholz of Jerseyville,
Ontario, placed third for the second year in a row with a time of 29:22:29.
Scholz bested her 2003 time by four hours and was the first woman to cross
the finish line. Pam Reed, 43, of Tucson, AZ, the defending overall
champion from 2002 and 2003, placed fourth this year with a time of
31:17:55.
This was Karnazes' fifth appearance in the Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon.
Previous efforts included a DNF in 1995, tenth place in 1996, sixth place
in 2000, and second in 2003, when Karnazes finished 25 minutes behind Pam
Reed. Married with two kids, Karnazes is the owner of EnergyWell Natural
Foods, makers of low-carb, healthy snack foods.
The international field of athletes, seven women and 65 men ranging from 32
to 70 in age, represented Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK, and USA.
A total of 57 of the 72 runners completed the distance within the 60 hour
overall cutoff, a 79% finishing rate. The conditions in the 2004 race were
particularly challenging, even for this event and its hostile Death Valley
venue. Death Valley registered its hottest day so far this year, with an
official max temperature of 120, plus a strong wind in the afternoon.
Despite that, the race enjoyed one of its highest finishing rates in the
event's history, a testimony to the caliber of athletes in the race. Of the
57 official finishers, forty-two received the coveted belt buckle for
completing the course in under 48 hours.
Badwater, Death Valley marks the lowest elevation in the United States at
282' below sea level. The race finishes at the Mt. Whitney Portals at
nearly 8,300'. The Portals are the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the
highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through
places or landmarks with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt
Creek, Devil's Cornfield, Devil's Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint
Springs, Keeler and Lone Pine. The race course covers three mountain ranges
for a total of 13,000' of vertical ascent and 4,700' of descent.
The title sponsor of the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon is Kiehl's Since 1851.
"We are most honored to support the heroic men and women who have committed
themselves to participating in this year's event. It is our hope that the
Kiehl's Vital Sun Protection line of sunscreens will serve these athletes
well as they tackle the world's toughest foot race," commented Abbie
Schiller, the Kiehl's Vice President of Public Relations.
Kiehl's was founded as an old-world apothecary at the corner of Thirteenth
Street and Third Avenue in New York City. Its unique and extensive
background represents a blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal, and
medicinal knowledge developed and passed on through generations. For more
than 150 years, Kiehl's has served its customers skin and hair care
products formulated with the finest ingredients. The company is
characterized by a strident commitment to service standards of the highest
quality.
The Official Charity of the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon is the Challenged
Athletes Foundation. As one of the very few charities that provides grants
directly to athletes with a physical disability, the Challenged Athletes
Foundation has raised over four million dollars and directly assisted over
1000 challenged athletes world wide. One of the goals of the 2004 Badwater
Ultramarathon is to raise funds for, and awareness of, this organization.
For more information, click http://www.badwaterultra.com/caf/
Additional race sponsors include E-Caps Endurance Supplements, Hammer
Nutrition, Injinji Anatomical Interface Systems, Furnace Creek Inn and
Ranch Resort, Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA, and
many other generous companies and individuals.
A live webcast of the race, including dozens of stories, video clips, over
1,000 images, video clips, complete race results and more, was featured
throughout July 12-14, and remains archived at,
http://www.adventurecorps.com/webcast/2004badwater/
For complete official results of the 2004 Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon,
click http://www.adventurecorps.com/webcast/2004badwater/
For further information, images, or to contact any of the race
participants, please contact the race director, Chris Kostman.
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