Records Smashed at Lake Sonoma 50

Dakota Jones, at 21 the youngest runner in the field, smashed the course record at the winning the race in six hours, 17 minutes and 27 seconds. Jones, from Durango, Colorado, pulled away from Timothy Olson of Ashland, Oregon in the second half to win the fourth annual ultramarathon.

Jones’ time averages to 7:30 per mile pace over the rugged backcountry trails at which include more than 10,000 feet of climbing over 50.29 miles.

 Joelle Vaught of Boise, Idaho was the women’s winner in 7:52:44, also setting a course record. Vaught opened a 14-minute lead at one point and then held off a fast finish by Novato’s Tyler Stewart to win by four minutes.

Healdsburg’s Leigh Schmitt was 10th in the highly-competitive field, which attracted top runners from across the country. Schmitt’s time was 7:28:32.

Heather Mastrianni and Aziz Zhari were the other local finishers. Mastrianni was 12th woman in 9:13:37. Zhari, the general manager of the H2 Hotel, finished his first ultra 12:47:08. Of the 251 starters, 227 finished the demanding course, with the last finishers coming in well after dark.

The race is a benefit for the Children of Vineyard Workers Scholarship Fund and is organized by the Healdsburg couple John Medinger and Lisa Henson.

Local sponsors include: , , , VinePro Vineyard Management, Inc., Valdez and Sons Vineyard Management, and

Top Men: 1. Dakota Jones, 21, Durango, CO, 6:17:27; 2. Timothy Olson, 28, Ashland, OR, 6:36:56; 3. Nick Clark, 37, Fort Collins, CO, 6:51:17; 4. Hal Koerner, 36, Ashland, OR, 6:57:58; 5. Joe Uhan, 34, Eugene, OR, 6:59:55; 6. Jorge Maravilla, 34, Vallejo, 7:04:16; 7. Dan Olmstead, 40, Eugene, OR, 7:06:00; 8. Gary Gellin, 43, Menlo Park, 7:15:29; 9. Dave Mackey, 42, Boulder, CO, 7:21:41; 10. Leigh Schmitt, 39, Healdsburg, 7:28:32.

Top Women: 1. Joelle Vaught, 37, Boise, ID, 7:52:44; 2. Tyler Stewart, 33, Novato, 7:56:30; 3. Stephanie Howe, 28, Bend, OR, 8:11:51; 4. Denise Bourassa, 42, Bend, OR, 8:18:03; 5. Rory Bosio, 27, Soda Springs, 8:19:04; 6. Jennifer Pfeifer, 40, El Dorado, 8:25:56; 7. Darcy Africa, 37, Boulder, CO, 8:44:57; 8. Caren Spore, 44, Davis, 8:47:47; 9. Krissy Moehl, 37, Seattle, WA, 8:57:12; 10. Gretchen Brugman, 38, Truckee, 8:59:38.