Team Geared Up

One of the most famous Ultra races in the USA every year, this year provided a lot of excitement and coverage although maybe not in the way people were hoping for!

At the 2006 Western States 100 Endurance Run, spectators at the finish line on the Placer High School track in Auburn, California witnessed another collapse of a highly trained athlete. In this case, the nightmare began for Seattle’s Brian Morrison as he entered the finish area, just 300 meters from clinching the race victory.

Stumbling and falling to the ground, Morrison was quickly aided by his two pacers, which included Morrison’s friend and coach, seven-time Western States 100 champion Scott Jurek. The two pacers helped the exhausted runner to his feet and eventually across the finish line. In a post-race meeting, officials were burdened with the difficult task of determining whether or not Morrison’s assistance violated race rules that state that no physical assistance can be given to entrants. Unfortunately for Morrison, race directors concluded that he had in fact broken race rules and awarded the victory to Graham Cooper of Oakland, California, who finished in 18 hours and 17 minutes, nearly 12 minutes after Morrison’s arrival.