GTT Challenge Breaks Record With Over 200 Participants
The Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority held the third Annual Ghost Town Trail Challenge on Saturday June 16th, 2018 as the second event of their 2018 Cambria County Trail Series races. Over 200 people participated in the event from eight different states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Virginia, New Jersey, West Virginia Ohio, and California.
The Challenge, which was to finish the event by sunset on the longest Saturday of the year, included three event distances: the 50K (32 miles), 25K (16 miles), and 12K (7.5 miles). The top three 50k Finishers include Julio Palma (4:15:53), Keith Straw (4:26:56), and Andres Hernandez (4:39:38). The top three 25k Finishers include Madeline Berry (1:50:21), Morgan Keibler (1:50:21), and Danae Peters (1:50:21). The top three 12k Finishers include Emily Roberts (56:37), Sarah Roberts (56:37), and Matthew Estok (57:20).
Many Challenge volunteers from the Board of Directors and from the Greater Johnstown community assisted runners and walkers at the six food/aid stations located along the trail. Blacklick Valley and Ebensburg EMS and the Laurel Highlands Nodic Ski Patrol provided participants with first aid response along the trail as necessary. All participants received a high quality t-shirt, and finishers received a commemorative finisher’s medal and beer growler. CCCRA and Coal Country Brewing partnered together to create a unique beer to offer participants to fill their growlers at Country Garden Six Pack in Ebensburg. The beer was named Rusted Rail from the Ghost Town Trail.
The first event of the 2018 Cambria County Trail Series was the Path of the Flood Historic Races held on May 26th, which attracted nearly 1,000 participants to celebrate the 5th anniversary of this event in Johnstown. The third and final event of the Trails Series will be the Jim Mayer Family Fun Run/Walk on September 8th, also in Johnstown.
Sponsors included: Gold Level – Saint Francis University, Kongsberg Protech Systems USA, Robindale Energy Services, Inc., Coal Country Brewing; Silver Level – Up-N-Running, Heath M. Long, Esquire, Country Garden Six Pack, First Student, Sheetz; Bronze Level – Ebensburg Insurance Agency, McCall Motors, Inc., Dillweed Bed & Breakfast, 1st Summit Bank, Big Stone Inn, Ebensburg Fitness, and the Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Convention & Visitors Bureau.