Laux holds on for victory at Cherry Creek Sneak

Western St. alum takes men's field; Korb top woman

By Angie Mudd, Special to the Rocky

Published April 27, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.

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While Nelson Laux had some company he couldn't shake during the 26th Cherry Creek Sneak on Sunday, Danielle Korb was all by herself.

Laux ran nearly the entire 5-mile course with Payton Batliner before Laux broke away with less than a half-mile remaining to win the elite race in 24 minutes, 40.6 seconds, while Batliner finished second in 24:45. Korb was the only woman in the elite field and finished in 28:31.4.

"I was definitely happy with it because I wanted to come out and run as close to a 5-minute mile pace as I could, and I knew there would be plenty of competition here today to do that," Laux said of the event, which included more than 10,000 participants in one of the nation's largest 5-mile races. "Payton and I ran together the whole way, and probably with a half-mile to go, I noticed that he started to fall back and I put in a little surge and took advantage of that. Every time we get together, it's always a good race."

Laux, who is from California, attended Western State College, where he was a part of the top-notch running program.

He raced Batliner - a graduate of Highlands Ranch High School and the University of Colorado - last month in the Runnin' of the Green 7-kilometer race in downtown Denver, and Batliner was able to edge Laux for the win.

"I like how he pushes the pace at the beginning and I just try to hang on," Batliner, 24, said. "I like to let him go out hard and do all the work. He made a move coming around the last couple of turns, and I didn't have anything left in the tank and he got away. He's a tough runner."

Korb, 23, was a top runner at Poudre High School before a standout college career at Colorado State University, where she is currently in graduate school.

Because she was surrounded by the elite men, Korb went out a little fast in her first experience at the Cherry Creek Sneak and said the course was a little harder than she expected.

"It was kind of hard being the only woman because running with all the guys, they are all faster and I went out too fast but it felt good," said Korb, who finished 14th overall in the elite division. "I wanted to do this for a good workout, and I really liked the course, so I'm happy with today."

Korb may have had some competition from Sarah Shepard, 23, who coaches at her alma mater, Glenwood Springs High School, except Shepard hopped out of the elite race and jumped into the citizens' division a minute before the start. She was the top woman in the citizens' race, completing the course in 29:23.6.

Jon Kinner, 28, of Denver, won the men's citizens' race in 28:55.1.

The event also included a 5-kilometer race, which was won by Paquito Lopez, 26, of Denver, in 17:27.8, while former Mullen and University of Michigan standout Sarah Pizzo won the women's race in 19:04.

RESULTS

5-mile elite race

Men

1. Nelson Laux, 29, Arvada, 24:40.6; 2. Payton Batliner, 24, Boulder, 24:45.0; 3. Aaron Carrizales, 30, Gering, Neb., 25:30.2; 4. Adam Rich, 27, Colorado Springs, 25:33.3; 5. Benjamin Zywicki, 19, Golden, 25:44.3;

6. Art Siemers, 35, Golden, 25:50.5; 7. Paul DiGrappa, 27, Denver, 25:57.9; 8. Oscar Ponce, 30, Wheat Ridge, 27:01.1; 9. David Harmer, 24, Colorado Springs, 27:35.7; 10. Mike Callor, 29, Littleton, 27:55.9.

Women

1. Danielle Korb, 23, Fort Collins, 28:31.4.

5-mile citizen's race

Men

1. Jon Kinner, 28, Denver, 28:55.1; 2. Larry Sradley, 31, Greenwood Village, 29:03.1; 3. Chase Kelly, 26, Denver, 29:06.5

Women

1. Sarah Shepard, 23, Glenwood Springs, 29:23.6; 2. Carol Menry, 25, Charlotte, N.C., 29:48.5; 3. Erin Marston, 22, Parker, 30:07.8.

5K race

Men

1. Paquito Lopez, 26, Denver, 17:27.8; 2. Daniel Lupa-Chazan, 27, Boulder, 17:36.5; 3. John Costello, 40, Denver, 17:50.2

Women

1. Sarah Pizzo, 25, Lakewood, 19:04.0; 2. Deirdre Matthews, 38, Bailey, 19:1.7; 3. Lynda Andros, 32, Edwards, 19:37.0.