ELITE ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN THE 60TH NORTHEAST DELTA DENTAL MOUNT WASHINGTON ROAD RACE

After cancelling in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the historic 60th Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race is moving forward in 2021 and the field is starting to solidify.

PLEASE ANNOUNCE

Elite Athletes to Compete in the 60th Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race

Mt. Washington Auto Road — June 19th and 20th, 2021

• Brittni Hutton and Heidi Caldwell, co-winners in 2019, will return to defend title
• Kim Dobson, five-time winner, returns after two years away
• Women’s race field is packed with talent
• Erik Blake returns to defend title
• Will Joseph Gray return?
• Covid safety procedures in place

Pinkham Notch, NH — After cancelling in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the historic 60th Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race is moving forward in 2021 and the field is starting to solidify. The talent in the Women’s race, which will be running on their own on Saturday, June 19th, is deep. The big question in the men’s race, being held Sunday, June 20th, is whether four-time winner Joseph Gray will be coming back. Gray, a four-time winner at Mt. Washington and two-time World Mountain Running champion, is expected to make a decision in the next month.

The Women’s field is led by returning co-winners, Brittni Hutton, 31 of Alamosa, CO and Heidi Caldwell, 29 of Craftsbury Common, VT. Hutton and Caldwell finished in a historic tie in the 2019 race. Challenging the returning champs is five-time Mt. Washington winner, Kim Dobson, 37 of Eagle, CO. Another two-time winner and nine-time top 10 finisher, Brandy Erholtz, 43 of Hayden, CO, will be returning after several years away from Mt. Washington. Two first-time Mt. Washington runners, Ashley Brasovan of Golden, CO and Sam Diaz, 29 of Jackson, WY, will be making their debuts. Brasovan has competed in two World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships and two Olympic marathon trials. Diaz is a four-time winner and current record holder of the Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb in Jackson Hole, WY. Diaz is also an Olympic marathon trial qualifier. Always in the mix is Kim Nedeau, 41 of Leverett, MA. Nedeau finished 3rd last year.

On the men’s side, Erik Blake returns to defend his 2019 win. Blake, 42 of West Hartford, CT, has won Mt. Washington four times, has 14 top 10 finishes, and has only finished worse than 3rd once while he was nursing a hamstring injury. Challenging Blake will be ultra marathon runner and past Mt. Washington champion, Sage Canaday, 35 of Boulder, CO. Other competition includes Brandon Newbould, 39 of Nottingham, NH. Newbould finished the 2019 race in 6th place. The 2019 8th place finisher, Scott Mindel, 34 of Burlington, MA has run a 2:22:29 Boston Marathon. Eric LiPuma, 28 of Richmond, VT, won the 50k US Road Running Championships in 2018. LiPuma looks to better his 9th place finish at Mount Washington in 2019. Finally, making his Mt. Washington debut is Matt Chorney, formerly of New Hampshire, now a resident of Jackson Hole, WY. He’s a 2:21 Marathoner.

Due to the ongoing global pandemic there are many modifications and continued changes to the pre-race, start, finish and post-race protocols. Race organizers will mail bibs to the runners in advance of the event. There will not be large tents, booths, or other pre-race gatherings. Both the men’s and women’s races will start on the Great Glen Trails network to accommodate the queue of runners. Runners will line up according to bib number, maintain six feet social distancing, and follow state and federal mask guidelines. Runners will need to carry their own water bottle, with one hydration station halfway up the road and at the summit. After finishing, runners will be required to maintain social distancing, follow covid mask guidelines, and be prepared for the elements. The Sherman Adams State Park building will not be available to runners and support drivers. Spectators will not be allowed on the summit in order to maintain a lower crowd level and maintain space. At the base, runners will drive-through to pick up their race shirt, merchandise, and post-race meals. Support driver meals should be ordered in advance. Runners are encouraged to visit mt-washington.com/mount-washington-road-race for more information.

Sponsored by Northeast Delta Dental, the race ascends the Mt. Washington Auto Road from Pinkham Notch, N.H., to the 6,288-foot summit of Mt. Washington. In addition to the unrelenting grade, runners face the added challenge of Mt. Washington’s famously high winds, precipitation, and unpredictable temperatures. Prizes include $1,000 apiece for the first male and female finishers, smaller cash prizes for the next five men and women and the top three male and female masters (over 40), prizes for the first male and female finishers from New Hampshire, and a $5,000 bonus for setting a new course record.