Photo: Tara Richardson, 19, of Gunnison, won the Women's Distance Festival with a time of 18 minutes, 26 seconds.

Women's Distance Festival photo gallery
Women's Distance Festival Results

Tara Richardson came to Colorado Springs to visit a friend. She had never ran on the famous Monument Valley Park course where many area runners have learned to push their limits.
But the Western State College cross country runner knows it now.
In Saturday's cool morning air, with the sunlight filtering through the park's old trees, Richardson, 19, won the Women's Distance Festival 5K - for women only - with a quick time of 18 minutes, 26 seconds.
"This was a lot of fun," Richardson said. "It was awesome to have all women. We're usually running with the guys and you don't ever have the
chance to run at the front. But winning, that just felt awesome."
Richardson's time set a new age-group (15-19) record.
The race was supported by an all-male team of volunteers rounded up by Micky Simpson of the Pikes Peak Road Runners. The men wore T-shirts emblazoned with the words "I Love Fast Women."
They got what they asked for. The field was loaded with some of the area's swiftest runners, including second-place finisher Amanda Occhi of Manitou Springs, who crusied in at 18:30. Colorado Springs-area runners Christie Turak finished third in 18:34, followed by Shannon Payne (19:16) and Hillory Davis (19:27).
Turak began racing only three years ago after realizing her ice skating career (she had reached the highest level) was at a dead end.
"Most of the girls in the Olympics are 15, so when you reach that age ... I started coaching ice skating and running to stay in shape."
She found an activity that was empowering and fun. But she had to suffer a little to become fast.
In her first race on the Mercyhurst College (in Pennsylvania) cross country team she fainted.
Two years later she earned Division II All-America honors.
There were two other age-group records set, including:
Aubrey Till, 13, of Penrose, broke her own record in the 0-14 group with a time of 20:00.
Joyce McKelvey, 65, continued her tear through the age group marks, setting a new standard of 27:01 in the 65-69 group.