Races Results in Finish Line Index
PHOTOS: Winter Series I, Gallery 1 ** Gallery 2 ** Gallery 3 ** Gallery 4
VIDEO: Start of the Winter Series I short-course race ** Interview with Katie Rainsberger ** Interview with Tommy Manning

Three of the best young runners in Pikes Peak region made Cheyenne Mountain Park their own personal playground on Saturday in the Winter Series I short-course race (3.3 miles).

Kaitie Rainsberger, 14, charged over the single-track trail course to win in 21 minutes, 16 seconds. Kayli Tabares, 13, gave chase to finish second, about 58 seconds behind. Aubrey Till, 15, of Canon City, was third in 22:48.

More than 600 runners braved a cold day that left icicles in runner beards and pony tails.

Rainsberger said she's in it to win the series.

"Hopefully, that's one of my goals," she said. "I'm also here preparing for track. We'll see how it goes, but it would be nice to win it."

The winter series began in 1979. Since then it has become a favorite of runners in the Pikes Peak Region. There are actually two series, with runners choosing to run four short races, from 3.3 to 10K, or the longer races that range from about seven miles to 20K. The series will continue on Jan. 26, Feb. 9 and Feb. 23.

Jame Burns, 24, Colorado Springs, won the men's short-course race in 17: 41. He was followed by Justin Chaston (44, Colorado Springs, 18:10) and Simon Gutierrez (46, Colorado Springs, 18:36).

In the long-course race, about 7.2 miles, Tommy Manning, a three-time member of the USA Mountain Running Team, won with a time of 45:03.

It was a comeback win of sorts.

"I haven't been running much," Manning said. "I probably only ran about 30 days from September to the end of the year. I hurt my ankle and I've just started coming back."

Manning took an early lead with the plan to work hard running up the hills.

"I just kept pushing the pace uphill and I had a really good time," he said

Jay Masservy, 23, Colorado Springs finished second in 45:21. Marcus Corbett (37, Colorado Springs, (45:23) was third.

In the women's long race, Kelly Ramirez, 27, Fort Collins, won in 49:27. She was followed by Clare Bar (25, Colorado Springs, 50:18) and Stephanie Wurtz (30, Colorado Springs, 51:12.)

Speaking of comebacks: Anna Norsky of Aurora ran in the Winter Series, but jokes that she probably should keep her racing quiet.

Norsky donated one of her kidneys to her mother on Nov. 9. She spent two days in the hospital and was walking seven miles within two weeks.

"I don't think my doctor would be too happy about me running so soon," she said.

She said her mom was on dialysis for 18 months. Her kidney was the best match. She didn't think twice about donating the kidney, though her mom wasn't so sure about the operation ... at least not at first.

"At first she wasn't thrilled about taking an organ from her own daughter, but then she thought 'it was in me 31 years ago,'" Norsky said.