Neal Oseland did not know what to expect while competing in the 13^th running of the Summer Roundup Trail Run. It certainly was not leaving with a gold-colored trophy as the men’s masters age group champion.

 “I really ripped up by calves at the Garden of the Gods (10-Mile Run) run last month so I was more worried about finishing,” the 2001 triathlon world championships finisher said. “I had no expectations.”

The injury limited him to only two training runs over the past 30 days and he was not too familiar with the 12-kilometer course that climbs 995 feet in elevation by the turnaround near High Drive in southwest Colorado Springs in a race that started and ended In Bear Creek Park on Sunday morning.

“I have run inside the park before but not the hard parts,” he said. “It was eye-opening.”

The win in his division and finishing 11th overall gave Oseland, 43, of Colorado Springs, more confidence that he may be able to return to the triathlon circuit.

“That’s my passion,” he said. “It is expensive to run triathlons so I am on a bit of a break. But today definitely shows things are pointed in the right direction for me.”

Brad Poppele (41, Colorado Springs) placed second in 50:47. Paul Koch (44, Colorado Springs) was third in 52:07.

“I am real happy with the race,” Poppele said. “The conditions were as good as you can hope for. The rain yesterday made the course more grippy.”

It was 63 degrees with only 3-4 m.p.h. winds at the start of the race. The temperature increased to 68 by the time most of the runners finished.

Louise Kriel, 41, of Colorado Springs won the women’s masters with a time of 1:00:50. That time and her strong finish at the Garden of the Gods 10-Mile Run puts her in third in the Triple Crown of Running masters overall standings with a combined time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 53 seconds. She trails leader Rochelle Persson (44, Colorado Springs, 2:05:43), who placed third overall on Sunday, and Manitou Springs’ Yvonne Carpenter (47, 2:16:37), ninth overall.

“I wanted to break an hour today but this is a PR (personal record) so I am pretty happy,” Kriel said.

Judy Chamberlin (44, Golden, 1:01:16) placed second to Kriel and was followed by Dawn Carlson (40, Colorado Springs, 1:01:20).

In the men’s Triple Crown standings. Gerard Romero, 40, of Colorado Springs enjoys a lead of 3 minutes, 35 seconds with a combined time of 1:51:05, ahead of Ladd McClain (41, Colorado Springs, 1:54:40) and Oseland (1:55:06).

“I had a good race,” said Romero, who placed eighth overall in 48:34 on Sunday. His time was the best among men age 40 or older, but as a top 10 finisher, he was not eligible for age group awards. “I lead going into the Ascent so I am happy where I am at in the standings.”

The Pikes Peak Ascent and Pikes Marathon are Aug. 18-19. To be eligible for the Triple Crown, racers must complete the Garden of the Gods 10-miler and one of the Pikes Peak races.