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Mountain Views News Saturday, June 1, 2024

2024 MOUNT WILSON TRAIL RACE: A WINNER FROM START TO FINISH

From beginning to end, last Saturday’s 2024 Mount Wilson Trail Race was a triumph, with a full field of registered runners and cool weather perfect for running. All participants were 
complimentary on the trail condition, the organization, the hard work done behind the scenes, and the positive vibe surrounding the day’s activities. It was a wonderful day with eager 
runners, excited children, and enthusiastic supporters, a day that brought together the entire greater Sierra Madre running community and community at large. 

Sierra Madre VFW Post 3208 proudly presented the colors as Maggie Moran of Chantry Flat’s Adams Pack Station beautifully sang the National Anthem. Serving as this year’s MWTR 
starter was Sierra Madre’s own Chris Cimino. Sierra Madre resident Ralph West, wearing his traditional Hawaiian shirt, ran the race for the 52nd time and Lee Willard, age 88 from 
Washington State, completed the race in just over 3 ½ hours! Both amazing!! 

A total of 310 runners completed the grueling 8.6-mile course that began in Kersting Court, up Baldwin Ave., to Mira Monte Ave., to Orchard Camp and back (a total elevation gain of 
over 2,160 feet. The runners were cheered on by enthusiastic family, friends, children, and supporters. All race participants finished safely with smiles on their faces. 

The 2024 Mount Wilson Trail Race Awards Ceremony was announced by MWTR Director Pete Siberell. City of Sierra Madre Mayor Kelly Kriebs was on hand to present beautiful race 
medals to all of the category winners.

2024 Mt. Wilson Trail Race Results – First Place Overall Male & Female Runners

First place male runner – James Timphony (Pasadena) - 1:01:35, an average pace of 
7:10 minutes per mile. James was also the 1st Place male runner last year with a time 
of 1:02:04. (right)

First place female runner – Philippa Richter (Pasadena) - 1:16:36, an average pace of 
8:54 minutes per mile.

Top Five Sierra Madre Male Residents

1. Connor Jackson – 1:05:16 (1st Place Males 30-34 & 3rd Place Overall Males) 

2. Duncan Gillis – 1:14:03 (4th Place Males 30-34)

3. Brian Bender – 1:14:11 (3rd Place Males 35-39) 

4. Gregory Alle – 1:21:04 (5th Place Males 25-29)

5. Matthew Alfano – 1:22:11

Top Five Sierra Madre Female Residents

1. Danica Shair – 1:28:21 (4th Place Females 20-24)

2. Sydney Hanson – 1:29:39 (3rd Place Females 35-39) 

3. Melody Donnelly – 1:37:42 (1st Place Females 40-44) 

4. Kaitlin Walsh – 1:38:42 (5th Place Females 35-39)

5. Maisie Henderson – 1:52:59 (5th Place Females 20-24)

Other Sierra Madre Division Award Winners

• Wynde Barz – 2nd Place Females 60-64 – 2:00:23

• Sydney Hanson – 3rd Place Females 35-39 – 1:29:39

• Elizabeth Johnston – 2nd Place Females 45-49 – 2:01:00

• Vincent Lopez – 3rd Place Males 40-44 – 1:25:18

• Zarek Lopez-Williams – 5th Place Males 20-24 – 1:49:43

• Torry Miranda – 3rd Place Males 60-64 -1:44:33

• Yeng-Chu Pan – 3rd Place Females 40-44 – 1:55:11

• Garth Ramsey – 3rd Place Males 55-59 – 1:29:55

• Jonathan Spangler – 2nd Place Males 40-44 – 1:22:37

• Lorie Veiner-Clause – 2nd Place Females 55-59 – 2:02:35

• Ralph West – 4th Place Males Ages 70-74 – 2:14:20

This year’s MWTR High School Challenge included teams from Marshall 
Fundamental High School (Pasadena), Monrovia High School (Monrovia), Pasadena 
High School (Pasadena), and St. Anthony College Preparatory High School (Long 
Beach). 

Winner – HS Challenge Male Division – Monrovia HS – Team Time 1:16:80

Stefin Bank – 2nd Place Males 14-19

Michaiah Johnson – 5th Place Males 14-19

Chase Llamas

Joshua Menlove – 1st Place Males 14-19

David Mercado

Winner – HS Challenge Co-Ed Division – St. Anthony HS – Team Time 1:41:01

Olivia Alvarez 

Owen Alvarez-Knapp – 3rd Place Females 14-19

Thomas Gerard

Julia Klenk – 1st Place Females 14-19

Gian Legaspi

Tyler Lopez

Ethan Montoya

Thatcher Olsen

At least 50+ excited children participated in the MWTR Kids’ Fun Run (Ages 3 – 
13). All Kids’ Fun Run participants received a lovely finishers ribbon and a T-shirt 
designed by Hannah Ward, a 5th grade student at Sierra Madre Elementary School. 
From Kersting Court, the children ran up Baldwin Avenue to the turnarounds at 
either Mira Monte Ave. (ages 8 – 12) or Highland Ave. (ages 3 – 7) and back. 

Booth sponsors in Kersting Court this year were: Arcadia Association of Realtors, 
Christ Church Sierra Madre, Christine Edwards COMPASS Realty, Free Animal 
Doctor, Free Photo BoothMuscle Lab – Pasadena, MWTR Merchandise, Run With 
Us – Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Sierra Madre CERT, 
Sierra Madre Community Foundation, Sierra Madre Events Committee, Sierra 
Madre Historical Preservation Society, Sierra Madre Pizza Company, USC Arcadia 
Hospital, Village Vine, Vision for Enrichment – Pasadena, and YMCA – Sierra 
Madre.

The Mount Wilson Trail Race is one of the few races that has a beer garden to 
celebrate the day, share race accomplishments, and come together. Sponsored by 
Sierra Madre’s RT Rogers Brewing Company, the proceeds from the MWTR Beer 
Garden were donated to Sierra Madre Search & Rescue, which has been saving lives 
in the wilderness for 73 years. 

RT Rogers Brewing Company also sponsored the Beer Garden at Friday Night’s 

Pre-Race Pasta Dinner and donated the proceeds to the Fletcher Trail Maintenance 
Fund, which pays for the tools and supplies used by the Volunteer Trail Maintenance 
Crew, led by Bob Spears.

Civic organizations that were integral to the event’s success included City of Sierra 
Madre Community Services Staff & Public Works Department Staff, LA County 
Sherriff’s Temple Station Hamwatch, Sierra Madre Boy Scouts Troop 110, Sierra 
Madre CERT, Sierra Madre Civic Club, Sierra Madre Cub Scouts Troop 110, Sierra 
Madre Fire Department, Sierra Madre Police Department, Sierra Madre Search & 
Rescue, Sierra Madre Woman’s Club, and the Volunteer Trail Maintenance Crew. 

The Mount Wilson Trail Race Committee, led by Race Director, Pete Siberell, plans 
and works year-round to deliver a successful MWTR every year. It takes a village to 
be this successful and everyone came together to make this year’s MWTR one for 
the record books. This included the announcers, awards, bag check, banners, beer 
gardens, bike rails, booth sponsors, donors, first aid, food, ham radio operators, 
Kids’ Race, merchandise, pizza sales, pre-race pasta dinner, post-race bagels/oranges, 
posters, publicity, race T-shirts, registration, set-up/take-down, signs, sound, staging, 
timing, trail maintenance workdays, training program, volunteers, water, and more. 

Set your calendars now because the 2025 Mt. Wilson Trail Race is scheduled for 
Saturday, May 24, 2025. Check the Mt. Wilson Trail Race website for information as 
it is posted toward the beginning of January 2025..

 


1st Place Male Overall - James Timphony


1st Place Female Winner - Phillipa Richter


Challenger - Male Division Monrovia HS

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com