Emily Crispi of Huntsville and Malia Gill of Madison are battling for the Huntsville Slam women’s title going into the final event, the 31st Mountain Mist 50K.
Gill leads Crispi by almost 19 minutes after three of the four races that comprise the Slam. The others are the Dizzy Fifties 50K, Rocket City Marathon and Recover From the Holidays 50K. That’s an average of 17.5 days apart to do 120 miles in a variety of weather conditions and courses. The events include 26.2 miles on asphalt, 62 on trails and 31 on the John Hunt Park cross country grass course.
Katie Venckus of Gurley is third, about 38 minutes behind Gill. She has a shot at the crown, should things go awry for Crispi and Gill. Anything can happen in the Mountain Mist, which sends runners around Monte Sano on the eastern and north sides before the challenging final miles up Waterline, to Trough Springs and then into McKay Hollow.
Dylan Glass of Gurley, the defending men’s champion, leads the field of 17 runners. He’s ahead of Dan Rifenberg of Huntsville by more than 40 minutes. The two were fairly close until the Recovery 50K, when Glass padded his lead with a solid showing.
Tyson Jouglet of Huntsville is the most recent two-time champ, winning in 2022-23.
MAIN PHOTO: Dylan Glass of Gurley is gunning for his second Huntsville Slam at the Mountain Mist 50K on Jan. 25 at Monte Sano State Park.
