Olympian Lars Flora set a new course record in the 2009 Pilot Butte Challenge in Bend, Oregon. The race is a 1.2 mile event with 500 feet of vertical gain. Flora unseated Brett Holtz, a Pac-10 Steeplechase and All-America runner in college from the all-time top spot, posting a time of 7:10, 10 seconds faster than Holtz’s mark.
Cross-country skiers dominated the top of the field, with the US Ski Team’s Torin Koos finishing second in a time of 7:20, setting a new record in the 25-29 age group. XC Oregon’s Zach Violett was fourth overall, just behind 2:20 marathoner Andy Martin.
On the women’s side, 13-year-old Piper McDonald set a new course record, besting Beckie Scott’s 2005 mark of 8:58 by nine seconds. XC Oregon’s Evelyn Dong was second, breaking the 19-29 age group record by a full 30 seconds. Her time was 9:00.