Gracie Schenkel and Rory Jenkins win Uphill Challenge

Five category records were set, including the fastest woman record established in 2014 by Rachel Lynn — the first year of the event. Gracie Schenkel shaved six seconds off that previous record by posting a time of 13 minutes, 10.87 seconds, and is now the record holder for women in this event.

The fastest man in the challenge was Rory Jenkins with a time of 11:02.39 in the 30-34 men’s category, which was almost 2 minutes faster than the previous category record, but just 12 seconds off the record set by Bernard Seeger in 2014 for the fastest time completing this challenge by a male participant.

Other category record setters were Lucy Hafer who competed in the 4 and under women category, completing the course in 38:23.76; which was eight minutes off her record pace from last year. In the 40-44 women category Nikol Allison took four minutes off the previous record with her time of 15:11.95.

Benjamin Balazs finished the challenge with a time of 11:15:31 in the 10-14 men’s category, knocking over a minute and a half off the previous record.

After another successful Uphill Challenge, Tragethon plans to grow this event with the addition of a military challenge. This would have teams from the different branches competing.

Trying to incorporate a Ski Club challenge as well as high school athletic teams, specifically Hood River Valley High School track and field as this course provides high altitude training for them, are other possibilities that Tragethon and his team at Meadows have in their future plans to develop this course.

Also, Meadows will be operating their chairlift every Saturday in August, plus Saturday through Aug. 19-20 for the Great Eclipse.