Possum Trot IV Meet Report

by Dick Neuburger

What happened? The Possum Trot has had a tradition of ever worsening weather for this goat-style race in early December in the Kansas City area. PT I was windy and cold, PT II was rainy and cold, and PT III had a snowy start. This Year 2000 version started cold, but had beautiful clear skies throughout and the temperature rose into the high 30's at the end...the best weather ever for The Possum Trot!

The race was set in Fleming Park, Jackson County, Missouri, and site of the 1997 US Intercollegiate Championships. The 29-control course designed by Mike Shifman was 16.7 km long, but allowed for skipping any two controls. Most runners skipped 7 and 8, which cut 700 meters from the length. 32 started the Trot (the largest field so far), including 3 former US Champions, a world champion, a veteran of a couple Eco-Challenges and Southern traverses, some Army officers from Ft. Leavenworth's Command and General Staff College, and several members of the local adventure racing club.

At the halfway point, Michael Eglinski led Rich Ruid by 37 seconds. They were followed closely by Dan Meenehan (1:16 behind Rich) and Mark "Mook" Everett (:23 behind Dan). Unfortunately, Meenehan twisted an ankle and had to drop out. Mook ran the second half almost 10 minutes faster than Eglinski and finished 7 minutes ahead to become the winner of the soon-to-be famous "dead possum". Ruid finished 3 minutes later for 3rd.

In a hotly contested race, Eric Buckley beat his archrival David Frei by just 2 seconds to take 4th place. Buckley and Frei, from St. Louis O Club, have finished almost 20 races within 1 place of each other over the last few years. Aaron Aaker literally "won by a nose" over Rick Armstrong to place 9th and Sharon Crawford, US and world-champion, had a strong race to win the other "dead possum" as 1st female; she was 13th overall.

Possum Trot IV was a big success that was enjoyed by all. Plan now to attend next year's event, December 1-2, 2001. The Kansas Orienteering Championships, hosted by Orienteer Kansas, on Saturday, the PTOC Annual Christmas party Saturday night, and the Possum Trot V on Sunday.

Thank you to everyone who helped: Mike Shifman, course setter; Mark Roodhouse and Mary Jones, aid station; Mike Edwards, hot food; Jane Betros, T-shirts; Nick Hockman, president, start and finish; Nancy Neuburger, hostess and vetter; Kevin Shipley, registration; Dick Luckerman, road signs; Keith Lay, Eric Saggars, Bruce Duffin, Dick Luckerman, Victor Cachero, control pickup.

Ps Discussion about each leg of the Possum Trot can be found at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=orienteer%20kansas