Paper: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Title: WINNING RELAY TEAM HAS INSPIRED RUN
Date: August 26, 2001

Summary: The memory of a former track and cross country coach spurs the Bucknell alumni in the Hood to Coast men's elite division


The emotion was raw, tears mixing with sweat.


In recent years, the Bucknell Alumni Distance Team has become the dominant team in the Hood to Coast Relay. For the 20th edition of the race, motivation combined with talent equaled another Bucknell victory.Bucknell won its third title in four years Saturday in the men's elite group, covering the 197-mile course in 16 hours, 47 minutes, 19 seconds. The Atlanta Track Club finished second in 16:51:09, and the Princeton Running Co. was third in 16:51:31.


Bucknell averaged better than 5:10 a mile.


The fastest women's team was Baba Yaga of Monticello, Minn., in 21:14:46.


Art Gulden, a cross country and track coach at Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa., died in May of lymphoma. Bucknell teams have taken part in seven Hood to Coast events, and all the members had trained under Gulden. He had never attended what is billed as the world's largest relay but had planned to this year before falling ill.


"He was very special to all of us," team captain Brian Fullem said. "This is a close bunch because of him."


During the last year, injuries made Brian Harshman unsure whether he would run in his seventh Hood to Coast. He healed enough to anchor the 12-man Bucknell team to victory.


"(Gulden) was just a great man," said Harshman, fighting back tears. "We will all prize this victory because of what he meant to us."


The relay -- which involved 1,000 teams totaling 12,000 runners -- had 36 legs. The top 18 elite teams left Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood at 7:45 p.m. Friday. Harshman, who ran Legs 12, 24 and 36, credited his teammates for their work.


"I always had the lead thanks to the other guys," said Harshman, who understated his role. Harshman covered the final five-mile leg in 23:26, an average of 4:41.2 a mile.


Bucknell was seeded seventh after finishing third last year in 16:55:27. Defending champion and top seed Pace Setter Elite of Portland finished fifth in 17:25:50. Pace Setter Elite had to replace seven runners in the last month.


"Hey, we weren't sandbagging people coming in," Fullem said. "We ran a lot faster than we expected to."


Bob Foote also had reason to smile Saturday.


"Weather conditions were just perfect," said Foote, the Hood to Coast founder. "Wednesday, when things were being set up, the conditions were about as bad as you could get with wind and rain. Things just broke right for us.


"Logistically, it was stellar as well. The course worked real well."


The event used a new timing system. Team members wore yellow timing chips. And if the chips didn't work?


"We're covered," head timer Jon Atherton said. "We have four backup timing devices just in case."


Arriving at the beach finish line Saturday morning were the top high school and walking teams. Boys From The Hood of Portland successfully defended its title in the Portland to Coast high school challenge, covering the 127-mile course in a record 12:28:52.


The High Fibres of Vancouver, British Columbia, finished first in the 127-mile Portland to Coast relay walk in 19:28:53.