During an event meant to jump-start the final kick in the preparation for the 45th Bolder Boulder, race co-creator Steve Bosley became a little nostalgic.
Bosley recounted the race’s humble beginnings, and how his first germ of an idea was focused on bringing a kids-centered track meet to Boulder after lugging his children to meets that ended up being harried and disorganized.
It was 1972 marathon Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter who first suggested the idea of a road race instead. It didn’t take long for Bosley and Shorter to start thinking bigger.
Much bigger.
“We said let’s bring as many of the big dogs in the world to race here,” Bosley recalled, “and Americans can race at home.”
The latest round of big dogs from the American racing community is set for the Bolder Boulder. And for many, they will be right at home.
On Tuesday, the Bolder Boulder announced the full rosters for the four US pro teams at the annual Memorial Day 10K set for May 26. Runners who call Boulder home, as well as a sizeable contingent for former Colorado Buffaloes runners, will fill the American lineups.
The men’s Red team features Conner Mantz, the two-time defending Bolder Boulder professional champion who will attempt to become just the second men’s runner to win three championships, and the first to win three in a row.
Mantz will be joined by Biya Simbassa, who placed fifth at last year’s Bolder Boulder and broke a 40-year old American record by posting a 10K road mark of 27 minutes, 32 seconds less than two weeks ago in Tokyo, as well as Hillary Bor. Bor, who trains in Colorado Springs, is a former steeplechase specialist who competed in the 2016 Olympics.
Mantz finished fourth at the Boston Marathon last month.
The USA White team features Drew Hunter, whose father, Marc, won the second Bolder Boulder in 1980; former CU standout Joe Klecker, who is running the Bolder Boulder for the first time; and Aidan Reed, another pro who trains in Boulder.
On the women’s side, the International Team Challenge once again will feature a squad of all-CU alums on the USA White team. That team will feature Carrie Ellwood (formerly Verdon), who has finished in the top 10 in each of the past two Bolder Boulder pro races, along with Makena Morley and Mackenzie Caldwell. Morley finished sixth in her first Bolder Boulder race last year, while Caldwell will compete at the Bolder Boulder for the first time.
Emily Durgin, who won the 2023 Bolder Boulder, will lead the USA Red team alongside former BYU standout Aubrey Frenthaway and Molly Grabill. Grabill and Reed from the men’s side won the citizen’s races last year but will be competing in the pro fields for the first time. Grabill has won the past two women’s citizen’s races.
Pro race director Don Janicki said the remainder of the field for the International Team Challenge is nearly finalized and will be announced soon.
“This is my first Bolder Boulder, so it’s definitely an advantage to (train) here, but I’ve never run the course before,” Caldwell said. “It’s going to be a lot of new things, but I’m really excited to run to that stadium (Folsom Field) at the end where I’ve watched so many races of them running in at the end. I’ve gotten to see that and I’ve always wanted to do it.”
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