alan@mtxinu.UUCP (Alan Tobey) (07/31/85)
Jonathan Boyer has won the 1985 Race Across America, reaching the finish line in Atlantic City just after 2PM on Tuesday, July 30. His record time was 9 days, 2 hours, 9 minutes -- nearly 11.5 hours faster than last year's time despite a course almost 100 miles longer. That's an average of c. 340 miles per day, really an astonishing pace. Michael Secrest finished second, almost exactly 4 hours behind Boyer. Boyer had pulled away from Secrest about 36 hours from the finish, and at one point led by as much as 10 hours. Michael Shermer, in a clear third, had yet to finish Tuesday afternoon. Shelby Hayden-Clifton maintained a clear lead among women and a strong fourth overall. Sue Notorangelo was about 1.5 hours behind Shelby and still in possible striking distance as they approached New Jersey. Kye Waltermire is maintaining 6th, Elaine Mariolle 7th, and Steve Krueger a close 8th. Even though the men's and women's division are being timed separately, it now seems that all three starting women will finish within the men's division cutoff of 48 hours behind Boyer. That's the real story of this race -- all three starting women finishing in times quite competitive with the men and much faster than a majority of the starting field.