|
|
Boom boom, Salzman puts out lights on the competition
By Kevin Freking
Special to GOG
|  | | J.R. Salzman used stamina and finesse to finish off the field in the men's boom run finals. |
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — J.R. Salzman of Rochester, Minn., proved once again that he clearly is the best boom runner in the world by winning the ESPN Great Outdoors Games competition on Thursday.
Salzman took the gold with a time of 17.62 seconds. Brian Duffy, of Hayward, Wis., took second in a time of 50.93 seconds.
Salzman's closest race was in the semifinals, when he beat Fred Scheer, also of Hayward. Salzman ran a blazing 16.36 seconds in the semis. Scheer finished with a time of 18.67 seconds.
"I didn't run into any trouble at all, but I was a little bit worried. After all, this is one of the biggest competitions of the year and you have to be ready," Salzman said. "I didn't feel very confident in my training schedule because of various scheduling problems and injuries. But I felt good physically and I knew what I had to do."
The semifinal matchup between Salzman and Scheer was the most anticipated of the competition. Salzman, 22, won the race last year, and Scheer, a four-time world champion in the boom run , took second.
|
“ |
I didn't run into any trouble at all, but I was a little bit worried. After all, this is one of the biggest competitions of the year and you have to be ready. ” |
|
|
— J.R. Salzman |
Scheer, 43, said he began to resume his training once the ESPN Great Outoor Games invited him to last year's event, but he said he knew a little luck would also be needed to beat Salzman.
"J.R. has got to fall in (the water) for somebody to beat him," Scheer said. "Basically, that's it."
Scheer, easily the most experienced runner in the race, took the bronze. He defeated Travis Wells of Blaine, Minn., with a time of 20.35 seconds. An exhausted Wells fell halfway into the race and could not get back on the logs to finish.
|  | | Boom run winner Salzman, center, is flanked by runnerup Brian Duffy, left and bronze medalist Fred Scheer. |
In the boom run, eight logs are tied together. The logs bob and revolve as runners cross them, leading to numerous spills. The runners sprint about 30 yards, then circle a barrel and do it all over again.
Salzman hasn't lost a boom run race since 1999, but that also was the year he set the world record in the event. He is fighting tendanitis in both ankles, but there never seemed a moment when he might be in danger of not repeating his gold medal performance of the inaugural Great Outdoor Games. He simply overpowered the other competitors.
Of the eight competitors in the men's boom run, six were from Wisconsin. A similar pattern was evident in the women's competition, in which seven of the eight competitors were from Wisconsin.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
|
