The world is waiting for — and relentlessly poking fun at — the WNBA as the organization takes its sweet time to answer the question of who, exactly, is permitted to play in its league.
Their hand has been forced following the decisions of former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White to declare for the WNBA Draft in April. A circus from the beginning, this whole ordeal once again brings up the “men vs. women” sports debate and the competitive issues that can arise when the lines in athletics become blurred.
No matter where you stand on this issue, it’s nearly impossible to argue the fact that men possess physical advantages over women in almost every way possible. Fair or not, men are bigger, stronger and faster. If you pit the fittest post-pubescent males and females against each other in just about any sport, the result is predictable.
Notice how I said “just about any” sport.
If you’ve been paying any attention to the world of endurance events and ultra races, there is a rapidly expanding crop of female superstars that are asserting dominance upon the sport.
German cyclist Fiona Kolbinger gave a glimpse of what could be in 2019, when she became the first woman to win the Transcontinental, a 2,485-mile race that stretches from Burgas in Bulgaria to Brest in France.
The winning didn’t stop there for women.
In May, Rachel Entrekin needed just 19 minutes of sleep to annihilate the Cocodona 250 Miler in Arizona with a race-record time of 56:09:48 that was faster than any male has ever completed the race. Just two months later, New Zealander Sophie Woods took on the Via Alpina, a 1,242-mile race that stretches across the European Alps. Not only did Woods win, she beat the men’s record by SIX DAYS.
While Woods was beginning her journey, Kelsey Pfendler was just completing hers. In July, she became the fastest human to row solo and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii. By the time she reached the finish line in just under 44 days, it was a blowout. Pfendler had shattered the world record by nine days.
Want to take a guess at who owns the fastest known time (FKT) for completing the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail? I’ll give you a big hint: It’s not a man.
Tara Dower needed less than 41 days to finish her historic adventure in 2024, nearly five days faster than Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy did in 2017.
Just a few weeks ago and even closer to home in Pennsylvania at the Eastern States 100 — a crown-jewel of national endurance races — a woman finished miles ahead of her competition. Kaylee Frederick, from Johnstown, crossed the finish line in 23:09:48, more than an hour and a half ahead of the top male finisher.
So what in the world is going on? It may take us years to answer this question as sports science has long neglected women, but there are theories.
The advantages possessed by men, like greater muscle mass and higher maximal oxygen uptake, seem to play less of a role the longer a race lasts. Conversely, women possess a higher proportion of fatigue-resistant muscle fibers and they rely relatively more on fat as an energy source during endurance events.
Perhaps women just have a higher pain tolerance.
Whatever the explanation is behind this trend of superhuman female performance in ultra sports, it has been fascinating to follow. By competing on the same playing field as men, women just may have pulled ahead in the most demanding sport on Earth.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
Crack the 20-minute barrier and you’ve got a chance to win that 5K.
At least that’s how it usually goes.
But last weekend in Hagerstown, it took a sparkling performance from a highly-decorated runner to finish on top at the Krumpe’s Donut Alley Rally 5K, a race that drew more than 900 runners.
Waynesboro’s Ian Sherlock — two years removed from a career at Shippensburg University that saw him twice earn All-Conference honors — blasted through the race at a 4:51/mile clip to claim victory in 15:04. It was a sprint to the finish as Sherlock won by just two-tenths of a second over Hagerstown’s Tony Clement. Sherlock and Clement were joined in the Top 10 by Smithsburg’s Jonah Smith (5th in 16:04) and Waynesboro’s Will Campbell (7th in 16:23).
That sub-20 standard we mentioned earlier? It was shattered by the first 60 finishers, a group that included Smithsburg’s Gavin Gross (16:45), Hagerstown’s Landon Call (16:57), Lauren Stine (2nd female in 17:01), Lucas Young (17:09), Harol Samir Baca Ponce (17:14), Rebecca Tellez (3rd female in 17:15), Bryan Durboraw (18:04) and Mackenzie Philp (18:07) and Chambersburg’s Owen Book (19:02).
The aforementioned Tellez was the top area runner at the Ausherman 5 Miler in Chambersburg. She clocked a 30:07 to take eighth in a field of 129 runners. She was followed to the finish line by Greencastle’s Jarrett Gelsinger (9th in 31:09), Chambersburg’s Liam Coy (10th in 31:37), Owen Book (32:48), Logan Bert (32:50), Jim Boyer (33:01), and Quinn Oyler (33:01).
Mackenize and Caroline Philp, twin sisters and sophomore standouts for the North Hagerstown Hubs, put their talents on full display at the Jack Roberts Memorial 5K. The race, held in Hagerstown, saw Mackenzie and Caroline finish as first and second females, respectively, in 19:33 and 19:57. The twins were joined in the Top 10 by Hagerstown’s Joshua Reddoch (2nd in 19:03), Chambersburg’s Bobby Sippel (4th in 19:47), and Smithsburg’s Alex Faust (6th in 20:19).
Another area event, the Hagerstown Sprint Triathlon, drew 189 athletes and included standout performances from Chambersburg’s Jeffrey Stone (6th in 55:30) and Fayetteville’s Allison List (3rd female in 1:00:33). Other solid times were recorded by Hagerstown’s Ethan Downie (1:00:30) and Jared Myers (1:09:31), Fayetteville’s Kelsey Baer (1:10:50), and Waynesboro’s Hunter Clever (1:16:31).
Noah Hartman, of Waynesboro, was a podium finisher at the Gettysburg Brewfest & Trail 5K. Hartman clocked a 20:10 to finish third in a field of 265 runners, a group that also included Fayetteville’s Oliver Soper (22:41), Fort Loudon’s Morgan Houser (26:55), Greencastle’s Jason Keller (27:58), and Fairfield’s Gage Boettinger (30:45).
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Annie Frame (33:42 at Farm Fresh 5K) and Michael Brooks (1:54:13 at Weather the Storm Sprint Triathlon), Greencastle’s David Fales (36:38 at Jack Duffy 5K Power Run), Chambersburg’s Garrett Johnson (27:29 at Canoe Creek 5K Run), Jolene McLucas (34:33 at RBP Lifeguard 5K), Richard Vincenti (53:58 at Griffin 5K), Brent Rockwell (1:07:38 at Ninja 10K) and Jennie Mazzone (1:35:20 at Canoe Creek Triathlon), Fairfield’s Mark Parry (31:59 at Tommy Laudani Delone Dash 5K) and Hagerstown’s Jessica Jones (27:18 at Frederick Women’s Distance Festival 5K), Suzanne Dunn (31:20 at Charm City Run 5K), Dianna Leaman (38:47 at Neon Nights 5K), Rehan Singh (2:09:17 at 3H Trail Half Marathon), Will Marquiss (1:36:50 at Luray Sprint Triathlon) and Christopher Alexander (3:51:05 at Luray Olympic Triathlon).
And finally, a shoutout to Hagerstown’s Jana Fridrichova, who visited Waterville Valley, N.H., for the Jigger Johnson 100 Mile. Fridrichova completed the race in 50:39:39.
And now, a look ahead:
Run Wild for Wildwood 5K/10K: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., in Harrisburg. Take on this scenic and challenging race, which benefits Wildwood Park. Register for the event on runsignup.com.
Furnace Run Trail 5K: Saturday, Aug. 29, 8 a.m., in Shippensburg. Use this race as an opportunity to explore the newly-created Furnace Run Park and Nature Center. Sign up for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
High Rock Mountain Running Challenge 3.8 Miler: Sunday, Aug. 30, 9 a.m., in Cascade, Md. Challenge yourself with this race, which features a 1.8-mile ascent to High Rock Overlook. Check out the event on runsignup.com.
Also: Amos Herr Honey Run 5K (Saturday, in Landisville); Ben and Tim Day 5K (Saturday, in Hershey); Cedar Nation 5K (Saturday, in Lebanon); Hyner Half Marathon (Saturday, in Hyner); Ninja 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in Manheim); YMCA Milkshake Mile (Saturday, in Harrisburg); Rail Trail 10 Miler (Saturday, in York); Tunnel to Towers 5K (Saturday, in Hummelstown); Hellbender Half Marathon (Sunday, in Bear Gap); Philly 10K (Sunday, in Philadelphia); CV RunRaiser 5K (Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Mechanicsburg); North East Triathlon (Sunday, in North East, Md.); RunPA Trail Jamboree (Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29, in Newmanstown); 5K Run for Recovery (Saturday, Aug. 29, in Lancaster); Baker Trail Ultra Challenge 50M (Saturday, Aug. 29, in Vowinckel); Medal Madness 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, Aug. 29, in York); Salt Springs Field, Forest & Falls Trail Race 5K/10K/50K (Saturday, Aug. 29, in Montrose); Annapolis 10 Mile Run (Sunday, Aug. 30, in Annapolis, Md.); Howard’s Half Marathon (Sunday, Aug. 30, Cumberland, Md.); Honor Flight 5K (Sunday, Aug. 30, in Reading).
