Discussion:

Good grief! Lucy yanked the ball out just before you were about to kick it ... didn't she!

That is a good account of the race. When you raced by me to #15 I still thought we had a chance to win but I was going to have to beat you in the sprint so for the first time during the three sprints I chose to follow a person to the next control (you). Not a wise choice. :-) Smashing through the green I realized you were running to the finish line and not #16. Just before jumping into the field myself I turned left to #16. Sergei was long finished by that time. Fortunately John was well back so I could get 2nd. The lead changed a lot in a short 16 minute race. Great fun.

The splits say Zhyk was in front of you at 8.

Interesting. He certainly could have beaten me there given my error to the right, but I was definately ahead of him at the bridge on the way to 9. Hard to immagine I could make up 10s (what the splits show at 8) in the 100m of mostly trail between 8 and the bridge. Someone else was standing on the hilltop at 8 but I didn't recognize that person as him. Maybe Sergei can shed some light on this? I'm pretty sure we all went around to the right on 9.

well, I spiked 8 as you were a bit to the right and was about 20 sec ahead of you on the way to sketchy 9 where you caught up with me.

btw, Greg wasn't cheering me when you saw him, he was trying to say to you that I was ahead :)

Ahh, that makes sense. I didn't see you at all on the way into or out of 9.