Racing News

Levrard, Gabriel Win NY 100K
Defending champ Matzger finishes sixth
By Planet staff
posted Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006

Frenchman Julien Levrard narrowly beat Canadian Steve Robillard in the sprint today at the rainy reappearance of the New York 100K.

Levrard, 22, was part of a group of skaters who broke away from the lead pack midway through the race.

Colombia's Luis Carlos Mejia triggered the breakaway when he charged ahead at the top of the hill on the 12th lap.

Five French skaters, Robillard and Twincam's Eddy Matzger gave chase while the rest of the lead pack waited to see what would happen. "We didn't think it was going to stick," said K2-Empire's Francisco Ramirez of Colombia.

The breakaway group left Matzger, the defending champion, behind about a half a lap later, Ramirez said.

Later, it dropped Mejia and Frenchman Mikael Lannezval.

That left three skaters to battle it out in the sprint: Levrard, Robillard and Frenchman Matthieu Berrault.

Levrard edged Robillard by three-tenths of a second. Berrault finished another three-tenths of a second back.

Women's Race

The women's race also came down to the final sprint.

K2-Empire's Karin Gabriel passed 16-year-old Jayme Gordon in the final meters to win the race.

K2-Empire's Marcia Woodfield finished two seconds back.

Rain fell during the first half of the 19-lap race. But by the end, a few dry patches started to appear on the road at Prospect Park.

The wet conditions made for slower times than usual.

Levrard's time was 3 hours, 9 minutes and 54 seconds, which is 14 minutes behind the course record.

His average speed was 19.6 mph (31.6 k/hr).

Today's event also included the New York City Marathon. In all, 145 skaters participated.

Top Finishers

Men

1. Julien Levrard, France, 3:09:54.580
2. Steve Robillard, Canada, Bont North America 3:09:54.894
3. Matthieu Barrault, France 3:09:55.146
4. Luis Carlos Mejia, Colombia, K2-Empire 3:10:21
5. Mikael Lannezval, France 3:14:29
6. Eddy Matzger, Floyd, Virg., Twincam 3:16:01
7. Philippe Boulard, France 3:16:02
8. Benoit Perthuis, France
9. Francisco Ramirez, Colombia, K2-Empire
10. John Howe

Women

1. Karin Gabriel, Switzerland, K2-Empire 3:54:56
2. Jayme Gordon, Harrison, Virg., Mogema 3:54:57
3. Marcia Woodfield, New York, K2 -Empire 3:54:58

Course records:

Men: 2:55.55, Philippe Boulard, 1998

Women: 3:21, Briggyte Mendez, 2004

New York Skate Marathon

Winners:

Men:

Glenn Corso

Women:

Alexandra Veljcovick

Related story

• New York 100K Resurrection