Levittown speedster Jodie Schoppmann established herself as one of the premier female runners not just on Long Island but in the entire nation with a mind boggling performance in the USA Track & Field National Championship 50K Run held at Caumsett State Park on Sunday, March 6.
Schoppmann was the first woman overall, completing the 10-loop 31.07 mile course in 3:20:12, a 6:27 per mile pace that brought her to the finish line more than 16 full minutes in front of runner-up Shanna Ailes Istni of Kent, OH.
Schoppmann’s winning time shattered the previous women’s course record of 3:29:20 set by Kami Semick of Bend, OR in 2009. Even more to the point, her 3:20:12 finish was nearly four full minutes faster than the fastest 50K race run by a woman anywhere in the United States during all of 2010.
“This is one of the most impressive running performances at any distance by a Long Island runner as well as one of the best ultra marathon performances by a woman ever,” observed Carl Grossbard of the host Greater Long Island Running Club, who serves as the Chairman of USA TF-LI’s Mountain, Ultra & Trail Committee. “Jodie is an incredible athlete and it was a real privilege for us to welcome her to this run.”
It was a pretty profitable day for Schoppmann, who took home the $150 first prize as well as an additional $500 bonus for breaking the race record. She also earns an all expense paid trip to the International Association of Ultrarunners 50 Kilometer World Championship to be held in the Netherlands in August.
