Tram Road Challenge Held Saturday (10-Year-Old Wins Women's Division)

The winner of Saturday’s 29th Annual Tram Road Challenge was Patrick Parsel of South Lake Tahoe, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 29 minutes, 13 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was ten-year-old Emmi Von Scherr of La Quinta in 35 minutes, 57 seconds.

“We are proud to have initiated and promoted this event for 29 years,” says Tram Vice President of Marketing Nancy Nichols. “With several thousand participants and spectators now in attendance, the Tram Road Challenge has definitely become a signature event for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. There is nowhere else but at the Tramway where such a unique combination of scenic beauty, superb facilities and athletic challenge is similarly available.”

The Male and Female Challenge Division Winners are:

Age Groups Name City Time

Under 6 Shirley Hayes La Quinta 01:25:41

Ahris Mayorga ----- 00:53:55

7-10 Hannah Thomas Palm Desert 00:55:14

Glenn Bell ----- 00:42:09

11-14 Shadyn Skinner ----- 00:43:41

Matthew Davidson Cathedral City 00:43:18

15-19 Sam Medina ----- 00:45:22

Andrew Nevarez Thousand Palms 00:36:06

20-24 Zarabeth Hurtado Cathedral City 00:49:51

Jerry Sanchez Palm Springs 00:33:24

25-29 Doarcy Hlavin ----- 00:37:58

Andy Perezchica ----- 00:34:42

30-34 Alex Ianculescu Palm Desert 00:41:40

Andrew Parsel South Lake Tahoe 00:30:22

35-39 Shaela Luter-Plunkett La Quinta 00:43:56

Chris Miller Edmonton, Alberta 00:36:52

40-44 Wendy Ansley ----- 00:42:11

Brian Ansley ----- 00:36:41

45-49 Nancy Hickey Palm Springs 00:37:45

Anthony Tanner Rancho Cucamonga 00:33:37

50-54 Hallary Scheideman Rancho Mirage 00:43:53

Enrique Rodarte Cathedral City 00:34:40

55-59 Barbara Jones Indian Wells 00:48:36

Greg Gustafson ----- 00:41:06

60-64 Sandy Snyder Apple Valley 00:45:59

James Maxwell San Diego 00:40:15

65-69 Jeanne Leslie ----- 00:51:43

Jim Snyder Apple Valley 00:47:29

70-74 Cherie Gruenfeld ----- 00:49:17

Patrick Dugan Rancho Mirage 00:53:39

75-76 Stacy Lewis Palm Springs 01:12:22

Gerry Forman Palm Desert 00:54:48

80-84 Nessie Hollicky Calgary, Alberta 01:24:39

Gary Smith ----- 01:10:04

85+ Jim Franklin Palm Springs 01:03:28

The first Tram Road Challenge was held in 1983, and was won by Rob Slick in 27 minutes, 35 seconds and Nancy Baird in 35 minutes, 25 seconds. The fastest men’s time was set by Rubin Garcia of Mexico – 26 minutes, 5 seconds – in 1987. Lubov Kremleva of Russia set the fastest women’s time – 28 minutes, 56 seconds in 1998.

Nichols adds, “We are very happy that Tram Road Challenge benefits the United Way of the Desert and hope that everyone will join us for our event’s 30th anniversary in 2015.”

About Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car. Opened in 1963, the Tram’s 80-passenger cars travel along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon from the Valley Station (elevation 2,643 ft.) to the Mountain Station (elevation 8,516 ft.) in approximately 10 minutes.

--Information and image provided by Palm Springs Aerial Tramway