M20-29: Griffin Mims Dominates on Home Turf

• Griffin Mims wins in 1:08:05 (13:37/mi), the only finisher under 90 minutes in the M20-29 field.
• Adam Vojta claims 2nd in 1:24:40 — 16:29 back of Mims, but a full 18:18 clear of 3rd.
• Eric Norling (3rd, 1:42:58) and Evan Bennett (4th, 1:55:03) round out the four-man field, separated by 12:05.
• All four athletes navigated 91°F heat on a course running between 6,200 and 7,200 feet — a punishing combination on a clear June day in Tahoe.

Griffin Mims, a 27-year-old from Tahoe City, made his local knowledge count. His 1:08:05 finish at 13:37/mi wasn't just a win — it was a statement, putting more than sixteen and a half minutes between himself and the rest of the M20-29 field. Racing at elevation is one thing; racing in 91°F heat at elevation is another entirely, and Mims handled both with authority.

Adam Vojta made the trip from Mountain View and delivered a solid 2nd-place effort in 1:24:40, averaging 16:56/mi. The gap to Mims was considerable, but Vojta held a commanding cushion over the rest of the field — nearly 18 and a half minutes ahead of 3rd place. That's a clear mid-field separation, not just a podium spot.

Eric Norling, 29, came in from Phoenix, AZ — a city sitting well below 2,000 feet — and crossed in 1:42:58 at 20:36/mi to take 3rd. The thin air above 6,000 feet, layered on top of the day's intense heat, made this a genuine test of endurance for anyone not acclimatized to altitude. Evan Bennett, 25, from Redwood City rounded out the four-man field in 1:55:03 at 23:01/mi — nearly double Mims's finishing time, a reminder of just how wide the performance spread was on this demanding course.