Results/Photos

Date: Sept. 27, 2026 Participant: Damien Balles #31658 Race: 2026 Boulderthon 10K Distance: 6.2 miles

Fast Start Fades to a Steady Finish Damien Balles, 17, of Fort Carson, completed the 2026 Boulderthon 10K in 52:23, an 8:27 min/mile pace. He finished 11th in the Male 15-19 division. Balles opened aggressively, covering the first mile in 6:43 and holding a 6:55 pace through mile two. That early rhythm slipped over the middle miles, with elapsed pace climbing to 7:53 by mile five as splits lengthened from 7:25 to 8:07 to 10:05. The closing mile settled into an 11:20 split, bringing overall pace to 8:27 for the distance. The first two miles stand as the strongest stretch of the race, run well under his final average pace. Given Boulder's elevation above 5,000 feet, that early tempo made for a demanding test over the back half.