BOLDERBoulder Kicks Off 2026 USATF Colorado Long Distance Running Grand Prix

Grand Prix Standings

The 2026 USATF Colorado Long Distance Running Grand Prix is officially underway, and if the opening race is any indication, Colorado runners are in for one of the most competitive Grand Prix seasons in recent memory.

The BOLDERBoulder 10K, serving as both the USATF Colorado 10 km Championship and the opening event of this year’s Grand Prix, launched the newly expanded Club Championship format with eight clubs scoring in the inaugural team standings. With five races remaining before the series concludes at the Wash Park Circuit in November, the race for statewide club honors is already taking shape.

The 2026 season follows an exciting 2025 campaign that saw Boulder Road Runners capture the men’s club championship while Fort Collins Running Club claimed the women’s title. This year, those traditional powers are joined by six other scoring clubs in the inaugural unified Club Grand Prix, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the deepest and most competitive team races in Grand Prix history.

A New Scoring Feature in Club Grand Prix

One of the most significant changes to the 2026 Grand Prix is the introduction of a unified Club Championship. Rather than separate men’s and women’s team competitions, clubs now compete together using age-graded performances, allowing athletes of every age and ability to contribute to their club’s success.

The opening race demonstrated exactly why this format is so compelling. Kristine Clark (Athletics Boulder) recorded the highest age-graded performance in the race with an exceptional 93.59%, while Frank Zoldak (Boulder Road Runners) followed closely with a 90.40% performance. In age-graded competition, any performance above 90% is considered world-class, making both efforts extraordinary by any standard. Although Clark and Zoldak finished more than six minutes apart in actual race time, age grading recognizes each performance relative to age, creating a level playing field where outstanding performances are celebrated regardless of an athlete’s age or gender. Clark's "low stick" in the age-graded scoring helped Athletics Boulder to a third-place team finish with a total age-graded score of 412.5. Zoldak's Boulder Road Runners went 2-3-4-5-10 to win the club competition with a score of 435.1 and take the early lead in the Grand Prix standings. The Track Club was second with a score of 418. A total of eight clubs scored. To view how the scoring works, click here.

The strong participation in the opening race suggests the new format is already accomplishing one of its primary goals: bringing more clubs and more athletes into meaningful season-long competition.

Individual Grand Prix Leaders

The BOLDERBoulder also established the first individual Grand Prix standings in four divisions.

Open Men

Reed Fischer (Tinman Elite) – 30:40

Open Women

Elise Cranny (Nike) – 34:20

Masters Men

Frank Zoldak (Boulder Road Runners) – 35:34 (90.40% age grade)

Masters Women

Kristine Clark (Athletics Boulder) – 42:10 (93.59% age grade)

The Open divisions featured nationally recognized talent, while the Masters divisions showcased the power of age grading to recognize exceptional performances across every generation of runners. With only one race complete, every Grand Prix point earned will prove valuable as athletes pursue season-long championships.

The Race Ahead

The next stop on the 2026 USATF Colorado Long Distance Running Grand Prix is the Cookie Chase 5K  on Saturday, July 11. The shorter distance will present a new challenge for both the individual and club standings as athletes continue their pursuit of Grand Prix points. With eight clubs already on the scoreboard and five races remaining, the competition for the inaugural unified Club Championship is just getting started.

For details on the Grand Prix, including the full calendar and scoring rules, click here.