Shaler notebook: Extreme sports athlete competes in Russian sky running event

Richard Burgunder III returned to competition this year and was one of the outsiders at the International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race at Mount Elbrus, Russia. Burgunder, a 43-year-old Shaler native, was one of two Americans competing in the event.

Following a seven-year layoff from competition, Burgunder placed 49th in the sky race and 92nd in the vertical kilometer.

Sky running is the sport of mountain running up to or exceeding 6,600 feet. With sky running, the vertical kilometer is an uphill mountain running race with an elevation gain of 3,280 feet.

“This was my first competition since 2014, even though I’ve since been an avid alpinist and mountaineer,” Burgunder said. “It was an incredible experience and everyone was wonderful.”

Burgunder, who ran track at Shaler and graduated from Penn State, had a long career as an extreme sports athlete. He was a five-time XTERRA Trail Run Series Regional champion. Burgunder is the only runner in series history to win titles in four different regions.

He also won national championships in the 20-29 men’s age group at the 2008 USA Trail Marathon and 40-mile road national championships.

Mbalo makes mark

Shaler graduate Cam Mbalo has moved up to the third-best leap in Duquesne history in the triple jump. Mbalo leaped a personal-best 15.06 meters in the event at the Atlantic 10 championships to finish in seventh place.

During Duquesne’s final meet of the season at the IC4A/ECAC Outdoor Championships at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va., Mbalo finished in second place at the triple jump.

Mbalo’s best distance at the event was a jump of 14.84 meters. It was the first time Mbalo had finished in second place in the event.

Rossi finds role

Thomas More freshman and Shaler graduate Dom Rossi established a solid role on the men’s volleyball team.

The Saints finished the season 13-13, including a 6-4 record in the Mid-South Conference. Thomas More lost in the semifinals of the MSC Tournament.

Hennen helps Kennesaw State

This spring, Samantha Hennen competed for the Kennesaw State women’s track and field team. Hennen, a freshman and Shaler graduate, competed in the 1,500-meter run for the Owls. She finished in 20th place with a time of 4 minutes, 51.37 seconds.

Kennesaw State finished second as a team at the event.