Catharina Bumble Bee Berge Wins the Nancy Dankenbring Award at the 2001 Furnace Creek 508!

Catharina Bumble Bee Berge, 35, a Swedish Ph.d. student studying at UC Davis and living in Visalia, CA, won the women's division of the 2001 Furnace Creek 508 with a time of 31:58:56. Berge sealed her win decisively and posted an impressive performance, especially as a rookie. Berge placed 2nd overall, beating Seana Hogan’s 1991 rookie time by over four hours in the process. As the first rookie woman to complete the race, Berge earned the Nancy Dankenbring Award.

As the Nancy Dankenbring Award winner, Berge received $300 in cash and a variety of 508 merchandise.

The Nancy Dankenbring Award was created by Rex Reese, and is supported by AdventureCORPS, to encourage and increase the participation of female athletes in Ultra Cycling race events in general and the Furnace Creek 508 in particular. In particular, this Award is to encourage increased participation of female athletes who have never previously competed in any Ultra race events. The award is named for Nancy Dankenbring, a 25 year old triathlete and 1998 Furnace Creek 508 rookie finisher who inspired many in her tragically short life.

Therefore, the Nancy Dankenbring Award is to be presented each year in recognition of the best female rookie solo rider, regardless of age, who enters and successfully finishes the Furnace Creek 508 in the lowest official time recorded.
 

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