craigdailypress.com

The Moffat County High School track team hosts an event each year named after him.

He has eclipsed the four-minute mark in the mile and earned All-America status in cross country and track while attending the University of Colorado in each of his four years.

He competed in the Olympic Trials in 1996, 2000 and 2004 in steeplechase and the 5,000 meters.

But, he's not done.

Clint Wells, 33, still is running.

Wells placed second Sunday in the USA Trail Championships in Steamboat Springs, clocking a time of one hour and 48 seconds throughout the 13.2-kilometer race.

Wells led the race until the first climb - a 500-foot ascent with more than a 20 percent vertical gain - but was passed by eventual winner Jonathan Severy of Aspen, on the descent.

"Clint took the race out and led up the first climb," Severy said in a news release Sunday. "He's one of the smartest runners I know and I knew he'd be the one to watch. I passed him after the first descent (about 1/2 mile into the race) and kept the lead."

Wells finished second in last weekend's USA Mountain Running Championships - the all-uphill Mount Washington Road Race in New Hampshire.

He said through the release that the course Sunday was easier than Mount Washington, but, "I just didn't have the power up the hill."

Wells also won the Bolder Boulder 10K in May, finishing in 30 minutes, 54.02 seconds.

Wells has said in the past he still is attempting to qualify for the Olympics in the steeplechase.

He was not available for comment Monday.

His best finish was fifth in 2000, one spot out of a qualifying position.

Olympic Trials are June 28 to July 6 in Eugene, Ore.

The men's 3000-meter steeplechase semifinals are Thursday. Finals are Saturday.

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793 or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com