PHOENIX, Ariz. – Former UW-Stevens Point cross country and track & field runner Zach Bitter broke his own 100 mile American Open Track record with a time of 11:40:55 at the 2015 Desert Solstice Track Invitational on Saturday at Central High School.
 
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Bitter broke his previous mark of 11 hours and 47 minutes from the same event in 2013 by seven minutes. He fell just over 12 minutes shy of the 100-mile world record of 11:29:03.
 
To put it in perspective, breaking the world record would have required a three-hour marathon pace for 12 straight hours.
 
The 29-year old currently lives and trains in California. Bitter is also the 2014 national champion in the 100-kilometer distance and has represented Team USA at the world championships. Earlier this year, he won a road national championship by running 50 miles in 5:17:25.
 
At UW-Stevens Point, Bitter was on the men's cross country team from 2005-07 and the track & field team in 2007.