RAINBOW - Matias
Saari and Najeeby Quinn cruised to victories Tuesday night in the 8-mile
distance of the 14th annual Turnagain Arm Trail Run.
In the 4-miler, Erik Johnson raced to victory in 20 minutes, 59 seconds, while Reidun
Todd took the women's title in a time of 23:13.
Both Johnson's and Todd's times were course records.
Saari, who became just the second male to post back-to-back wins, finished the Rainbow-to-Potter
course in 54:22, outdistancing former UAA ski coach Trond Flagstad (56:12). Meanwhile,
Quinn, a former Mayor's Marathon champion, furnished her fourth straight win
and fifth overall with a time of 1:04.27.
Quinn holds
both women's 8-mile records, as the course is reversed to a south-to-north
layout in even-numbered years.
Due to a grizzly bear on the trail, the winning time in the 8-mile distance was slowed by 2+ minutes.
Just over 150 runners participated in the race, which is held as a fund raiser
for the Alaska Anchorage ski team.
14th Annual Turnagain Arm Trail Run
May 15, 2012
4-Miler: Rainbow to McHugh Creek
8-Miler: Rainbow to Potter Marsh