Girdwood runner wins 2nd Pioneer Ridge Vertical Mile title

PALMER — A Girdwood runner earned her second title and came within reach of a record during the fourth-annual Pioneer Ridge Vertical Mile Sunday near Palmer.

Briana Sullivan scaled the 4.5-mile course that features 5,300 feet of vertical gain in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 39 seconds to win the event, which boasts the largest vertical gain of any uphill-only race in Alaska, for the second time since 2015. Sullivan’s time left her a mere 2 ½ minutes shy of the women’s course record, set by Najeeby Quinn in 2016.

Varvara Shikanova, who competes in Russia’s Skyrunner series, finished second in the women’s class with a time of 1:32:08. Shikanova also placed 13th in Mount Marathon July 4 during her two-week stay in Alaska. Seward’s Allison Barnwell was third.

Anchorage’s Lars Arneson earned the title in the men’s class, finishing first overall with a time of 1:13:14. Peter Mamrol was the men’s runner-up, clocking a time of 1:17:33. Former Wasilla High runner Noah Ripley placed third at 1:18:42.

Arneson was about five minutes off the pace of the course record, 1:08:10, set by Matt Shryock in 2015.

A total of 72 runners completed the race founded in 2014. The race is held at the Pioneer Ridge Trailhead, at Mile 4 of East Knik River Road.

Pioneer Ridge Vertical Mile

Sunday, Palmer

Women’s results:

1.Briana Sullivan, 1:28:39; 2.Varvara Shikanova, 1:32:08; 3.Allison Barnwell, 1:35:31; 4.Tara Swanson, 1:41:02; 5.Julianne Dickerson, 1:41:59; 6.Jen Jolliff, 1:42:45; 7.Jocelyn Kopsack, 1:45:29; 8.Jennifer Aschoff, 1:46:47; 9.Rachel Zafreh, 1:48:28; 10.Kathleene Simonson, 1:48:44; 11.Kim Riggs, 1:50:49; 12.Leah Legate, 1:50:59; 13.Madison Pachoe, 1:51;14; 14.Sarah Freistone, 1:51:21; 15.Kaitlyn Kogl, 1:51:47; 16.Paula Westbrook, 1:52:58; 17.Karen Williams, 1:54:01; 18.Kara Honesen, 1:57:47; 19.Ellyn Brown, 1:57:50; 20.Maggie Hejl, 2:11:06; 21.Annie Swentik, 2:16:28; 22.Sarah Hurkett, 2:17:44; 23.Ali Tremaine, 2:48:00; 24.Jennifer Frazier, 3:10:19; 25.Chelsey Homan, 3:12:30.

Men’s results:

1.Lars Arneson, 1:13:14; 2.Peter Mamrol, 1:17:33; 3.Noah Ripley, 1:18:16; 4.Mike Monterusso, 1:18:42; 5.Tom Ritchie, 1:21:57; 6.Ian Moore, 1:22:15; 7.Brian Kirchner, 1:23:17; 8.Brad Benter, 1:25:19; 9.John Collins, 1:26:49; 10.Chris Flowers, 1:29:17; 11.Dorian Gross, 1:29:26; 12.Dan Brokaw, 1:29:42; 13.Matthew Walker, 1:29:44; 14.Levi Younger, 1:30:02; 15.Jeff Walker, 1:33:10; 16.Ross Henry, 1:36:10; 17.Alex Youngman, 1:36:42; 18.Joseph Bentel, 1:36:56; 19.Ryan Bandy, 1:37:40; 20.Laron Thomas, 1:40:52; 21.Mike Bourdukofsky, 1:41:17; 22.Roman Gross, 1:41:20; 23.Wes Hoskins, 1:41:32; 24.John Kogl, 1:41:35; 25.Jared Beutler, 1:43:59; 26.Mark Carr, 1:44:13; 27.Joe Nyholm, 1:45:26; 28.Jonny Hughes, 1:45:34; 29.Josh Hejl, 1:47:05; 30.Marek Kolendo, 1:49:47; 31.William Harren, 1:52:48; 32.Lance Arnold, 1:52:57; 33.Colin Boswell, 1:53:55; 34.David Retherford, 1:56:02; 35.Todd Henry, 1:56:08; 36.Erik Keskula, 1:56:21; 37.Sebastian Kogl, 1:57:57; 38.Springer Moore, 1:58:18; 39.Fred Moore, 2:03:04; 40.Tab Ballantine, 2:06:18; 41.Evan Steinhauser, 2:12:21; 42.William Heinz, 2:13:39; 43.Derek Rader, 2:17:15; 44.Ken McInally, 2:17:36; 45.Austin Johnson, 2:18:54; 46.Frank Kenworthy, 2:20:06; 47.Joseph Dickerson, 2:35:10.