Palmer runner breaks Mat Peak Challenge course record

PALMER ¬— It’s been a good summer on the mountains for Christy Marvin.

About a month ago, Marvin won the Mount Marathon race in Seward. Saturday, Marvin captured a title in another famed Alaska mountain race. But this time it was in record-breaking fashion.

Marvin conquered the 14-mile course, which includes 9,100 feet of vertical gain, in 3 hours and 32 minutes to win the race and set a new course record. The Palmer woman finished more than a half-hour ahead of Paige Brady, the runner-up in the winner’s class.

Eric Strabel, the reigning men’s winner of Mount Marathon, also took home gold Saturday afternoon. The former Colony High School running and skiing star was the lone runner to break three hours Saturday, finishing with a mark of 2:58:32. Cody Priest (3:10:07) was second, and Marvin’s husband, Ben, finished third in the men’s class with a time of 3:23:15.

Forty-two men and 18 women completed the race, which began Saturday morning at the Lazy Mountain trailhead. The out-and-back course sent runners up Lazy Mountain, down the backside of the mountain and up Matanuska Peak.

Matanuska Peak Challenge

Saturday, Palmer

Women’s results:

1.Christy Marvin, 3 hours, 32 minutes, 6 seconds; 2. Paige Brady, 4:09:32; 3. Britta Brechen, 4:24:44; 4. Caitlin Marine, 4:32:07; 5. Trish Kopp, 4:41:00; 6. Danielle Pratt, 4:42:05; 7. Karen Williams, 4:42:05; 8. Karen Williams, 4:42:40; 9. Ellyn Brown, 4:52:33; 10. Wendy Sailors, 5:02:03; 11. Cheryl Ess, 5:09:04’; 12. Laurie Greenberg, 5:29:27; 13. Anne Marie Rowland, 5:36:37; 14. Meghan Dooley, 5:41:25; 15. Jane Baldwin, 5:47:26; 16. Linda Rao, 5:55:39; 17. Ella Embree, 5:58:49; 18. Karen Looney, 6:00:11.

Men’s results:

1. Eric Strabel, 2:58:32; 2. Cody Priest, 3:10:07; 3. Ben Marvin, 3:23:15; 4. Andrew Stavich, 3:33:16; 5. Michael Kelly, 3:45:45; 6. Darin Markwardt, 3:46:52; 7. Michael Vanderlugt, 3:59:43; 8. Dane Ketner, 4:05:26; 9. Grant Oamar, 4:08:39; 10. Josh Allevy, 4:08:57; 11. Dorian Gross, 4:09:19; 12. Simon McLaughlin, 4:11:54; 13. Ryan Harrington, 4:17:16; 14. Cole Deal 4:17:23; 15. Dan Virgin, 4:28:03; 16. David Rebischke, 4:29:02; 17. Lowell Fair, 4:33:32; 18. Jeremy Weber, 4:37:51; 19. Jeff Dickson, 4:50:03; 20. Gil Car, 4:50:38; 21. Steve Reighley, 4:57:12; 22. Marcus Quinn, 5:01:33; 23. Jason Hlasny, 5:03:19; 24. James Embree, 5:06:38; 25. John Clark, 5:06:38; 26. Michael Westbrook, 5:09:11; 27. Jonathon Kincaid, 5:13:12; 28. Travis Haskin, 5:14:22; 29. Dane Crowley, 5:14:33; 30. Sabo Demircan, 5:37:21; 31. Connor Priest, 6:02:12; 32. Jiri Korojuicka, 6:05:08; 33. Michael Stangel, 6:13:16; 34. Larry Smith, 6:27:42; 35. Andrew McManus, 6:48:53; 36. Michael Lewis, 6:48:54; 37. Evan Steinhauser, 6:50:51; 38. Ed Bennett, 6:54:47; 39. Matthew Link, 7:06:00; 40. Gunner Hodgson, 7:47:23; 41. Mike McAllister, 7:52:21; 42. Lance Kopsack, 7:52:46.