Red Shirt Lake Trail Run features young repeat women’s champion

WILLOW — Twelve-year-old Sienna Carey of Willow won her second consecutive overall women’s title Saturday in the sixth annual Red Shirt Lake Trail Run held at Nancy Lake State Recreation Area.

Posting a time of 48:16, she completed the six-mile, out-and-back course ahead of runners-up Gretchen Winter of Palmer (50:16) and 9-year-old Shine Carey of Willow (51:15).

Last year, Carey won the Red Shirt Lake Trail Run in 47:20, while sister Shine finished third at 51:54. This year, the girls’ mother, Marika, finished fourth among the women with a time of 51:28.

Saturday men’s winner, 42-year-old Matias Saari of Anchorage, finished with the overall best time, 39:48, in a field of 52.

Saari — who won Mount Marathon in 2009 and the Mat Peak Challenge and Government Peak Hill Climb in 2011, and is a three-time champion in the Equinox Marathon — easily outpaced his nearest competitors over the root-crossed, but mostly firm, trail system.

Finishing in second place among the men was Patrick Stinson of Anchorage (42:38) and Steve Pilch of Willow (43:49).

Red Shirt Lake Trail Run is organized by volunteers from Willow Running Club, which is sponsoring the upcoming Hatcher Pass Marathon July 6. Runners interested in participating in the marathon can find more information at willowraceseries.com.

Full Red Shirt race results will also be available at this website in the next few days.