Runners compete in annual Tater Trot

PALMER —For more than 30 years, the Valley has been home of the Potato Bowl, the annual Palmer-Wasilla prep football game. The Valley has another sporting event centered around the spud.

John Bishop and Amber Allen each won their respective classes during the second annual Fair Day 5K Tater Trot in Palmer. Bishop, Allen and the winner of each age group in the race, earned a sack of Alaska grown potatoes courtesy of VanderWheele Farm.

Bishop was the first to cross the finish line, completing the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes and 23 seconds, and won the men’s class. Allen was the women’s winner with a time of 23:30.

Christopher Smith also broke the 19-minute mark, and finished second with a time of 18:44. Ben Allen (19:27), Ashden Gibson (20:58) and Gavin Block (22:03) rounded out the top 5 of the men’s class.

Riannon Blaisdell-Black posted a time of 24:25 to place second in the women’s class. Lauren Evans (25:44), Julie Ross (25:50) and Mariah Ulen (26:04) also finished in the women’s top 5.

Women’s results:

1. A. Allen, 23:30; 2. R. Blaisdell-Black, 24:25; 3. L. Evans, 25:44; 4. J. Ross, 25:50; 5. M. Ulen, 26:04; 6. L. Friedman, 26:07; 7. T. Phillips, 27:10; 8. V. Hershey, 27:32; 9. T. Kalytiak, 29:04; 10. C. O’Bryant, 29:06; 11. L. Sullivan, 29:11; 12. A. Prevost, 30:59; 13. J. Comer, 31:56; 14. B. McKitrick, 32:03; 15. C. Payne, 32:25; 16. K. Fowler, 33:11; 17. A. Vann, 35:57; 18. A. Vann, 35:57; 19. S. Rife, 36:09; 20. S. Keown, 36:51; 21. D. Jewell, 37:03; 22. E. Bishop, 38:10; 23. R. Lackey, 38:34; 24. B. Bishop, 38:43; 25. S. Hannan, 39:34; 26. T. Olson 46:06; 27. A. Mayberry, 46:20; 28. J. Smith, 46:50; 29. L. Raliaferro, 46:51; 30. A. Foster, 51:49; 31. B. Mooney, 51:54; 32. S. Peterson, 54:24.

Men’s results:

1. J. Bishop, 18:23; 2. C. Smith, 18:44; 3. B. Allen, 19:27; 4. A. Gibson, 20:58; 5. G. Block, 22:03; 6. M. Allen, 22:07; 7. J. Ross, 23:26; 8. R. Downey, 24:05; 9. T. Downey, 24:13; 10. E. Rodgers, 24:26; 11. B. Lackey, 24:45; 12. T. Gibson, 25:54; 13. B. Dearborn, 32:52; 14. J. Lieb, 34:34; 15. C. Bowman, 35:58; 16. J. Lackey, 38:09; 17. J. Hannan, 39:35; 18. J. Ulen, 39:36; 19. S. Olson, 46:06; 20. B. Kokstad, 51:46; 21. S. Kolstad, 51:47; 22. T. Foster, 51:53; 59. D. Peterson, 54:25.