Valley runners win at Mount Marathon

SEWARD — It was a great day in Seward for Valley runners July 4 when three Palmer runners finished atop the standings in this year’s Mount Marathon race.

Runners from the Valley paced the field in the women and boys races this year and set a new course record in the men’s event.

• Eric Strabel, 32, of Palmer, won the men’s race while cutting 26 seconds off Bill Spencer’s 1981 record, with a finish time of 42 minutes, 55 seconds.

Christy Marvin, 32, of Palmer, won the women’s race with a time of 53:20, nearly two minutes ahead of the No. 2 finisher.

• Lyon Kopsack, 17, of Palmer, came in more than three minutes ahead of the second-place finisher and set a new personal best with a time of 27:03 to the halfway point.

• Alyson Kopsack, 13, of Palmer, finished second in the girls division with a time of 38:22.

• Jocelyn Kopsack, 16, of Palmer, finished third in the girls division with a time of 38:39.