Alaska News

Quinn, Saari tops in Turnagain Arm run

Running on a gloriously sunny night, Najeeby Quinn sliced 36 seconds off the women's record and Matias Saari missed the men's record by 12 seconds Tuesday at the Turnagain Arm Trail Run.

Running eight miles on rocky terrain from the Potter trail head to the Rainbow Valley trail head, Quinn finished in 1 hour, 3 minutes, 1 second. That erased the old south-bound record of 1:03:37, set in 2001 by Nora Tobin, and gave Quinn both of the women's records for the race. She previously set the record on the north-bound course, which goes from Rainbow to Potter.

Saari clocked 52:32 for the men's victory, 12 seconds off the men's record.

Quinn and Saari both won with ease. Quinn beat runnerup Jaime Bronge by more than six minutes and Saari beat Matt Novakovich by more than three minutes.

Victories in the four-mile race from McHugh Creek to Rainbow went to Brad Benter (35:13) and Leslie Varys (39:04). It was the third straight win for Varys.

Turnagain Arm Trail Run

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8 miles (Potter to Rainbow)

Men -- 1) Matias Saari 52:32; 2) Matt Novakovich 55:40; 3) Patrick Conway 56:40. Women -- 1) Najeeby Quinn 1:03:01, new course record; 2) Jaime Bronga 1:09:25; 3) Colleen Bolling 1:10:03.

4 miles (McHugh to Rainbow)

Men -- Brad Benter 35:13; Robert Black 37:47; 3) Luke Duffy 37:48. Women -- 1) Leslie Varys 39:04; 2) Beth Fletcher 42:41; Sheila Finch 43:37;

Anchorage Daily Newssports@adn.com

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