Sports

No prize money, but Arneson’s Mat Peak Challenge win still pays big

PALMER — The punishing Matanuska Peak Challenge does not award prize money, but Lars Arneson cashed in anyhow Saturday.

Arneson's victory, courtesy of slightly more than three hours of punishing labor to cover 14 miles under a piercing sun, potentially saved him roughly $3,000.

That's because Mat Peak, which includes 9,100 feet of climbing and an equal descent, is part of the Alaska Mountain Runners' Grand Prix Race Series, and winners secure entry into Mount Marathon.

And that's a big deal — "That was the goal," Arneson said — because Mount Marathon, the most celebrated mountain race in the state, features a limited field.

The only other avenues for Arenson to gain entry in the 2018 Mount Marathon were winning a bib through the lottery or buying one during an auction the night before the annual Fourth of July race. Last month, one of the 10 men's bibs auctioned at Mount Marathon went for $3,100 and eight of the nine others went for at least $2,700.

"I'm psyched for him," third-place finisher Peter Mamrol said of Arneson, his friend and frequent training partner.

Arneson, 27, clocked 3 hours, 7 minutes, 57 seconds in his Mat Peak debut to top three-time winner Matias Saari. Saari, 46, crossed in 3:19:25, and Mamrol, 24, finished in 3:30:48.

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Ann Spencer, 22, won the women's division and finished seventh overall in 3:45:06, the ninth-fastest women's time in the race's 29 editions. She topped Briana Sullivan, 33, who finished second in 4:02:46. Allison Barnwell claimed third in 4:18:39.

Mat Peak tortures legs and lungs and takes runners up three wicked climbs and down three rugged descents — up Lazy Mountain (elevation, 3,720 feet) and down its backside, up Matanuska Peak (elevation, 6,119 feet), down Mat Peak, up the backside of Lazy and, finally, down its front.

The race finishes with about 100 meters of slightly uphill running through the paved parking lot at Lazy's base.

Arneson and Mamrol competed two weeks after they completed what is known as the Chugach Front Linkup — summiting 12 peaks, all 5,000 feet or higher, in the Chugach Range. The pair needed 18 hours, 10 minutes, which is the fastest-known time for the Linkup.

[Anchorage climbers set speed record in Chugach Mountains]

Residual soreness and fatigue understandably hit both runners the week after the Linkup.

"I would go for a two-mile walk and come home and lay down on the couch," Arneson said. "It was a long, painful recovery. It was almost a week before I was able to run."

Still, he looked strong when he finished Saturday, despite racing three-plus hours in temperatures that eventually reached into the 70s.

Upon finishing, Arneson removed his hat, took off his race vest, sat in a camp chair he backed into a small piece of shade, kicked off his shoes, peeled off his socks and accepted a cup of ice water.

"I wouldn't say it was oppressive," said Saari, who generally excels in warm conditions. "I don't envy the people who are out there a couple more hours."

Spencer, who cut more than 17 minutes off her third-place time last year, said course knowledge and better nutrition aided her cause. She gobbled energy chews and candy throughout the race after figs and dates didn't furnish enough calories last year.

Spencer said Saturday's heat reminded her of a withering experience earlier this year in a 21-mile race in New Zealand during a college semester she spent there.

"I haven't been that hot since February in New Zealand," Spencer said. "The girl who won passed me and said, 'Do you need water? Do you need food?

"I thought, 'Oh, I look that bad?' "

Saturday, Spencer didn't anticipate post-race rest. She had agreed to accompany her father and sister on a backpacking trip.

"I don't know why I thought that was a great idea," Spencer said.

Matanuska Peak Challenge

14 miles, 9,100 feet of elevation gain and equal descent
Men — 1) Lars Arneson 3:07:57; 2) Matias Saari 3:19:25; 3) Peter Mamrol 3:30:48; 4) Tom Ritchie 3:39:34; 5) Galen Johnston 3:41:24; 6) Jacob Walsh 3:42:41; 7) Christopher Kirk 3:52:53; 8) Peter Renner 4:03:28; 9) Brad Kohring 4:06:59; 10) Jimmy Sliwa 4:10:58; 11) Keegan Crow 4:14:02; 12) Stephen Fink 4:17:28; 13) Joe Nyholm 4:18:50; 14) Michael Quimby 4:19:39; 15) tie, Bodhi Gross and Ali Palilion 4:24:19; 17) Mike Ottenweller 4:25:41; 18) Brad Benter 4:27:58; 19) Bryan Hitchcock 4:34:55; 20) Dan Brokaw 4:38:40; 21) Roman Gross 4:42:17; 22) Mark Brady 4:47:14; 23) Paul Pletnikoff 4:49:03; 24) Greg Stocer 4:49:12; 25) Josl Hejl 4:57:33; 26) Joe Bentel 4:57:34; 27) James Miller 4:59:26; 28) Luke Rosier 5:01:45; 29) Dorian Gross 5:03:22; 30) Marek Kolendo 5:05:00; 31) Braun Kopsack 5:11:18; 32) Justin Smole 5:18:48; 33) Nathaniel Knapp 5:25:42; 34) Stephen Mayer 5:27:40; 35) Craig Miller 5:47:33; 36) Erik Keskula 5:48:13; 37) Ryan Bandy 5:50:09; 38) Thomas Burton 5:55:30; 39) Nick Carl 6:01:41; 40) Andrew Bashor 6:10:25; 41) Marty Lindeke 6:11:59; 42) Dylan Garbe 6:16:16; 43) Lucas Arthur 6:22:06; 44) Pat McAnally 6:35:04; 45) David Johnston 6:41:13; 46) Carl Bassler 6:50:42; 47) Sean Ulman 6:55:34; 48) Brian Veatch 7:21:55; 49) Evan R. Steinhauser 7:26:54; 50) Chris Bowman 7:48:25; 51) Daniel Delfino 8:31:11.
Women — 1) Ann Spencer 3:45:06; 2) Briana Sullivan 4:02:46; 3) Allison Barnwell 4:18:39; 4) Wendy Sailors 4:37:21; 5) Justine Reese 4:41:03; 6) Mackenize Barnwell 4:48:41; 7) Jennifer Aschoff 4:48:41; 8) Andrea Fountain 4:59:38; 9) Melanee Stiassny 5:06:53; 10) Teri Buck 5:11:36; 11) Eva Stuart 5:34:05; 12) Leah Legate 5:35:03; 13) Heather Moon 5:36:02; 14) Danielle Ryman 5:36:56; 15) Amanda Compton 5:47:11; 16) Carrie Koso 6:02:48; 17) Ellyn Brown 6:09:28; 18) Kari Konrath-Bera 6:14:33; 19) Kathleen Morrison 6:51:11; 20) Sadie Ulman 6:55:34; 21) Linda Rao 7:47:59.

Doyle Woody

Doyle Woody covered hockey and other sports for the Anchorage Daily News for 34 years.

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