In conditions that included snow patches, mud and standing water, Christy Marvin of Palmer set a new women's record but couldn't catch John Wros for the overall win Saturday at the sixth edition of the Kesugi Ridge Traverse in Denali State Park.
Marvin, along with Girdwood's Briana Sullivan, charged to the front of the pack on the initial climb from Little Coal Creek Trailhead to the ridge before Wros overtook them.
Wros, a veteran of 100-mile footraces, then built a comfortable lead on the technical trail before arriving at Byers Lake in 5 hours, 17 minutes.
Barely 10 minutes later, Marvin clocked in at 5:27:36, knocking nearly 26 minutes off Christie Haupert's record from 2014. Sullivan was runner-up in 5:54:04.
In the 15-mile Half Traverse, 59-year-old Jeff Young raced to a convincing win in 2:27:02. Jamie Bronga was the top woman in 2:41:10.
The Half Traverse travels from Little Coal Creek to just beyond the Ermine Hill trail junction.
Unlike previous editions of the event, which have featured uncomfortably high temperatures as well as hypothermia-inducing weather, Saturday's Traverse was pleasant with temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees.
A record 93 participants started the races and 77 finished within the time cutoffs.
Full Traverse (30 miles)
Men — 1) John Wros, 5:17:00; 2) JT Lindholm, 5:34:06; 3) Willie Stoll, 5:51:08; 4) Brian Pautzke, 6:12:20; 5) Soren Wuerth, 6:14:32; 6) James Lewis, 6:40:42; 7) Marek Kolendo, 6:44:14; 8) Keith Blanchette, 6:50:48; 9) Tarek Wetzel, 6:53:52; 10) Matt Blood, 7:00:09; 11) Rick Hansen, 7:09:53; 12) Brandon King, 7:17:27; 13) Kent Johnson, 7:17:27; 14) Kevin Knotek, 7:21:31; 15) Austin Tacker, 7:25:03; 16) Andrew Dennis, 7:27:28; 17) Blake Elder, 8:00:25; 18) Robin Wood, 8:06:30; 19) Adrian Barniak, 8:13:01; 20) Aaron Christie, 8:32:14; 21) Philip Strong, 8:32:37; 22) Jared Kern, 8:34:41; 23) Christopher Larrick, 8:38:20; 24) John Spannuth, 8:40:21; 25) Joshua Marshall, 8:43:59; 26) Scott Buser, 8:48:25; 27) Brandon Wood, 8:50:00; 28 ) James Taylor, 8:58:08.
Women — 1) Christy Marvin, 5:27:36; 2) Briana Sullivan, 5:54:04; 3) Kailyn McGrath, 6:48:23; 4) Milissa Knox, 6:58:55; 5) Stacy Buckelew, 7:07:42; 6) Oralee Nudson, 7:47:44; 7) Lisa Keller, 7:51:39; 8) Lauren Burgess, 8:11:17; 9) Natura Richardson, 8:11:18; 10) Taylor Ferguson, 8:13:00; 11) Kristen Hansen, 8:14:44; 12) Lisa Griswold, 8:35:55; 13) Jennifer Ivers, 8:39:03; 14) Ashley Cook, 8:48:24; 15) Sarah Hurkett, 8:50:00.
Half Traverse (15 miles)
Men — 1) Jeff Young, 2:27:02; 2) Joe Jolley, 2:35:36; 3) Jim McDonough, 2:36:41; 4) Anton Clark, 2:50:06; 5) Chester Gilmore, 2:53:17; 6) Frederick Dickerson, 2:53:38; 7) Hale Loofbourrow, 3:04:05; 8) Matthew Byrd, 3:10:07; 9) Alec Kay, 3:15:00; 10) Mark Filipenko, 3:36:50; 11) Asher Harley, 3:38:11; 12) Logan Burgess, 3:40:04; 13) Larry Buskirk, 3:49:21; 14) Bryan Yackel, 3:51:56.
Women — 1) Jaime Bronga, 2:41:10; 2) Rachael Posey, 2:46:32; 3) Meredith Noble, 2:49:19; 4) Danelle Winn, 2:56:21; 5) Sadie Fox, 3:00:01; 6) Tara Schmidt, 3:05:56; 7) Amber McDonough, 3:08:08; 8) Tiffanie Bird, 3:10:40; 9) Kayla Munday, 3:11:49; 10) Jordan Garrett, 3:14:31; 11) Megan O'Mullane, 3:16:04; 12) Elizabeth Elliott, 3:18:00; 13) Jean Miller, 3:18:02; 14) Katie Conway, 3:21:54; 15) Alyse Loran, 3:23:28; 16) Colleen Curley, 3:23:46; 17) Mary Kate Reeder, 3:35:12; 18) Joy Owens, 3:41:05; 19) Karen Miovas, 3:55:45; 20) Adrienne Brennan, 3:56:49.