A high-quality field with a down-home feel are the primary appeal for the Bear Paw 5K Classic, said Chugiak High School distance running coach and race director Ja Dorris.
The popular race has been increasing in leaps and bounds, gaining more than additional athletes annually, Dorris said. The race is a fundraiser for the Chugiak High cross-country programs.
"We are definitely getting some of the state's best runners," Dorris commented.
Even so, the names of local Chugiak-Eagle River runners were found near the top of the finish list. Jesse Cherry placed second overall, and recent CHS graduate Morgan Ekemo was second among females.
A field of more than 550 runners began the course that started at its traditional location near the old Greatland Christian Bookstore before the route turned down Business Boulevard, then jumped onto the bike trail northbound along the Glenn Highway. The trail takes a hard right at the North Eagle River exit then finishes on the Old Glenn near the new Northrim Bank.
A fast pace was set by eventual winner Matthew Corinth and John Clark, both of Anchorage. Cherry was a close third for the majority of the race.
"That kid's a phenom," said Dorris of Cherry, an incoming junior for the fall running season at Chugiak High.
Then, with 800 meters remaining, Clark, the Dimond High School cross-country running coach, experienced a disabling "blow up" of a calf muscle, reducing him to a jog. Cherry moved into second place, and West distance coach Joe Alward slid into third.
The girls' race was also close as Ekemo, the 2003 state high school 3,200 meters champion, finished only six seconds off the pace of Najeeby Quinn, an Oregon runner. Quinn and Ekemo finished 22nd and 25th overall.
UAA distance ace Stacey Edwards of Eagle River was third in 18:07, and Chugiak senior Brianna Sullivan was 10th in 19:53.
Known as Eagle River's "Grand Lady of Running," 66-year old Mary Marsolais, returned as one of the veterans of the annual event after a two-year hiatus.
"At least I finished ahead of an 18-year old (boy) with green hair," added Marsolais in her strong Irish accent. She added that she still trains 30 to 35 miles a week, mostly easy distance. Her 63rd-place finish was lower than her age.
Other top local finishers in the men's race included CHS graduates Scott Rood and Brian Knowles, 9th and 12th overall, with times of 16:14 and 16:39, and sophomore John Murphy, 17th in 17:16.
Former UAA standout Kirk Fisher of Eagle River was 19th with a time of 17:41.
Dorris said that runners appreciate the attention given to the race and the sense of history.
"Racers go to the wall (of the former Greatland Christian Book Store) and look at previous race times," he said.
For the record, the 1997 course winning time of Eagle River's Richard Lee (15:04) was never seriously threatened by Corinth's time of 15:44.7.
"You can't find many races anymore where they close the streets for a race," he added.
Some improvements to the course may have been brought on due to the extensive road construction along Eagle River's main drag this summer.
"I liked finishing on the road, rather than the bike trail," said Clark.
Dorris said the race modification would be something he pushes for in the future.
"Plus you pay $15 and you get a T-shirt," said the organizer.
With 461 runners pre-registering, entry numbers swelled with day-of-race additions requiring Dorris to order additional shirts. Additional shirts will be sent through the mail in coming weeks, he said.
"One lady asked if she could walk the whole thing. We kept the clock running for her and gave her a shirt for finishing the race," he added.
521 runners completed the 3.1-mile course.
