Results

The Kesugi Ridge Traverse recorded its first out-of-state champion as Seattle’s Michael Tappel outran the competition in the 30-mile race Saturday in Denali State Park.

Tappel, 26, had never seen the technical trail but led virtually from the start at Little Coal Creek Trailhead to the finish at Byers Lake Campground, finishing in 4 hours, 47 minutes and 41 seconds. Anchorage’s Galen Johnston, whose father David helped create the original trail, placed runner-up in 5:00:11. Tappel reached the Ermine Hill Checkpoint halfway checkpoint in 2:12 – almost 2 ½ minutes before Johnston — and extended the margin thereafter.

For the women, Eagle River’s Shauna Severson, 34, broke open a close race after midway to win in 5:58:03. Briana Sullivan of Girdwood used a strong second half to finish second in 6:07:23 while Shalane Frost of Fairbanks – who trailed Severson by just 28 seconds at Ermine Hill — took third in 6:10:11.

Thirty-five of the 40 starters completed the 9^th annual event, which was held in wet, muddy conditions after a deluge on Friday that included lightning on the ridge that is visible from the Parks Highway. However, Saturday’s weather was ideal, and racers were treated to clear skies, views of Denali and moderate temperatures.

Susan Casey of Eagle River and Teri Buck of Palmer celebrated their birthdays on the rugged trail while Stacy Fisk of Fairbanks, the Equinox Marathon race director, brought in the red lantern in 9:03:07.

The course records belonging to Scott Patterson (4:19:39 in 2020) and Christy Marvin (5:27:36 in 2018) were not threatened.

In the 4^th Half Traverse that travels 14.5 miles from Little Coal Creek to just beyond the Ermine trail junction, the Mahlen siblings from Anchorage each won in record time.

For the women, Tsaina Mahlen held off former University of Alaska Anchorage runner Yvonne Jeschke by 27 seconds to prevail in 2 hours, 34 minutes and 12 seconds. Each knocked more than five minutes off Colleen Bolling’s 2017 record and Mahlen finished fourth overall among 42 Half Traverse finishers.

For the men, Forrest Mahlen — an elite skier with the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Club — won easily in 2:21:30. His time was 3:23 faster than Ben Muse’s 2019 record.

Tom Flynn of Anchorage took runner-up in 2:31:08.

2020 8th Annual Kesugi Ridge Race Recap

Patterson shatters own record; Marvin wins again

August 29, 2020

Scott Patterson shattered his record at the 8th Kesugi Ridge Traverse while Christy Marvin celebrated her birthday with another victory in one of the first trail races to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patterson, a 28-year-old Olympic skier from Anchorage, completed the rugged 30-mile course from Little Coal Creek to Byers Lake in Denali State Park in 4 hours, 19 minutes and 39 seconds. That knocked more than 18 minutes off the record he set on a rainy and frigid day in 2015. Race conditions were much better on Saturday — the trail was mostly dry and the weather was warm but not hot — and Patterson took full advantage. When Patterson reached the Ermine Trail Checkpoint in 1:59:37 he had just a 30-second lead on Tracen Knopp, 21, of Wasilla. However, Patterson extended his advantage from there. Knopp finished in a stellar 4:29:18, a 19-minute improvement from Knopp’s run in 2019 and now the second-fastest run in race history.

Placing third was Cody Priest of Anchorage (4:43:32), who edged Knopp for the win by 22 seconds a year earlier.

Marvin, meanwhile, turned 40 years old on Friday and proved a day later that she’s still a force in any mountain or trail race she enters. The Palmer native clocked 5:37:06, a time slower than her 2018 record (5:27:36) but still comfortably ahead of runner-up Denali Strabel (5:54:04). Mariah Graham followed in 5:56:44 for third place.

Sixty runners started the race and all but two finished.

The event’s COVID-19 mitigation plan required that face coverings be worn by participants before and after the race but not during. It also had two separate starts for the first time, with all the men beginning at 9 a.m. and all women setting off 30 minutes later. The post-race barbecue and awards ceremony were canceled.

One other major change was the cancellation of the 15-mile Kesugi Ridge Half Traverse from Little Coal Creek to Ermine Hill, though race organizers hope to bring it back in 2021.