The race began with a crowded field leaving Seward’s Main Street, but Moose Pass runner Knotek was the first runner to the finish, crossing the line with an official time of 27 minutes and 17 seconds, followed a few seconds later by Lyon Kopsack at 28:02 and Michael Marshall at 28:48. Wednesday’s win is a second straight victory for Knotek, which came slightly slower than his 2011 time of 26:18.
Ostrander came in with an official time of 32:50, as the Soldotna runner claimed her fourth consecutive victory -- slightly behind her 2011 time of 30:32 -- and tied the record for consecutive wins in the junior race. She came down the chute alone, followed a few minutes later by Ann Spencer at 36:00 and Alyson Kopsack at 38:08.
In the women’s race held later Wednesday, Anchorage Olympian Holly Brooks claimed her first win with a time of 51:53, maintaining a sizable lead over the field for most of the race.
The men’s race saw Matthew Novakovich retain a small but crucial lead over an experienced pack of race veterans, winning the 38-year-old Anchorage resident’s first Mount Marathon with a time of 44:07.
Kevin Wells contributed to this report.
