KEENE VALLEY – For the second time in a row, Paul Smiths native and Lake Placid resident Sarah Keyes set the women’s course record during the 11.5-mile Great Adirondack Trail Run in Keene Valley on Saturday.

Keyes bested her own record from last year by 9 minutes, 29 seconds to place first among women with a time of 1:48:59. That time put her in fourth overall.

“I just wanted to beat my time from last year,” Keyes said. “I felt really strong. So yeah, it felt great.”

This was Keyes’ third win in the race. She topped the field in 2015 and 2013 with times of 1:58:38 and 2:05:42, respectively, and placed fourth in 2014 behind three Olympians. Keyes plans to take part in the Sky Marathon series, which takes place mostly out west, but includes two races at Whiteface Mountain as well. She is currently training for a 100-mile race at the end of the summer and is considering competing in the Whiteface races as part of her training.

“I always liked to hike, but I thought I could cover more and do more hikes if I was running. I just love to run. I did an Americorps program and you live with 10 other people and so it was a way for me to get away from them,” Keyes laughed. “And now it’s become such a daily part of my life, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t run. It’s a good way to get the dog out, and it’s what I love to do.”

Saturday’s race began with a staggered start that followed the Baxter Mountain trail from near the Baxter Mountain Tavern and ended at The Mountaineer in Keene Valley. The Mountaineer has hosted the run as a fundraiser for the last 12 years. This year, all the proceeds went to the Ausable River Association and the Boquet River Association.

The event consisted of two races, an 11.5-mile unsupported and arduous run that climbed to the summit of Hopkins Mountain, and a 3.5-miler that traversed Baxter Mountain and was open to anyone. More than 120 people took part in the two runs on a rainy Saturday morning. Several competitors noted that there were sections of wet, jagged rocks that were difficult to navigate.

Tim Reynolds was the overall winner with a time of 1:38:52, while Jacob Malcomb and Juergen Uhl rounded out the top three for the men with times of 1:41:43 and 1:42:08, respectively. They were followed by Keyes, Liam Davis, Lucas Milliken, Matt McClelland and Tim Ela.

Carolyn Wynn placed second in the women’s race in 1:58:56 and Elizabeth Izzo was third in 2:08:24.

For the 3.5-mile fun run, the Schulz brothers of Lake Placid, Karl and Scott, took first and third, with Karl finishing in 23:22, just shy of the course record. Joseph Wilson took second with a time of 27:37, while Scott Schulz crossed the line in 27:48.

Rob Scharges, Nick Kulina, Birk Albert, Aisha Young, Sophie Nardelli, Van Ledger and Lydsay Malcomb rounded out the top 10 finishers for the shorter race. All 10 completed the course in less than 30 minutes.

“It’s a fine line between signing up for next year and never doing it again,” Alistair Fraser laughed after the race. Fraser, who is from Florida, New York, said this was his second year running the race. “Some of these younger guys who are vying for the top spot, they’re trying to beat each other. But just like a marathon, most people aren’t going to win. I finished last year in just over 2:30, and this year I wanted to set a goal of just under (2:30) and I did that so I’m pretty happy.”

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Great Adirondack Trail Run

Saturday’s results

11.5 miles

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