SNOWBASIN -- Max King traveled to Ogden with a clear purpose, and delivered in style on Sunday at the Xterra Trail Run National Championship at Snowbasin Resort.
King, the three-time defending Xterra national champion and current world mountain running champion, made it four in a row with a nearly 4-minute win over fellow Bend, Ore., runner Mario Mendoza.
King topped a field of national and international runners with a time of 1:17:59 on the scenic 21K mountain course.
Morgan Arritola of Ketchum, Idaho, turned in the fastest women's time at 1:29:09. She finished roughly two minutes ahead of her closest competitor and in ninth place overall.
With the Xterra Trail Run Nationals coming a day after the Xterra USA Championships at the same site, Xterra organizers staged a pair of events in the same weekend for the first time. Utahns responded Sunday with more than 200 entries ready to tackle the new course, featuring 2,200 feet of total climbing that topped out at the 7,300-foot Sardine Peak.
Salt Lake City's BJ Christenson finished third overall, in 1:22.25, with Murray's Scott Dickey eighth and Ogden's Albert Wint sliding in at No. 11.
On the women's side, Liz Stephen of Vermont was second, with Park City's Evelyn Dong the top Utahn at No. 7. Ogden's Malaika Homo was 11th.
In Sunday's Trail Run 10K, Adam Zimmerman of Colorado ran in 44:31, ahead of three Utahns: Sandy's Brad Marshall, Clinton's Art Thomas, and Farmington's Jared Allen. On th women's side, Salt Lake City's Zoe Roy won in 46:22, finishing second among all competitors.
In the 5K, Brigham City's Ross Marabella topped Ogden's Chris Parker to win in 26:13, while Colorado competitor Theresa Wageman ran in 33:21 in the women's race, with Chrystal Christenson second.
Sunday's action capped several days of picture-perfect fall weather, heavy turnout by race fans anxious to see cycling legend Lance Armstrong in action in the Xterra USA Championship, and impressive times in the various events.
"Well that was HARD! Much respect to all the competitors today @XTERRAoffroad. And a big thanks to all the volunteers as well," Armstrong tweeted on Sunday morning.
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