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Anchorage's Jaime Bronga gave a quick clue as to her success at Tsalteshi Trails immediately following the 8th annual Everything But the Red Run on Friday night.

"I love the Skyview trails," Bronga said. "They have a lot of pretty big hills that are a lot of fun."

Judging by the number of people rubbing their quadriceps after the finish, "fun" probably isn't a word that most of the 64 racers who turned out would use to describe the hills.

But it's hard to argue with the success Bronga has had at Tsalteshi of late. She won Friday's five-kilometer run with a time of 20 minutes, 51 seconds. That was about 44 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Robin Fisk. Kenda Blanning was third at 22:15.

As a senior at East High School in Anchorage, Bronga won the 2007 Skyview Invitational at Tsalteshi Trails before going on to finish seventh at the state meet at the much flatter Michael Janecek Running Trails in Palmer.

"With a hill, when you go up it, you always get to go down it," Bronga said.

The good news for Fisk is that Bronga, who is down visiting the family's cabin on the Kenai, will be a freshman on the University of Alaska Anchorage cross country running team this fall. She also plans to cross-country ski for the Seawolves.

Due to NCAA regulations, Bronga was not able to accept her first-place prize -- a Tsalteshi Trails T-shirt. That meant the prize went to Fisk.

This is the second time Fisk has done the Everything But the Red Run, but she runs at Tsalteshi Trails frequently.

Usually this time of year, she is busy with races like the Crow Pass Crossing, but this year she didn't do Crow Pass.

Fisk, who also skis at Tsalteshi in the winter, said she enjoys the trails because they are a source of solitude and wilderness close to town. She said it was good to see so many turn out to support the trails.

"Tsalteshi Trails is important to me," she said. "I'm glad to see this success. These are good people."

The men's race went to Cook Inlet Academy senior Lars Arneson, who won a sprint with Skyview senior Mike Moerlein to the finish. Arneson finished at 17:25, while Moerlein was a second behind.

Arneson and longtime friend Brian Beeson, who finished third at 17:43, combined to hold the lead for most of the race.

Moerlein hung back, saying he hoped the two would tire each other out, and he could take advantage at the end.

The strategy worked on Beeson, as Moerlein was able to kick past him on the last loop. At the top of the hill just before the finish line, Moerlein was able to catch up to Arneson, but couldn't hold on.

"I know sprinting is my weakest point in running," Moerlein said. "I knew it was going to be tough to get by him."

Arneson also knew it would be tough for Moerlein to complete the comeback.

"I wasn't really worried," Arneson said. "He had just caught up with me, and he had to use a lot of energy to catch up with me."

Arneson had recently attended a running camp at Solid Rock Bible Camp, and Moerlein has been training all summer, so both say they are ready for cross country practice, which starts Aug. 4.

Tom Seggerman, the race director, said the number of entrants did not match the all-time high of 68. He was still pleased with the turnout.

"It's a weeknight after work. People just show up, put on their running shoes and go," Seggerman said.

The entry fee is just $5. Seggerman said the run makes some money for the trails, but its purpose is mainly to come out and have fun. Making the run all the more fun this year, he said, was that the race was actually five kilometers. The race, which is part of Progess Days, has a reputation for being a little longer than the standard five kilometers.

Seggerman also thanked the Soldotna Dairy Queen for donating free ice cream coupons, the Tsalteshi Trails board for organizing the race, Renee Merkes for heading up the timing, the volunteers and everybody that came out to cheer the runners.

Everything But the Red Run

Friday at Tsalteshi Trails

Women

11-20 -- 1. Jaime Bronga, 20 minutes, 51.4 seconds; 2. Rosika Nees, 22:57; 3. Marquee Lucas, 27:29; 4. Katie Jean Rea, 37:23; 5. Kendra Moerlein, 37:24; 6. Brooke Hughes, 40:33.

21-35 -- 1. Robin Fisk, 21:35; 2. Jenny Neyman, 23:29; 3. Regina Daniels, 27:50; 4. Katie Bowers, 27:52; 5. Eden MacPhail, 28:09; 6. Brodie Broerman, 29:38; 7. Anastacia Fosi, 30:38.

36-50 -- 1. Kenda Blanning, 22:15; 2. Teri Ostrander, 22:16; 3. Lisa Wells, 23:43; 4. Charlotte Harvey, 25:21; 5. Jenny Olendorff, 26:03; 6. Kristine Moerlein, 26:27; 7. Kathy Rabung, 26:36; 8. Barb Belluomini, 26:53; 9. Regina Theisen, 28:45; 10. Janice Habermann, 29:30; 11. Judi Klok, 29:41; 12. Susan Pfaffe, 30:38; 13. Connie Carlson, 31:42; 14. Bridgette Attleson, 37:52; 15. Shawnah Landess, 37:52; 16. Lanie Hughes, 40:34; 17. Teri Birchfield, 47:30.

51 and up -- 1. Christine Morin, 29:54; 2. Maria Sweppy, 31:12; 3. Connie Wheat, 31:22; 4. Gail Moore, 37:57; 5. Angela Douthit, 47:29; 6. Norma Daniels, 51:11.

Men

11-20 -- 1. Lars Arneson, 17:25; 2. Mike Moerlein, 17:26; 3. Brayden Holt, 19:30; 4. Hunter Jackinsky, 20:35; 5. Jordan Theisen, 21:36; 6. Leif Danielson, 22:27; 7. Jonah Theisen, 23:17; 8. Riley Bronga, 24:12; 9. Blaine Bronga, 25:18; 10. Tommy Honer, 27:30.

21-35 -- 1. Brian Beeson, 17:43; 2. Noah Charles King, 19:21; 3. Keith MacPhail, 19:55; 4. Tom Kobylarz, 21:53.

36-50 -- 1. Mark Blanning, 18:30; 2. Jim Danielson, 18:35; 3. Tom Bronga, 18:51; 4. Kent Peterson, 19:28; 5. Allan Miller, 19:42; 6. Steve Gilles, 21:11; 7. Michael L. Stangel, 22:35; 8. Pat King, 30:20; 9. Leon Giafaglione, 31:42.

51 and up -- 1. Bill Coghill, 19:36; 2. Shane Horan, 24:12; 3. James P. Bennett, 24:48; 4. Paul Knight, 29:14; 5. John Lindeman, 30:16.