Morgan Arritola wins Loon Mountain, qualifies for U.S. Mountain Running Team

SCOTT team runner Morgan Arritola of Ketchum, ID paced a field of elite women to victory in a grueling climb up Loon Mountain, NH on Sunday July 8th, 2012.  From the banks of the Pemigewasset River to the finish line at North Peak, Arritole ran the race in her typical determined style, finishing in 46:16, 50 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Melody Fairchild of Denver, CO.  Her first-place finish automatically qualifies Arritola, 26, for a spot on the U.S. Mountain Running Team competing in the World Championships in Italy this September.

Morgan Arritola reaches the finish at Loon Mountain.  Photos: scottmasonphoto.com

Arritola added to her impressive string of running victories this year, which include the Mount Ventoux Ascent (FR) and the Vail Pass Half Marathon. After recently leaving behind competitive Nordic skiing, (and five years on the U.S. Nordic Ski Team), Arritola is off to a fantastic start as a mountain runner.

"I've never done mountain running before," Arritola said after the race.  "I do a lot of half marathons and XTERRA trail races.  I like to run just to run.  I look at races and say, 'I've never done that,' and I'll try it.  I don't know a lot about the mountain scene.  I just run my own race and suffer."

The 2012 U.S. Mountain Running Team (left to right): Stevie Kremer, Brandy Erholz, Melody Fairchild, and Morgan Arritola.  Photo: Nancy Hobbs

SCOTT Sports congratulates Morgan on another exceptional finish, and looks forward to cheering her on at the World Championships.