contact US
Contact Alaska Mountain Runners
Phone: (907) 529-4178
Email: akmtnrunners@gmail.com
Meet the AMR Board of Directors
Matias Saari, President – Matias has been an AMR board member since 2011 and succeeded Brad Precosky as president in 2022. Among his duties is compiling the AMR calendar. He directs several trail and mountain races including the Mount Marathon Race, which he won in 2009. Saari, a former sportswriter, also coordinates events for the nonprofit Healthy Futures.
Julianne Dickerson, Treasurer – Julianne has been an AMR board member since 2022. Her duties include managing the organization’s budget and finances. A lifelong hiker and runner originally from Kenai, she started mountain racing in 2015 after getting into Mount Marathon and becoming instantly hooked on the sport. She co-directed The Anchored Marathon during the pandemic to give Alaskans an opportunity to qualify for Boston. She works as an electrical engineer for Hilcorp Energy Company.
Christie Haupert, Secretary – Christie has been on the AMR board since 2014. She came into mountain running from a background in ski mountaineering, and found the freedom of traveling light and fast exhilarating. Alaska Mountain Runners are a special breed and she continues to find new ways of engaging with the community.
April McAnly, Vice President – April has been an AMR board member since 2019 and succeeded Annie Connelly as vice president in 2022. She started running the mountain races in 2016, completing them all and placing among the top ten in the Mount Marathon Race. During that time, she fell in love with trail running and the amazing mountain running community. She works as a physician assistant for a community health clinic and is a military veteran having served from 2001-2009.
Lars Arneson – Lars joined the AMR board in the fall of 2022 along with Galen, Tom, Steve and Julianne. He coordinated with the Crazy Lazy race director to promote the race and gather results for the AMR website. You’ll find him at most of the Grand Prix races this summer including the Juneau Ridge Race! He won the overall AMR Grand Prix in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Tom Ritchie – 2023 is my first year on the Alaska Mountain Running board. My background as an athlete started with wrestling and I competed in the sport in high school and college. I got into running marathons in my 30’s and have 20 full marathons under my belt with eight of them being the Boston Marathon. In my 40’s I started to compete in mountain running. One of my favorite things to do is climb a peak and check out the views with friends.
Lyon Kopsack – Lyon has been an AMR board member since 2018. He is the director of the AMR-organized Bird Ridge race, named after his late grandfather Robert Spurr. He can be reached at birdridgerace@gmail.com.
Sam Young – I joined the AMR board membership in 2003. Over the years my main duties revolved around attending the meetings and volunteering at the trail running events. I enjoy being a member of the Alaskan running community. My late wife, Bonny Sosa, and I are the creators of the nonprofit Healthy Futures. Being a resident of Seward, Alaska, since 1975, I have had many opportunities to run in the Mount Marathon Race. I won the race twice and tied once.
Photo: Kal’s Knoya Ridge Run
Top Photo Credit: Adam Jensen