FAIRBANKS — Nearly 200 runners turned out in record heat to compete in Sunday’s Northern Alaska Environmental Center’s 14th Run for the Refuge — 5 and 10-kilometer running races on the University of Alaska Fairbanks ski trails.

Temperatures topped the 90-degree mark during Sunday afternoon’s event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, established on Dec. 6, 1960 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to preserve wildlife and wilderness on an ecosystem scale.

The race was dedicated to Fairbanks conservationist Virginia “Ginny” Wood, 92, who earlier in the week received the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Citizen’s Award for her Alaskan conservation vision and accomplishments, starting with establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Lathrop High School runner Dylan Nixon-Helms was the only person to break the 40-minute barrier in the 10-kilometer race as he finished in 39 minutes, 59 seconds, edging Damian Story by 20 seconds. Several others were right in the hunt as Ted Alder placed third in 40:20, Max Kaufman was fourth in 40:55. Joel Homan rounded out the top five in 42:49.

Wendy Sailors-Johnson, 41, captured the women’s race in 46:28. Cassidy Scholar was second in 48:58. Rounding out the top five were Nancy Fresco in 52:39, Ashlee Homan in 54:37 and Melissa Head in 55:49.

Akira Tasata won the boys 10K race in 55:57. Julia Mayer captured the girls division in 52:44.

Jason Walker, 32, topped the men’s 5K field din 18 minutes, 26 seconds. Mark Ross was second in 23:32 and Bruno Grunali was third in 24:45.

Christina Turman, 22, won the women’s race in 21:01, followed by Rebecca Konieczny in 23:23 and Casey Miller, 23:32.

Aven Bross was the boys champion in 32:29, while Jenna DiFolco captured the women’s race in 33:03.

Complete Run for the Refuge results are in today’s Sports Scoreboard on Page C2.