Non-Binary Ascent: Montgomery dominates as four take on Tahoe's thin air

• Ryan Montgomery won the non-binary field in 44:00 (12:12/mi), finishing 17:48 ahead of 2nd place — a commanding margin.
• Kahle Mercer and Calvin Deutschbein ran a tight battle for the podium, separated by just 1:58 at the line (1:01:48 vs. 1:03:46).
• All four athletes posted their fastest split of the race on the KT 22→Finish segment, ranked 1st through 4th among the non-binary field in the same order as their overall finish.
• Noah Kingdon, 27, of San Rafael, CA, completed the field in 1:43:49 — a finish on a course that climbs through air topping out near 8,845 ft.

Ryan Montgomery made this race look controlled from the opening gun. Holding a 12:12/mi average across a course that gains serious elevation between 6,257 and 8,845 feet, Montgomery led wire-to-wire and never relinquished the top spot. The 17-minute-plus cushion at the finish wasn't a photo finish story — it was a statement. Montgomery also posted the fastest non-binary split on the KT 22→Finish closing segment, meaning the pace didn't slip when it mattered most.

Behind Montgomery, the real drama belonged to Kahle Mercer and Calvin Deutschbein. The Denver and Portland runners were locked in a genuine contest for 2nd, and while Mercer held the edge throughout, Deutschbein kept it honest — 1:58 is close enough on a mountain course to keep both athletes honest all the way to the tape. Mercer's 1:01:48 at 17:08/mi secured 2nd; Deutschbein's 1:03:46 at 17:40/mi earned 3rd.

Noah Kingdon rounded out the four-person field in 1:43:49. The gap back to Kingdon was substantial, but finishing the Broken Arrow Ascent at altitude — overcast skies and 61°F offering at least some mercy — is its own achievement. All four athletes crossed the line, and all four ranked in order on that final KT 22→Finish push, a clean sweep of a tough Tahoe climb.