Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
Vajin Armstrong of Christchurch, New Zealand was the winner of the 2012 American River 50 Mile Endurance Run Saturday. Armstrong crossed the finish line at the Dam Overlook in Auburn with a time of 5:53:32. Armstrong also became the first overall international winner of the AR 50.

Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
Vajin Armstrong was the overall winner of this year's American River 50 Endurance Run.

Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
Vajin Armstrong, overall AR 50 winner (L) and Ellie Greenwood (R) women's winner and sixth overall finisher chat at the finish line Saturday.

Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
Sixth place American River 50 Endurance Run finisher and women's winner Ellie Greenwood comes up the Dam Wall only minutes from the finish line. Greenwood was also last year's AR 50 womens winner, and the first place women's finisher in the 2011 WS100 Endurance Run.

Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
On the winners podium at the American River 50 Saturday were first place finisher Vajin Armstrong (middle), second place finisher Rich Hanna (L), and third place finisher Jacob Rydman (R).

Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
Forty-seven-year old Rich Hanna of Sacramento is having a great running year finishing second in the American River 50 MIle Endurance Run Saturday with a time of 6:05:50. Hanna also finished second in the Way Too Cool 50K Endurance Run just a month ago.

Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal
Jacob Rydman of Rocklin finished third in Saturday's American River 50 Endurance Run. Rydman covered the 50 mile course with a time of 6:10:28.