Mark Chandler of Whitehorse set the pace in the marathon at the third annual Dempster to Dawson Solstice Race last Saturday.

Chandler posted a time of three hours, 45 minutes and 39 seconds in the men’s open category, slightly more than two minutes ahead of Craig Kitchen of Winnipeg.

Whitehorse marathoner Benjamin Harper finished third in a time of 3:49:30.

Shelly White of Whitehorse was the fastest woman in a time of 4:33:25, or just over three minutes ahead of second place Tamara Young of Whitehorse. Shailyn Drukis of Whitehorse was third in a time of 5:13:26.

Nearly 200 runners and walkers took part in the Dempster to Dawson City which included the team relay marathon, half marathon for runners and walkers and five- and 10-kilometre distances for runners and walkers.

Organizer Jody Beaumont said the day started out overcast and rainy but cleared up nicely.

The D2DC marathon begins near the turnoff to the Dempster Highway and ends in downtown Dawson at the gazebo off Front Street, overlooking the Yukon River.

Beaumont said the Dempster to Dawson is more about having fun than it is a competitive event.

There were a number of families who participated, like Judy and Chester Kelly of Whitehorse, their daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, she pointed out.

Beaumont said half-marathoner Ed McLean of Whitehorse was awarded the Steve Cash memorial award, named after one of the early founders of Run Dawson and presented to the participant who keeps it youthful and has a good time.

The relay team Baby Got Track posted the quickest marathon time, finishing in 3:24:08.

In the half-marathon run, Whitehorse runner Chris Locke led the men’s field in a time of 1:34:36. Keith MaGuire of Whitehorse finished second in 1:35:26 and Ty Fehr-Wuckert of Winnipeg was third in 1:35:49.

Kim Welch of Whitehorse led the women’s field in a time of 1:50:06, followed by Whitehorse runner Hillary Seymour in a time of 1:52:40 and Cathy MacNeil of Whitehorse in 1:55:09.

In the 10-km run, Dawson City’s Gerrit Van Sittert set the pace for the men with a time of 41:36, followed by Bennett Kishchuk of Whitehorse in 45:10 and Whitehorse runner Rob Legare in a time of 50:02.

Three Whitehorse women led their field: Michelle Battaja in 54:19 and Katie Cheung and Kris Anderson both crossing the line at the gazebo in 55:23.

Tom Presten of Atlanta, Ga., was the quickest man in the five-kilometre run, finishing in 21:23. Lyndsay Berwyn was second in 26:51 and Dawson’s Tristan Turai-Bartholomeus was third in 28:05.

Mia MaGuire of Whitehorse set the pace for the women with a time of 25:58 followed by Selwyn Frischlin in 28:12 and Katie Bay in 28:20.

Susan Parsons and Alex Brook of Dawson City were the only two in the half-marathon walking event, crossing the line together in 3:54:14.

In the 10-km walk, Judy Kelly led the field in a time of 1:14:27 followed by Elly Oulton in 1:23:12 and Mallory Oulton in 1:30:28, all of Whitehorse.

In the five-km walk, Jeane Lassen and Orlanna Aubichon of Whitehorse finished together in 52:03 and Maddox Robbins of Dawson City was third in 55:35.