About 50 runners and walkers battled bugs and elevation to summit Hacekel Hill during the infamous local race Saturday.

Dave Greer was the fastest up the hill with a time of 35:36. While he was the fastest this year, he didn’t beat last year’s top time of 35:17 set by David Eikelboom.

Runners tackled the 6.5-kilometre course, swatting at clouds of mosquitos along the way.

Some played a game of strategy, walking up hills and running along the plateaus. Others sacrificed their body to pound their way to the top.

At the finish line runners were greeted with fresh backed goods.

Young superstars Darby McIntyre and Sammy Mather were neck and neck at the halfway point, but McIntyre pulled away in the last half, coming in second with a time of 37:43. Mather was third in 39:05.

The fastest walkers recorded were John Storms with a time of 48:02 and Tom Ullyett, with a time of 48:46.

The top of Haeckel Hill has runners finish at about 1,433 metres above sea level.

The punishing hill run is one of Yukon Athletics’ early season events.

Tomorrow, they will host a timed two-and-a-half or five-kilometre fun run starting at F.H. Collins at 6 p.m.