A group of Whitehorse runners logged some impressive performances at the Skagway Marathon last weekend.

Following the fifth annual event in Skagway, Alaska, last Saturday, Yukoners could be found in the winner’s circles for both the marathon and half marathon.

Sheldon Lyslo topped the field in the men’s marathon with a time of 3:29:54, while fellow Yukoner Joanne Van Bibber-Widrig took the women’s full marathon title in 4:28.48.

More than 100 people participated in the event – dubbed the most difficult, and most beautiful, marathon in North America – which also included a half marathon walking category.

Star Whitehorse runner Logan Roots turned in the top time in the half marathon, blazing to the finish line in 1:13:18, ahead of fellow locals David Eikelboom (1:14:01) and Kieran Halliday (1:18:30).

Eikelboom was the race’s defending half marathon champion.

Roots’ winning time was better than his recent finish at the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, where he finished third in his age group at national half marathon championships.

“I didn’t race with a watch, so I was kind of surprised by my time,” said Roots, 22. “The whole race felt really good, but sometimes it’s tougher to tell when you’re racing against someone, rather than against the clock.”

Roots and Eikelboom went stride for stride early, before the younger racer eventually pulled away. The duo trains together in the Yukon capital.

“We can push each other quite well and he keeps me from slacking off. I wouldn’t say it’s a rivalry. It’s a good team training atmosphere.”

Roots was competing in the Skagway half marathon for the first time.

Next up on his calendar is the SummerFast 10-kilometre in Vancouver July 18 – an event that doubles as the provincial road race championship.

Amelia Fraser, the defending women’s champ in the half, earned victory again in a time of 1:38:22, about two minutes off her winning pace from last year.

Fraser beat another local, Anett Kralisch to the line by 58 seconds.

The scenic Skagway Marathon route begins and ends at the Skagway ferry terminal. It includes several climbs along the pristine Alaskan coastline.

The out-and-back race means lead runners pass by their competitors on the way back from the turnaround point on the Dyea Road.

Skagway’s Becky Jensen won the half marathon walking event in 2:57:41, while Jack Braden took the men’s walking category in 3:52:40.