A Petersburg man won the Alaska Bearfest marathon Sunday, July 31 in Wrangell.
Matthew Thompson won the race in a time of 3:48:58. He was one of just three running the full 26.2 mile out-and-back course on Zimovia Highway under a soggy Southeast Alaska drizzle. Second place finisher, 11-year-old Carter Howell, came in about two hours later (5:49:24).
The race is part of Alaska Bearfest, Wrangell’s annual celebration of bears and the natural world of Southeast Alaska. The winner of the marathon gets a trip for two to the Anan Wildlife Observatory south of Wrangell.
Cody Moran won the half marathon in a time of 1:32:07, beating 13 others at that distance. And Robert Purdy won a five kilometer run in 27:33.74.
