The 39th annual Alaska Salmon Runs race, which took place last Saturday, July 19, had robust attendance, organizers said.
“The total tally for runners participating is 251, which is high, though not the highest ever,” said Mayor Kristin Smith, who also coordinates the AK Salmon Runs each year.
Like many of the events held during Salmon Jam, the run is staffed entirely by volunteers. Smith says that more than 40 volunteers showed up to help at various stations.
“Volunteers are key for staffing water stations, helping to register runners and clock their finish times, set out the course marker cones, and setting up and cleaning up the headquarters at the CCMC,” she said.
The run is a part of the wider Copper River Salmon Jam festival, which occurs each summer in July at the Mt. Eyak Ski Area.
Early on Saturday morning the Alaska Salmon runs marathon began at 7 a.m. Runners have the choice to compete in five different distances including: the King salmon full marathon, Sockeye half marathon, Coho 10K, Humpy 5K, and Smolt 1-mile fun run.
Smith says that the volunteer spirit of the event stems from its origins when irene Webber ran the first King Salmon marathon by herself in 1986. Smith says from there, Weber built the vent slowly up with the help of friends and community members interested in celebrating a healthy lifestyle.
“She used to host prep meetings at her house and have volunteers put pins on the bibs … you could always count on her to cheer a runner on with ‘See you on the road!’” Smith said.
The phrase is still displayed on the shirts available to participating runners in the race to this day.
Smith said there were several interesting participants highlighted this year. Those included two local high school students, Sadie Fry and Teagan Hesse, who participated in the full marathon. It also included Tyler Nichols, a camp counselor who was visiting to help instruct at the Cordova Music Camp decided to participate in his first marathon ever for the event and ended up placing second overall.
According to Smith’s registrations data, about 100 people from outside of Cordova traveled to participate in the race. While she says most are from other parts of Alaska, runners also hail from other states – including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, and even as far as Australia.
After the race, runners and community members enjoyed a potluck and BBQ at the Pioneer Igloo on First street.
The top women marathon racers were: Suzanne McKeen (3:33:34), Margaret Powers (3:34:03), and Jordan Housdeshell (3:53:27).
For men, the top three marathon runners were: Greg Duffy (3:18:34), Tyler Nichols (3:31:18), and Joshua Zaniewski (3:34:06).
Winners of the other races:
- Sockeye half marathon women: Lee-Ann Stouff (1:50:18)
- Sockeye half marathon men: Nicolas Wesley (01:41:00)
- Coho 10 K women: Abby Bourgeois (48:11)
- Coho 10 K men: Andrew Hull (45:26)
- Humpy 5K women: Jessie Westin (22:22)
- Humpy 5K men: Theodore Alder (19:56)
- 1 Mile smolt fun run/walk women: Sierra Westing (6:24)
- 1 Mile smolt fun run/walk men: Teague Webber (7:05)
Full results of the races with identifying bib numbers will be posted on Salmonjam.org.
Correction: Tyler Nichols’ name was misspelled in a previous version of this story.
