David Norris is now 7-for-7 at Mount Marathon. Photo courtesy of Mount Marathon Race
David Norris proved once again why he remains the king of Mount Marathon.
The legend added a magnificent seventh title at North America’s oldest mountain race, crossing the line in 43 minutes, 8 seconds, while netting the second-most titles in men’s race history.
Norris, who doubles as the course record holder (40:37) and Alaska Sports Hall of Fame honoree, established his signature blistering pace to the summit of the mountain, splitting 31:31.
That put Norris, who grew up in Fairbanks and now resides in Steamboat Springs, Colo., 45 seconds ahead of Anchorage’s William McGovern and the first runner to make the fog-shrouded descent.
While temperatures registered at a cool 52 degrees with light rain, the On-sponsored athlete made the trek up the mountain appear almost effortless, running and glancing at his watch at times.
However, the downhill proved trickier than Norris had initially envisioned.
“I just kept struggling to keep my toes up without dragging them through the rocks and then I did a couple somersaults,” Norris told reporters Nina Kemppel and Dave Goldman. “It was actually the first few hundred meters descending, I almost felt kind of lost ‘cause there was a spider web of different options to take and usually it’s more defined.”
“And I hadn’t been to the top yet this year, so it just took me a minute to find my rhythm and get downhill.”
The 35-year-old regained his momentum more than once on the downhill, before eventually entering the road portion to Fourth Avenue, greeting fans with high fives before cruising into the finish line en route to his seventh victory.
“It’s so special and this is the funnest race I ever get to do,” said Norris, a former elite cross-country skier. “I think when I did it in 2016, it was kind of eye-opening to me about what mountain running was and what this community is.”
“So ever since then, it’s been my favorite thing.”
Norris has now gone 7-for-7 in Mount Marathon victories, winning every time he’s entered: 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.
His seven titles trail only that of Bill Spencer, who remains the winningest men’s racer, having won eight times (1974-76, ’81-83, ’86 & ’91).
Four-time Olympian Nina Kemppel holds the most titles in race history with nine, while Cedar Bourgeois won seven straight from 2004-10.
As for Norris’ time, it was his fifth-fastest and ranks 12th in race history, while he currently owns four of the top-5.
Jessie McAuley of Canada took runner-up 46 seconds back in 43:54, followed closely by Colorado’s Bayden Menton (44:02) in third, while Montana’s Jackson Cole (44:16) and Colorado’s David Kennedy (44:43) rounded out the top-5.
Seward’s own Lydia Jacoby, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist swimmer, was the race’s ceremonial starter, ahead of her debut in the women’s race.
On the longevity front, Braun Kopsack achieved his 49th finish, while Flip Foldager, Everett Billingsea and Steven “Crazy Billy” Carroll collected their 44th. Lance Kopsack nabbed his 42nd consecutive finish.
Race director Matias Saari ran his own age (or faster) for the sixth year in a row, while notching his 18th finish and winning his age group for the 11th time.
Mount Marathon
Men’s Top 10
- David Norris, 43:08
- Jessie McAuley, 43:54
- Bayden Menton, 44:02
- Jackson Cole, 44:16
- David Kennedy, 44:43
- Ali Papillon, 45:10
- William McGovern, 45:13
- Lyon Kopsack, 45:54
- Griffin Briley, 46:09
- Michael Earnhart, 46:35
Full results here.
