July 05, 2011 (Seward, Alaska) – U.S. XC Ski and APU teammates Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks duked it out on July 4 at the annual Mount Marathon climb up and down the 3-1/2-mile/5.6km, 3,022-foot peak, with Randall coming out on top in the end in the women’s race. The two were neck and neck the entire time with Randall edging out Brooks in the end for the win in 52:03 as Brooks finished with a time of 52:22.

Randall is a 4-time runner up and finally claimed the victory which is part of her family history as her mom (maiden name Debbie Haines) won in 1975, and her aunt, Betsy Haines, scored three consecutive wins from 1979-81. Randall was hungry for the crown saying, “It’s such a great Alaska tradition with all the history behind it, and all the family history in it.”

Post-race Randall tweeted, “Happy to have completed by 10th year on Mt. Marathon with a new PR. Great 2 race with @brooksha1! – pic here.

Read more HERE.