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Logan Boehmer is the new king of Haeckel Hill.

The 22-year-old Whitehorse runner cruised to the top of the Whitehorse landmark in a time of 35:53 Saturday morning, besting the field of 32 in the 17th annual Haeckel Hill Run/Walk.

The 6.2-km route sees runners gain 600 metres in elevation along a steep, rutted gravel road. At the top are the hill's main landmarks 鈥� two Yukon Energy wind turbines.

"It was definitely hard,鈥濃�圔oehmer said post-race, after spending several minutes catching his breath.

"There's some parts where you can kind of rest in the flat spots, but mostly it was just straight up. I feel pretty good, but I'm glad to be done.鈥�

Last year's champion Scott Williams finished second in 37:24. The 43-year-old said he wasn't looking to defend his 2013 title.

"I like it,鈥� he told the Star. "It's a fun race, and it always feels better when I'm done with it of course. I like to do it just to see how I鈥坒eel when I鈥坓et up there.

"I like to push myself and get a little bit outside my comfort zone if I can.鈥�

Ten-year-old Sammy Mather was third with a brilliant time of 37:49, shaving off nearly four minutes from his 2013 finish.

"I'm really happy with that,鈥� he said. "I felt a lot better.鈥�

The young runner said having more competition spurred him on, as did the challenge of conquering the hill.

"I like the challenge of going up,鈥濃�圡ather admitted.

Spencer Sumanik, 22, was the only other runner to break 40 minutes, finishing in 38:59.

Janet Clarke was the top female finisher, hitting the finish line in 48:58.

Nineteen-year-old friends Ella Parker and Meriya Gmeiner-McPherson completed the race in an attempt to get a headstart on their summer fitness. The two are students of Quest University in Squamish, B.C.

"We were at university and not getting much exercise,鈥� said Parker, a Whitehorse native. "This was our kickstart.鈥�

The two finished in a tie for 16th, crossing the finish line in 55:57.

"Running it was hell 鈥� my stomach was about to come out of my mouth,鈥� added Gmeiner-McPherson, who grew up in Toronto. "But up here, it was heaven-like.鈥�

Athletics Yukon president Ben Yu Schott said the race continues to be one of the territory's toughest.

"It's kind of a rite of spring,鈥� he said. "It's our first real hard challenging run of the year.

"It's a great way to get the season going. It gets people out for a little bit of Saturday punishment 鈥� that's how I always like to put it.鈥�

The run was founded in 1997 by a former employee of the Energy Solutions Centre, Michael Barton.

Yukon Energy continues to sponsor the race, providing refreshments for those who take the challenge.

Boehmer ran the race without his usual running rivals Logan Roots, who continues to train in Victoria, and David Eikelboom, who was busy winning the Slammin' Salmon 10-km race in Haines, Alaska.

Eikelboom wasn't the only Whitehorse winner during the Beer Fest activities. Lauren Whyte took the women's 5-km run, and Amelia Fraser won the female 10-km.

Local cross-country skier Colin Abbott continues to hold the Haeckel Hill race record of 33:24, set in 2012.

Abbott broke the previous record of 33:59, held by Yukon鈥圕onservative MP鈥圧yan Leef.

While not in the territory this weekend, Leef was still running, completing the Ottawa Marathon in 2:56:05, good for 87th overall.