Keith Aili and team set Beargrease course record

Baihly Warfield WDIO
Keith Aili and team cross the Beargrease finish line.
Keith Aili and team cross the Beargrease finish line. Baihly Warfield/WDIO

Keith Aili and his dog team set a Beargrease course record on their way to the 2023 title.

Aili completed the 302-mile course in 28 hours, 8 minutes, and 19 seconds.

That’s exactly one hour faster than Blake Freking’s previous record of 29 hours, 8 minutes, and 19 seconds, according to Race Marshal Alex Angelos. Freking achieved that time in 2019, a similarly cold year for the race.

This Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon route from Duluth to Grand Portage has been in place since 2018.

All along the course, mushers said the trail was hard and fast.

Find all of WDIO’s Beargrease coverage here.