Ryan Anderson wins John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Musher Ryan Anderson crossed the finish line with his team of sled dogs at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino late Tuesday afternoon to become the winner of the 2026 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.
The final leg of the race was a close one as Anderson and musher Erin Aili battled it out for the remaining 31 miles after departing the Mineral Center checkpoint. Anderson crossed the finish line 2 minutes and 27 seconds ahead of Aili.
With Tuesday’s win, Anderson has now won five John Beargrease Marathon races. With his fifth Beargrease marathon title, Anderson becomes the musher with the most wins in the event’s history. Anderson, who is from St Croix Falls, Wis., previously won the 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2022 races.
Once Aili arrived at the finish line, Anderson and Aili shared a hug and congratulated each other on a good race. Aili, who is from Ray, Minn., has won the Beargrease Marathon twice. Video of Anderson and Aili at the finish line is below.
The third sled dog team to arrive at the finish line was musher Jesse Terry from Sioux Lookout, Ontario.
Jesse Terry at finish line
Teams continued to cross the finish line throughout Tuesday evening.
Results for the John Beargrease Marathon, 120-mile race, and the 40-mile race can be found below.
Race Results
(*) denotes a musher based in the Arrowhead
Beargrease Marathon
- 1st place – Ryan Anderson
- 2nd place – Erin Aili
- 3rd place – Jesse Terry
- 4th place – Katherine Langlais
- 5th place – Nathan Schroeder
- 6th place – Shawn McCarty
- 7th place – Anna Hennessy
- 8th place – Thomas Bauer
- 9th place – Mary England
- 10th place – David Burge
- 11th place – Rob Greger
- 12th place – Wade Donaldson
- 13th place – Ryan Clegg
- 14th place – Garrick Schmidt
Scratched mushers: Blake Freking, Andy Heerschap, Erin Altemus*, Kevin Mathis, Peter Mccleland, Mary Manning*, Redman Glisson, Colleen Wallin
Beargrease 120
- 1st place – Sean de Wolski
- 2nd place – Joanna Oberg*
- 3rd place – Rita Wehseler*
- 4th place – Nick Turman*
- 5th place – Alex Laplante*
- 6th place – Kendra Anderson*
- 7th place – Alyssa Sabatino
- 8th place – Dallin Donaldson
- 9th place – Rémy Leduc
- 10th place – David Hicks*
- 11th place – Hanna Bart
- 12th place – Elena Freking*
- 13th place – Eva Kolodji*
- 14th place – Lucy Howe
- 15th place – Caleb Briggs
- 16th place – Sarah Smith
- 17th place – Luke Schieffelbein
- 18th place – William Sima
- 19th place – Monroe Mondor
- 20th place – Kirk Webter
Scratched mushers: Melissa Mendelson, Scott Edgett*
Beargrease 40
- 1st place – Ganny Edmonson
- 2nd place – Erin Schouweiler
- 3rd place – Jim Ward*
- 4th place – Julia Cross
- 5th place – Tracy Jansen
- 6th place – Billie Diver
- 7th place – Robin Sue Fischer*
- 8th place – Eva Robinson
- 9th place – Nicole Freking*
- 10th place – TJ Squires
Scratched mushers: Mike Gleason, Brian Bergen
Kalli Hawkins January 27, 2026
