The start of the Sugarloaf Marathon which drew a record level of participation this year. (Ethan Austin photo) CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Forty-three-year-old Gabriel Helmlinger of Cambridge, Mass. set a blistering pace in the 28th annual Sugarloaf Marathon last Sunday to repeat his title as champion. Helmlinger took the overall title with a time of 2 hours, 30 minutes and 47 seconds, nearly four minutes faster than his previous win a year earlier.

Also repeating was Amanda LaBelle, a 26 year-old from Rockland, who came back this year and won the women’s champion with a time of 3 hours, 2 minutes, and 2 seconds.

As always, the race setting was said by this year’s runners to be breathtaking as it followed Scenic Byway 27 starting in Eustis and ending in Kingfield. The course is ranked as the top 15 fastest marathon courses in the nation. After starting off flat for the first five miles, the course changes to rolling hills with a steady two mile climb at mile eight. The last 16 miles are downhill which is enjoyable for the runners who often set their record times here in the western mountains.

Amanda LaBelle of Rockland comes across the finish in first place in the Sugarloaf Marathon last Sunday. (David Hart photo) In the 28-year history of the race, the marathon saw a record high 379 runners this year under nearly perfect conditions for a marathon.

The Sugarloaf 15k also hosted the largest field of competitors ever in its history with 354 registered participants.

Louie Luchini of Ellsworth crossed the line first for the men with a time of 46 minutes, 12 seconds. Carry Buterbaugh of South Portland repeated as the women’s champion with a time of 59 minutes, 5 seconds.

Many locals participated in the 15K with top 20 finishes in their class. Local women results (place, name, town, class-age group):

14, Katie LeBlanc, Kingfield, 30-34; 18, Chris Proulx, Carrabassett Valley, 40-44; 15, Cheryl Fullerton, Carrabassett Valley, 50-54; 12, Rebecca Morin, Carrabassett Valley; 3, Shirley Schrader, Rangeley, 60- 64.

Local men’s results:

7, Daniel Frost, Kingfield, 25-29; 3, Dave Cota, Carrabassett Valley, 55-59; 6, Petr Smentanka, Lac Megantic, 45-49; 4m, Dick Storch, Kingfield, 70 & over.

“I think there are a lot of things that grow the ever increasing participation and success of the Sugarloaf Marathon,” said Ethan Austin communication manager for Sugarloaf. “It’s the scenery, the venue is beautiful, the course is a fast one and almost all downhill with the exception of Bigelow Hill. Other than that it’s the community and the feedback that we get. It’s a very supportive atmosphere for the runners and they do a great job organizing it. A lot of the success is attributed to the community coming together and putting on such a good event.”

Austin said that Sugarloaf businesses also benefited over the weekend with the thousands who came to race and watch the event.

The Sugarloaf Marathon is sponsored by TransCanada and is Maine’s oldest continuously run marathon. Runners who completed this year’s marathon will have a chance to go for the first ever Summit to Sea Marathon Series title at the Mount Desert Island Marathon on Oct. 18, Austin said.