KELLOGG — Battling less-than-ideal conditions and warm spring temperatures, Leadman 2026 proved to be one for the books. 

Headlined by a pair of sisters, a Leadman veteran and a Kellogg native, the women’s race stole the show as sisters Morgan Armstrong and Emily Hangartner crossed the finish line with a time of 1:07:46, holding hands to claim the top two spots on the Queen of the Hill podium. Emily Maiani, a top finisher from a year ago, and Kellogg’s own Angel Beier, followed. 

Armstrong and Hangartner are legacy racers who have competed in Leadman since childhood. They are the daughters of multi-time champion Kristen Armstrong. 

“Leadman has been a family tradition since childhood, so this moment feels full circle,” Hangartner said. “I remember doing Leadman as a kid on a pink bike and later crossing the finish line holding hands with my mom. Now to share this moment with my little sister is incredibly meaningful.” 

Hangartner won the event in 2023, but this marked the first win for the younger Armstrong. She led her sister for most of the race until the big hill section, where the pair decided to cross the finish line together. 

“I have dreamed of becoming Queen of the Hill, following in the footsteps of my mom and sister,” Armstrong said. “This race has always held a special place in our family. Getting to compete now as an adult alongside my sister is something I will never forget.” 

The pair’s father is also a former Leadman competitor. 

On the men’s side, Spokane’s Cayle Turpen captured his first King of the Hill title with a winning time of 58:37.

“Leadman is so rad. The course had some new challenges that kept it interesting, and I had so much fun this year,” Turpen said. “I’ll keep coming back for more.” 

Turpen, a former distance runner at the University of Idaho, finished 55 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Kyle Delahooke of Athol. Billy Morse Jr., a Leadman legend and holder of the fastest time in event history, placed third with a time of 1:02:08.

Silver Mountain faced below-average snowfall and above-average temperatures this winter, prompting organizers to alter the ski and bike portions of the course. This year’s race began with skiing the Silver Belt run, then transitioning to bike gear. After the gear change, competitors ran up 400 vertical feet to reach their bikes at the ski lodge, adding precious seconds to overall times. 

The bike course also differed from previous years, starting at the Mountain House. Racers rode down Silver Mountain’s bunny hill on a few inches of snow and crossed multiple runs in the Chair 3 basin, navigating muddy conditions throughout. 

“The course was so fun, and biking down a ski run was unforgettable,” Armstrong said. 

Several legacy racers were competing across multiple divisions this year, something Silver Mountain General Manager and Leadman director Jeff Colburn called awesome. 

“It was an awesome race this year, and it has been fun to watch Leadman evolve over the years,” he said. “We now have kids whose parents won, who have been racing since they were 7 years old; that are now winning overall titles. It is also great to see the community come together to make this event happen.” 

Silver Mountain Resort and the Rotary Club of Kellogg host Leadman. More than 100 volunteers assist with the event, many of whom work with local organizations that benefit from funds raised through the race. Leadman is an annual celebration of the mountain community and ski operations. Since 2005, Leadman has donated more than $230,000 of its proceeds.