Goosen keeps lead on Day 2 of Western Alaska sled dog race

Published on March 6th, 2010

By TAMMY JUDD

Share via G-Mail Share via Yahoo Mail Share via Delicious Digg this article Share via Fark Share via Stumbleupon Share via Twitter Share via Facebook Change article font size Print this article Email this article Create a Shortlink for this article Send this article to Promobot

Shane Goosen, of Knik, is in the lead after the second heat of the Western Alaska Championship Sled Dog race in Dillingham. Six mushers entered this year's race. One musher decided to scratch and will not run on Sunday. The race purse is around $15,000 according to Kyle Belleque of NUSH/WAC but he could not specify how the purse would be divided. (TAMMY JUDD, Alaska Newspapers)

Shane Goosen, of Knik, is still in the lead after the second heat of the three day Western Alaska Championship Sled Dog race in Dillingham. He came in first in both Friday's and Saturday's sprints on a 15-mile trail. Goosen ran the course on Saturday in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 58 seconds, which was a little faster than his Friday time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 50 seconds.

Saturday's weather was more cooperative than Friday's when the trail had to be dragged out following an overnight blowing blizzard delaying the start by a few hours. Saturday the sun was shining, and the temperature was about 4 degrees, a little breezy, but not nearly as bitter as Friday's wind.

Hansen Jr., who is in third place, had a dog in the basket crossing the finish line at the end of the second heat.

Herman, who was in last place both days, decided to scratch and won't run in Sunday's final heat.

On Sunday the start times flip so the musher in last place will be first to leave the starting chute.

Day 2 finish times

(time in hours:minutes:seconds)

Shane Goosen, of Knik, 1:04:58; combined with Friday's time, 2:14:48

Norman Gloko, of Manokotak, 1:08:35; combined, 2:23:49

John Hansen Jr., of New Stuyahok, 1:23:19; combined, 2:41:15

Blunka Wassillie, of New Stuyahok, 1:26:43; combined, 2:54:10

Gust Chocknok Sr., of New Stuyahok, 1:33:39; combined 3:44:07

Keenan Herman, of Dillingham, 2:19:45; combined, 4:38:21


TAMMY JUDD can be reached at tammy@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2438

Popular Stories


Copyright 2010

The Bristol Bay Times is a publication of Alaska Newspapers, Inc. This article is © 2010 and limited reproduction rights for personal use are granted for this printing only. This article, in any form, may not be further reproduced without written permission of the publisher and owner, including duplication for not-for-profit purposes. Portions of this article may belong to other agencies; those sections are reproduced here with permission and Alaska Newspapers, Inc. makes no provisions for further distribution.