Defending Rondy champ Ellis tops at Tozier

Ellis blazed to a time of 55 minutes, 47 seconds in the 16.8-mile run. He was the only musher to crack the 56-minute mark.

That vaulted him past Ken Chezik, the first-heat winner who started with a two-second lead over Ellis on Sunday but dropped to third overall, more than a minute behind the winner.

Arleigh Reynolds, last year's Exxon champion, claimed third place. He had the third-fastest time Saturday and the second-fastest Sunday.

Ellis pocked a $2,880 check for first place. Reynolds won $2,160 and Chezik $1,800.

The 39th annual race featured a purse of $30,000, with $18,000 going to open-class mushers and the rest to limited-class racers.

Open class (16.8 miles each day)

1) Egil Ellis 57:04 Saturday time, 55:47 Sunday, 1:52:51 total time; 2) Arleigh Reynolds 57:11-56:15--1:53:26; 3) Ken Chezik 57:02-56:56--1:53:58; 4) Greg Sellentin 1:00:27-57:56--1:58:23; 5) Jeff Conn 58:32-59:56--1:58:28; 6) Michael Tetzner 58:43-59:55--1:58:38; 7) Nathan Sterling 59:38-1:00:13--1:59:51; 8) Kevin Cook 1:01:04-58:56--2:00:00; 9) Rob Peebles 1:01:21-1:00:44--2:02:05; 10) Don Cousins 1:01:43-1:00:32--2:02:15 11) Bill Kornmuller 1:01:30-1:01:42--2:03:12; 12) Marvin Kokrine 1:02:04-1:01:09--2:03:13; 13) Erik Renneberg 1:01:42-1:01:35--2:03:17; 14) Marie-Anick Elie 1:03:01-1:02:06--2:05:07; 15) Randy DeKuiper 1:04:00-1:04:42--2:08:42; 16) Eddie Dayton 1:03:38-1:05:07--2:08:45; 17) Rob Worden 1:04:16-1:05:15--2:09:31; 18) Jennifer Sterling 1:05:01-1:06:42--2:11:43; 19) Mari Wood 1:03:59-1:11:37--2:15:36.

Scratched -- John Bunderson. Disqualified -- Luke Sampson.

8 dogs, 10 miles each day -- 1) Christian Taveau 1:00:27 two-today total time; 2) Jennifer Probert 1:01:27; 3) Evelyn Beeter 1:03:18; 4) Michael Tetzner 1:03:54; 5) Kris Rasey 1:04:35; 6) Dori Hollingsworth 1:06:19; 7) Dalton Baines 1:06:36; 8) Jennifer Sterling 1:07:46; 9) Jeff Conn 1:07:56; 10) Shane Goosen 1:10:58; 11) Jim Arnd 1:11:34; 12) Miriam Osredkar 1:19:02.

6 dogs, 8 miles each day -- 1) Ryan Reddington 53:54 two-day total time; 2) Steve Cole 54:12; 3) Kourosh Partow 55:12; 4) Kim Wells 55:19; 5) Kathie Barnhart 56:37; 6) Christian Taveau 57:47; 7) Rob Worden 58:28; 8) Yelenna Cavens 59:59; 9) Deborah Baines 1:00:11; 10) Susan Anderson 1:00:28; 11) Tabitha Nardini 1:01:45; 12) Cris DeKuiper 1:04:12.

4 dogs, 6 miles each day -- 1) Bev Stevens 38:01 two-day total time; 2) Kourosh Partow 40:10; 3) Evelyn Beeter 40:33; 4) Jennifer Probert 40:42; 5) Pat Hnatuik 41:00; 6) Amy Maclean 42:09; 7) Jennifer Sterling 42:38; 8) Debora Summers 46:14; 9) Nathan Sterling 48:29; 10) Dori Hollingsworth 49:17; 11) Jim Arndt 50:43; 12) Kathy Faryniarz 51:22. Scratched -- Kathie Barnhart.