YUKON QUEST
Sass departs Dawson
Halfway to the finish in Whitehorse, the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest international sled dog race appears to be a three-musher battle.
Brent Sass of Eureka, who was the first musher to reach Dawson City and thus earned four ounces of placer gold (provided he finishes the race), departed that town late Thursday morning after his mandatory 36-hour layover.
Sass, who finished third last year, led defending champion Allen Moore out of town by 2 hours, 28 minutes.
The only other musher to depart Dawson City on Thursday was 2012 champion Hugh Neff, who hit the trail nearly four hours behind Sass.
Just 18 mushers began the race from Fairbanks to Whitehorse and three have scratched.
The winner will earn at least $22,700 and as many as 15 mushers will earn prize money in a race with an overall purse of $115,00-120,000.
ALPINE SKIING
Lane, Garrigus win
Margo Lane and Adam Garrigus proved dominant in two disciplines Thursday in the Alyeska Cup state alpine ski championships on Mount Alyeska in Girdwood -- both skiers swept to overall titles in the giant slalom and super-G.
Lane and Garrigus each posted the fastest times on both giant slalom runs.
Lane turned in a first-run time of 1 minutes, 11.44 seconds and a second run of 1:10.38 for a combined 2:21.82 that earned her both the overall female title and the U-16 class. Frances Ruth Carlisle finished second overall.
Garrigus' run times of 1:08.81 and 1:08.63 gave him a two-run total of 2:17.44 that was nearly four seconds faster than any other male competitor, and earned him the overall male title and title in the U-16 division. Clayton Wade finished second.
Lane won the super-G in 1:03.73 to top Hannah Lukes by about one-half second. Garrigus clocked 59.81 to win the super-G by more than two seconds over Ely Cerutti.
IDITASPORT
200-miler starts Friday
The Iditasport endurance race, with bicyclists and runners entered, opens Friday at noon with the start of the 200-miler in Knik.
The race also features a 100-kilometer race that begins Saturday at noon.
The 200-miler takes athletes from Knik to Swentna and back.
To follow the progress 200-mile entrants, go to iditasportalaska.com
Anchorage Daily News