Sports

Erhart rallies 10-dog team to victory in Koyukuk River Race

In a sled dog race held in a part of Alaska known for its champion mushers, John Erhart of Tanana on Saturday came from behind to win the 36th edition of the Koyukuk River Race.

Driving a team of 10 huskies, Erhart recorded the fastest time of the weekend on the 16-mile trail around the Koyukuk River village of Hughes.

Trailing Ruby's Francis Captain by five seconds after Friday's heat, Erhart won Saturday's heat by 1 minute, 55 seconds to claim his seventh championship in the annual race.

"My dogs ran really well today," Erhart told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. "When I called them home, they responded. I could tell they were having more fun today."

Erhart, 40, posted a two-day total time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, 28 seconds. He dropped two dogs after Friday's heat. He clocked 1:01:25 Friday and 1:01.03 Saturday.

Captain, who ran 14 dogs Friday and 12 Saturday, finished with an overall time of 2:04:18. He won Friday's heat in 1:01.20 and was third Saturday in 1:02:58.

Gary Markley of Salcha made Saturday's second fastest run in 1:02:27 to vault from fifth place to third place with a total time of 2:09:44.

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Eleven teams competed in the race, which each year is hosted by one of three Koyukuk River communities -- Hughes, Huslia and the neighboring villages of Allakaket and Alatna.

The race's honorary musher was sprint mushing legend George Attla, the Huslia dog driver who died earlier this year.

Koyukuk River Race

Two-day total times (16 miles each day)

John Erhart, Tanana, 2:02:28 2) Francis Captain, Ruby, 2:04:18; 3) Gary Markley, Salcha, 2:09:44; 4) Charlie Jordon, Tanana, 2:10:21; 5) Mike Fields, Circle, 2:15:10; 6) Floyd Vent, Huslia, 2:19:29; 7) Todd Bergman, Allakaket, 2:26:02; 8) Hugh Bifelt, Hughes, 2:26:31; 9) Edward David, Allakaket, 3:05:54; 10) Andrew Huntington, Galena, 3:22:14; 11) Garrett Huntingon, Galena, 3:35:30.

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