Sports

Another Alaska Challenge stage victory for Scottish handcyclist Kenny Herriot

Scottish handcycler Kenny Herriot continued to rule The Alaska Challenge on Friday, winning the second-longest stage of the 267-mile race across Alaska.

Herriot, 53, has won the first four stages in the eight-stage race, known as the longest, toughest handcycle race in the world.

He had a winning margin of more than four minutes Friday in the 50.7-mile road race from Nenana to Healy.

Racers gained 1,200 feet in elevation as they raced down the Parks Highway. Herriot posted a time of 3 hours, 20 minutes, 28 seconds to widen his lead over Tennessee's David Neumer.

Neumer, who clocked 3:24:54, trails Herriott by 21 minutes in the overall standings.

Muffy Davis of Utah, a gold-medal Paralympics skier, was third overall in 3:56.44. Keith Winchell was the only other racer to finish in less than four hours, clocking 3:58:34.

Davis and Ryan Kelling of Washington, who registered the fourth fastest time Friday, are fighting for third place overall. Davis leads Kelling by less than two minutes.

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Saturday will test the field of 10 racers in two ways.

The day begins with a 9.8-mile time trial in Denali National Park. Racers will leave the Mountain Vista parking area beginning at 9 a.m. After a break for lunch, they will race 31.8 miles from Mile 191 to Mile 159 of the Parks Highway.

Sunday brings a 58.4-mile road race. The race ends Monday with a hill climb up Hatcher Pass.

The Alaska Challenge

Friday's Stage 4

Nenana to Healy, 50.7 miles

Women – 1) Muffy Davis 3:56:44, 2) Ashli Molinero 6:21:38.

Men's H4 – 1) David Neumer 3:24:54, 2) Keith Winchell 3:58:34; 3) Andrew Kurka 4:12:37; 4) Mike O'Neill 4:48:55.

Men's H3 – 1) Ryan Kelling 4:00:42, 2) Anthony Pedeferri 4:44:27.

Men's H2 – 1) Kenny Herriot 3:20:28; 2) Wesley Bergin 4:10:41.

Overall standings

Women – 1) Davis 8:44:28; 2) Molinero 12:07:46.

Men's H4 – 1) Neumer 7:25:14, 2) Winchell 8:48:56, 3) Kurka 8:54:02, 4) O'Neill 10:09:49.

Men's H3 – 1) Kelling 8:45:21, 2) Pedeferri 10:04:30.

Men's H2 – 1) Herriot 7:04:16, 2) Bergin 9:24:34.

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