Sports

Olds, Morgan cruise to 4-minute win in 2,031-mile Iron Dog

A year after dropping out of the race prior to the halfway point, the Iron Dog team of Chris Olds and Mike Morgan went the distance this year to capture victory in the 2,031-mile snowmachine race across Alaska.

Olds, a 46-year-old from Eagle River, and Morgan, a 32-year-old from Nome, rode their Polaris snowmachines across the Fairbanks finish line 20 seconds after noon Saturday.

It was the third victory in 17 starts for Olds, who won in 2011 and 2010 with Tyler Huntington. It was the first victory in nine starts for Morgan.

A year ago, Olds and Morgan scratched in McGrath, about 350 miles into the race that goes from Big Lake to Nome to Fairbanks.

Olds and Morgan finished a little more than four minutes ahead of Wasilla's Brad George and Big Lake's Robby Schachle, who rode Ski-Doos to second place.

Olds and Morgan posted a total time of 36 hours, 54 minutes, 49 seconds. George and Schachle clocked 36:59:02.

Finishing a close third in 37:03:23 was the Wasilla team of Todd Minnick and Nick Olstad.

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In fourth place were the 2016 champions, Tyler Aklestad and Tyson Johnson, who finished in 38:26:14.

The race started Sunday, Feb. 18, in Big Lake. A field of 26 two-man teams started, and 21 made it to the finish line.

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