John Stetson called in from the final checkpoint of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. "It's been a fantastic race," says Stetson. "Keith Aili's team looked great coming into Mineral Center." Aili is currently in first place.
Ryan Anderson, currently in second place, lost some momentum coming into Mineral Center. "He had a big dog in the bag which really slowed him down." Anderson is currently listed as having a team of nine dogs as compared to Aili's ten. Others are still in the mix as well. Sarah Keefer has been pressing the pace and making up ground.
The leaders will likely cross the finish line close to 3pm today. Who will be the first across? "I'm not in the prediction business," says Stetson, "but I am a betting man, so I'd bet on Keith."
Tune in to The North 1033 for further reports that can be heard today at 11am and 2pm.
This is the last stop before the final leg, and a four-hour minimum rest is required for all teams, plus any additional required rest time they have to make up.
Keith Aili's team is in first place and will be able to leave on the final leg no sooner than 11:46:43 am
Four-time champion Ryan Anderson and his team, currently in second place, will be able to depart at 11:58:47 am. which is 12 minutes and 4 seconds later, than Keith Aili's team.
Other teams close behind are led by Sarah Keefer, Nick Vigilante, and Matthew Schmidt.
At 2pm, the two leaders, Keith Aili and Ryan Anderson, were about 12 miles out from the finish, with Aili just half a mile in front. John Stetson shared some challenges Anderson faced along the way.
John Stetson was on hand as Keith Aili won the 2023 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon not far ahead of four-time champion Ryan Anderson. Stetson shared more about Aili's 30-year history with mushing, including a previous Beargrease win and retiring from the sport and returning to it more than once. Aili and his wife, Erin, own the Miles Ahead Racing Kennel; Erin won the Beargrease as a rookie in 2021.
Coverage of the 2023 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon on the North 103.3 is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
