Defending champ, Malo, posts fastest time in Alpine & Pinedale Stages of Pedigree race
Stage Stop defending champion Anny Malo of Quebec, Canada posted the fastest time in Stage 2 of the 25th annual Pedigree Stage Stop Race in Pinedale, Wyoming on February 2.
Malo’s winning time of 2:22:46 on the 34.5-mile out-and-back course gained her another minute and thirty-seven seconds over current second place competitor Lina Streeper of British Columbia, Canada. Malo’s narrow lead now sits at just under 4 minutes after a cumulative 63 miles of racing with another 160 miles in 5 stages of racing ahead.
Jeff Conn of Alaska, Rachel Courtney of Manitoba, and Alix Crittenden of Wyoming fill out the top 5 positions with Bruce Magnusson of Michigan knocking at the door just 1 second behind Crittenden.
The field of 18 mushers will compete again tomorrow, February 3, in Kemmerer, Wyoming for Stage 3 on the Hams Fork Trail in the southern foothills of the Wyoming Range north of Kemmerer. A strong winter storm is expected to bring snow and wind Sunday night and will continue through Monday creating a potentially challenging day for this year’s competitors.
The City of Kemmerer hosted a Fundraiser Dinner and Program at South Lincoln Training & Event Center in Kemmerer on Sunday evening.
• Stage 1 in Alpine
Defending Stage Stop champion Anny Malo bested two-time Stage Stop winner Lina Streeper by 2 minutes 13 seconds on today’s 28-mile out-and-back course. Malo averaged an impressive 16.2 mph to finish in 1:58:59. The two mushers meet again tomorrow for “Stage 2” in Pinedale, Wyoming on the 34-mile course.
Jeff Conn of Ester, Alaska is hot on their heels posting a time of 1:48:57. Rachel Courtney and Alix Crittenden fill out the top 5 from a total field of 18 contenders.
Stage 2 in Pinedale entails a 34 mile out-and-back trial into the eastern Gros Ventre mountains from the Upper Green River Trailhead. Western Wyoming weather forecast predicts potential heavy snowfall on Sunday/Monday followed by colder temperatures leading into next week.
Mushers compete in “stage” format racing on a different US Forest trail each day for a total of seven stages. The competitor with the least overall time to complete all seven stage is declared the champion.
