Yukon Quest Update #17

Nearly 12 hours after Hugh Neff crossed the finish line in Whitehorse 26 seconds before Allen Moore, over half of the field is still on the trail.

At 5:14am local, Neff won his first-ever dog race of any length, in the closest finish in the race’s history. Overcoming a 30-minute penalty for losing his axe, which put him 42 minutes behind the veteran Moore, who ran a strong race and led the entire 2nd half, the long-time contender Neff raced hard, and passed to take the lead with less than 5 miles left of the race.

Lance Mackey finished some five-plus hours later, and Rookie-of-the-Year Jake Berkowitz followed 2 more hours behind.

Brent Sass is on his way in for 5th, Sonny Lindner and Joar Leifseth Ulsom are about an hour apart.

Abbie West and Kristy Berington are taking their mandatory 8 in Braeburn, Dave Dalton and Kyla Durham and on their way.

Trent Herbst, Paige Drobny and Gus Guenther are in Carmacks, Yuka Honda, Brian Wilmshurst and Misha Pedersen are on their way. Marcelle Fressineau and Michael Telpin have left Dawson and hope to make it to the finish line, as trail support begins to wane.

Unofficial Standings as of 7:30pm ET:

Finished
1 Allen Moore (1)
2 Hugh Neff (6)
3 Lance Mackey (16)
4 Jake Berkowitz (13) (R)

On the way to Whitehorse
5 Brent Sass (10)
6 Sonny Lindner (3)
7 Joar Leifseth Ulsom (17) (R)

In Braeburn
8 Abbie West (21)
9 Kristy Berington (2) (R)

On the way to Braeburn
10 Dave Dalton (4)
11 Kyla Durham (7)

In Carmacks
12 Trent Herbst (22) (R)
13 Paige Drobny (12) (R)
14 Gus Guenther (20) (R)

On the trail to Carmacks
15 Yuka Honda (19) (R)
16 Brian Wilmshurst (11) (R)
17 Misha Pedersen (5) (R)

Out of Dawson City
18 Marcelle Fressineau (15) (R)
19 Michael Telpin (24) (R)

Scratched:
Nikolay Ettyne (14) (R)
Maren Bradley (23) (R)
Jason Weitzel (9) (R)
Mike Ellis (18)

Withdrawn:
Kurt Reich (8) (R)