The Bethel Sprint Mushers Club hosted a 2-day sprint race on Friday, March 1st and Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. The race started in Bethel on the river in front of the small boat harbor at 1pm.
Winner of the race was Raymond Alexie of Kwethluk. He finished 2-days of the approximately 18-mile race with a total elapsed time of 2:35:33. He won both heats with times of 1:17:39 and 1:17:54.
Coming in the runner up spot was Mike Williams Jr. of Akiak. He finished with a total elapsed time of 2:41:58. Finishing in third was Herman Phillip of Kwethluk.
On Day 2 of the race, mushers started in reverse order with the previous day’s last place team going out first. A total of 16 teams participated in the Kuskokwim River event with the $30,000 purse being awarded to the top 20 mushers.
The trail followed the main race and snowmachine trail upriver, around the island below the mouth of the Gweek, and then back to Bethel. Congratulations to the participants!
The next race in Kuskokwim dog mushing is the Campout Race sponsored by the K300 Race Committee, scheduled for March 16-17.
