12 still in hunt for Beargrease title

Minnesotan is leading the 400-mile race, which ends Wednesday

Star Tribune

Last update: January 29, 2008 - 11:56 PM

The winner of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was expected to cross the Duluth finish line early this morning after nearly three days on the 376-mile North Shore wilderness trail.

Twenty seven teams started the marathon Sunday afternoon but that number was winnowed to 12 by Tuesday night when temperatures were expected to fall to minus 17 with a wind chill of minus 40. The winners were expected in Duluth between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., said Karry Tierney, race volunteer.

Jason Barron of Lincoln, Mont., was leading the race Tuesday evening, followed by John Stetson of Duluth and Ryan Anderson of Ray, Minn. Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm was in fourth place and Matt Rossi of Herbster, Wis., followed in fifth.

The Beargrease is a qualifying race for Alaska's long-distance Iditarod, which is run later this winter.

The Beargrease race, first run in 1981, commemorates the life of John Beargrease, the son of a Chippewa chief who delivered mail by dog sled along Lake Superior's rugged North Shore in the late 19th century.

MARY LYNN SMITH