A 37-year-old Iron Ranger and three-time John Beargrease champion was making a strong showing Sunday in the famed Iditarod sled dog course in Alaska.

In 15th place out of 71 surviving competitors on the race's seventh day was Nathan Schroeder, of Chisholm.

Schroeder was 18th just two days ago and has been as high as 12th. As of 5 p.m. ADT, there were roughly 300 miles left on the trek.

Schroeder is one of two Minnesotans on the 1,000-mile course stretching from Fairbanks to Nome. Cindy Gallea, 63, of Wykoff, in southeastern Minnesota, was 68th as of Sunday afternoon.

Leading the pack as of Sunday night was Dallas Seavey, of Willow. The winner's purse this year is $70,000.

Schroeder, a lifelong Iron Ranger who proudly declares on an online bio, "I work in the mines" when not on a sled, is back for his second Iditarod. He finished 17th last year, earning him rookie of the year honors.

He won Beargrease in 2010, 2013 and 2014. In January's 2015 running along the 315-mile Beargrease course, Schroeder was second across the finish line in Duluth.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482