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U.P. 200 mushers to finish early at Lakenenland

The U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship kicks off in warm temperatures on Friday night, Feb. 17, 2017 in downtown Marquette. (Journal photo by Jess Makela)

MARQUETTE — Martin Massicotte, of St.-Tite, Quebec, Canada, was the first of the 13 mushers competing in the U.P. 200 sled dog race to leave the Grand Marais checkpoint Saturday and begin the return trip toward Marquette. But it’s still anyone’s race, officials said.

“We’ll really know who is leading when they leave Wetmore (this) morning, then everyone will have done all of the mandatory rest,” said Ed McMullen, a volunteer at race headquarters.

Mushers must complete 16 hours of rest throughout the weekend of racing, but have the ability to choose when to rest. Teams left the starting gate in downtown Marquette Friday at two-minute intervals, and McMullen said that differential will also be accounted for, so that racers will be on even ground when leaving the final checkpoint in Wetmore early today.

McMullen said due to warm weather and trail conditions, the finish line was moved to Lakenenland in Chocolay Township, roughly 14 miles east of the normal finish at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

“We’re kind of estimating (teams to arrive) around 9 a.m. (today), but that will depend on when they get into Wetmore,” he said.

Race officials estimated the route from Grand Marais to Wetmore would take between five and six hours.

Massicotte, wearing bib No. 4, arrived at the Grand Marais checkpoint at 11:32 a.m., and after some rest began heading back west around 4:52 p.m. At that time, he still had to rest for 5 hours and 58 minutes.

He was being followed by Andre Longchamps, of Pont-Rouge, Quebec. Longchamps, wearing bib No. 6, left the Grand Marais checkpoint at roughly 5:36 p.m. and had 5 hours and 42 minutes to rest.

In third place, as of Saturday evening, was Matthew Schmidt, from Grand Marais, Minnesota. Schmidt is wearing bib No. 12 and left the Grand Marais checkpoint at 6:01 p.m. He had 5 hours and 52 minutes to rest.

Just three minutes later, Ward Wallin, the fourth place musher, left the checkpoint. Wallin — who is from Two Harbors, Minnesota, and is wearing bib No. 8 — had only 4 hours and 46 minutes to rest.

McMullen said a few teams have left the Grand Marais checkpoint with nine or 10 dogs, instead of the 12 they started with, but he added that wasn’t unusual. He said race headquarters wasn’t aware of any other health issues or concerns at the time.

As of Saturday evening none of the teams had scratched from the race.

For more information, frequently updated standing and to track the position of each team, visit up200.org.

Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 270. His email address is rjarvi@miningjournal .net.

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