Trace Drake medals in first race at the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge's Warm Lake Stage Race
WARM LAKE, Idaho — The results of the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge's Warm Lake Stage Race, the only race that organizers weren't forced to cancel this year due to low snowfall and poor trail conditions, are in. Clayton Perry from Power, Mont., took first place, with Craig Anderson from Enterprise Ore., and Trace Drake from San Angelo, Texas, capturing second and third place, respectively.
Drake and his sled dog team ran the second leg of the two-day, 52-mile Warm Lake Stage Race at the sixth annual Idaho Sled Dog Challenge. They earned third place in the race, which was the only competitive event organizers didn't have to cancel this year due to low snowfall and poor trail conditions.
They averaged 8.89 mph and completed both legs in 6 hours, 5 minutes, 26 seconds. Drake, who trains under first-place musher Clayton Perry in Montana, is the first Texan to compete in the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge and was registered for the 100-mile race, too. This was Drake's first sled dog race but has plans for more.
"We're gonna try and go up to Canada for the Canadian Challenge and do the 100-mile race up there," Drake said.
MORE: San Angelo native Trace Drake makes the journey from Texas to Alaska; aims to make history
The final race standings for the second-annual 52-mile Warm Lake Stage Race conducted Jan. 24-25 are:
1. Clayton Perry (Power, MT) -- bib #6 -- 5:38:31 total time -- 9.93 mph avg.
2. Craig Anderson (Enterprise, OR) -- bib #4 -- 5:55:57 total time -- 9.44 mph avg.
3. Trace Drake (San Angelo, TX) -- bib #1 -- 6:05:26 total time -- 8.89 mph avg.
4. Renee Grandi (Enterprise, OR) -- bib #7 -- 6:19:23 total time -- 8.36 mph avg.
5. Jane Devlin (Bend, OR) -- bib #5 -- 7:08:52 total time -- 7.83 mph avg.
6. Liz Nevills (Middleton, ID) -- bib #3 -- 9:18:51 total time -- 6.01 mph avg.
7. Caroline Nevills (Middleton, ID) -- bib #2 -- total time N/A -- 6.01 mph avg.
The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is part of the Rocky Mountain Triple Crown, which also includes the Eagle Cap Extreme near Joseph, Ore., and the Race to the Sky near Lincoln, Mont. The former was cancelled several weeks ago due to lack of snow, and organizers of the latter race announced its cancellation Jan. 22.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo native competes in Idaho Sled Dog Challenges Warm Lake race
