Goosen wins Western Alaska Championship
Published in the Bristol Bay Times
Mar 7th, 2010
Shane Goosen, of Knik, is in the lead after the second heat of the Western Alaska Championship Sled Dog race in Dillingham. Six mushers entered this year's race. One musher decided to scratch and will not run on Sunday. The race purse is around $15,000 according to Kyle Belleque of NUSH/WAC but he could not specify how the purse would be divided. (Alaska Newspapers, TAMMY JUDD)
Shane Goosen, of Knik, is the 2010 winner of the Western Alaska Championship Sled Dog race.
John Hansen Jr., of New Stuyahok, made up some time in today's heat coming in first for the day but it wasn't enough to beat Goosen's three-day total time.
Goosen won the first and second heats of the race. He beat everyone overall with a time of 3 hours, 18 minutes and 55 seconds, according to a tally provided by timekeeper Carol Shade. He was third to cross the finish in Sunday's heat.
Norman Gloko, of Manokotak, was the second racer in on Sunday's heat and also won second place overall with a three-day total of 3 hours, 25 minutes and 25 seconds.
Hansen Jr. came in third place, his three-day total was 3 hours, 41 minutes and 29 seconds.
Blunka Wassillie, of New Stuyahok, won fourth place with a combined total of 4 hours, 13 minutes and 33 seconds.
Gust Chocknok Sr., of New Stuyahok, had a combined total of 4 hours, 57 minutes and 16 seconds.
The mushers on Sunday left the start line in reverse order, allowing the musher with the slowest two-day total to start first and the fastest total to leave last.
Day 3 finish times and results
(time in hours:minutes:seconds)
Shane Goosen, of Knik, 1:04:07; combined time over three days, 3:18:55
Norman Gloko, of Manokotak, 1:01:36; combined, 3:25:25
John Hansen Jr., of New Stuyahok, 1:00:14; combined, 3:41:29
Blunka Wassillie, of New Stuyahok, 1:19:23; combined, 4:13:33
Gust Chocknok Sr., of New Stuyahok, 1:13:09; combined 4:57:16
Keenan Herman, of Dillingham, scratched, did not run Sunday.