Berkowitz injured, withdraws from race

IDITAROD TRAIL — The latest local musher to scratch, and the ninth to bow out overall, did so with an injured hand, according to race officials.

Jake Berkowitz, of Big Lake, dropped out of the race at 4 p.m. Sunday. He had 14 dogs in harness at the time.

“Berkowitz severely injured his hand while using a knife between Kaltag and Unalakleet. (Race Marshal Mark) Nordman determined that the injury was severe enough to warrant the decision,” an official press release states.

Berkowitz had been high in the rankings, at least top 20 for most of the race. He will fly from Unalakleet to Anchorage for treatment of his hand, according to the press release.

Meanwhile, Dallas Seavey of Willow was listed in the No. 1 spot on the leader board just before 11 a.m. Monday. Seavey and his father Mitch of Seward have been jockeying for position since before the halfway point. Mitch Seavey was in sixth place as of the 11 a.m. standings. Dallas left Koyuk at 8:29 a.m. with 10 dogs in harness.

In second, leaving Koyuk 22 minutes after Seavey, was Aliy Zirkle of Two Rivers. Her dogs are made the Shaktoolik to Koyuk run faster than Seavey’s and she’s been in the lead for most of the race. He pulled out of Koyuk with 12 dogs.

In third place is Aaron Burmeister of Nome. Last year’s champion, John Baker of Kotzebue was in fourth, with Peter Kaiser of Bethel in fifth.

As for mushers out of the race, the veterans who have bowed out now also includes four-time champion Jeff King of Denali. There race offered no explanation for why King dropped.

Josh Cadzow of Fort Yukon also scratched Sunday, as did Pat Moon of Chicago and Lachlan Clarke of Buena Vista, Colo.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.