Big Lake musher wins Knik 200

KNIK — Rohn Buser found a great way to start his new year. The Big Lake musher and son of four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser won the Knik 200 Joe Redington Sr. Memorial Sled Dog Race.

Buser and his team hit the finish line at 11:52 a.m. Sunday to place at the top of the 40-team field. Joar Leifseth-Ulsom of Norway was second, reaching the finish line at 12:35 p.m.

Leifseth-Ulsom led a group of three mushers who finished within a nine-minute span. The Norweigan was just three minutes ahead of Ellen Donoghue and nine minutes faster than fourth-place Jake Berkowitz of Big Lake.

Ray Redington, grandson of the man the race is named for, finished fifth.

Prior to the race, officials reported excellent conditions for the event, which featured a new course this year. The race started on Knik Lake as usual. But instead of leading teams toward Skwentna, the new course took mushers to the Eagle Quest checkpoint near Willow. Teams were flagged through Eagle Quest and headed to Yentna Station Roadhouse, the new halfway point of the Knik 200. After the mandatory layover, teams left Yentna and returned to Knik Lake via Eagle Quest.

Joe Redington Sr Knik 200

Final standings (into Knik Sunday):

1. R. Buser, 11:52 a.m.; 2. J. Leifseth-Ulsom, 12:35 p.m.; 3. E. Donoghue, 12:38 p.m.; 4. J. Berkowitz, 12:44 p.m.; 5. Ray Redington, 1:04 p.m.; 6. K. Anderson, 1:08 p.m; 7. N. Petit, 1:09 p.m.; 8. H. Neff, 1:09:25 p.m.; 9. P. Gebhardt, 1:14 p.m.; 10. A. Buetow, 1:21 p.m.; 11. B. Harper, 1:25 p.m.; 12. T. Beals, 1:30 p.m.; 13. K. Maixner, 1:49 p.m.; 14. S. Janssen, 1:53 p.m.; 15. R. Redington, 2:28 p.m.; 16. C. Bejna, 3:27 p.m.; 17. N. Faile, 3:31 p.m.; 18. K. Berington, 5:40 p.m.; 19. A. Berington, 5:41 p.m.; 20. T. Jordbrudal, 5:58 p.m.; 21. N. Marshall, 6:35 p.m.; 22. E. Thiem, 6:43 p.m.; 23. G. Guenther, 6:48 p.m.; 24. K. Bacon, 7:57 p.m.; 25. S. Stokey, 8:09 p.m.; 26. B. Harder, 9:07 p.m.; 27. G. Raddatz, 9:12 p.m.; 28. T. Osmar, 9:31 p.m.; 29. M. Zappa, 9:35 p.m.; 30. J. Stevens, 11:22 p.m.; 31. B. Chulpach, 11:22 p.m. 32. V. Halter, 11:47 p.m.; 33. C. Abbott, 11:54 p.m.; 34. M. Pedersen, 11:55 p.m. (Into Knik Monday); 35. L. Norris, 12:01 a.m.; 36. E. Anderson, 12:13 a.m.; 37. A. Stevens, 12:14 a.m.