Yukon Quest 350 and 200 completed!

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The 2022 Yukon Quest came to a finish on Feb. 9, 2022. This completion of the races occurring at 6:33 a.m. when Jennifer Labarr finished in Fairbanks, AK.

YQ-350:

Starting with 7 kennels signed up to compete, 3 scratched from the race when Jennifer was competing in the Yukon Quest 350, making her the last of the 4 remaining racers to complete the course. Two local mushers, Matt Hall and Deke Naaktgeboren also completed the YQ-350 the day before (Feb. 8, 2022) and the top finisher was Brent Sass who arrived early that morning. Matt Hall commented on this years race discussing his close follow on Sass as their “headlamps [were] in sight for a lot of it.” Unfortunately, due to “wind and snow,” Hall struggled to and wound up coming in after Sass. As for Naaktgeboren, he achieved the goal he set out as always and “had a lot fun.” He also recalled some troubles on the summits as with the conditions, Naaktgeboren found himself seperated from his sled after doing a “barrel roll,” but was able to rejoin his team quickly.

Results:

1. Brent Sass

2. Matt Hall

3. Deke Naaktgeboren

4. Jennifer Labarr

YQ-200:

In the Yukon Quest 200, the racers finished in Central, AK with the first racer coming in at 4:23 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2022. That of course was Dan Kaduce who was followed by Dylan Robins just over two hours later.

Results:

1. Dan Kaduce

2. Dylan Robins

3. Shaynee Traska

4. Amanda Otto

5.Simon Mettler

With the Quest wrapped up here in Alaska, on Feb. 19 the Yukon Quest 100 and 300 will start over in Yukon where they will stay. As for our Alaskan races, the Iditarod is still set to launch on March 5, 2022.