NOME, Alaska (AP) — With teams in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race entering the final stretch for Nome, musher John Baker is on pace to break the race record.
Race judge Jake Berkowitz says if Baker can keep the pace, he will shatter Martin Buser’s 2002 record of covering the 1,150-mile race in eight days, 22 hours and 46 minutes.
Baker was the first musher out of the Elim checkpoint on Monday morning. The only other musher reported to leave Elim, Hans Gatt, was about two hours behind Baker.
Veterinarians at the Elim checkpoint, about 120 miles from the finish in Nome, said Baker’s team looked strong and were running well.
Berkowitz says it’s Baker’s race to lose.
