Ryan Anderson wins 2017 Beargrease

At approximately 10 a.m. on Feb. 1, musher Ryan Anderson crossed the finish line to claim first place in the 2017 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Anderson is now a three time John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon champion and moved into the lead Wednesday morning as mushers headed down the final leg of the race toward the finish near Duluth.

Anderson was first to arrive at Billy's Bar in Rice Lake, just north of Duluth.

Following Anderson, musher Ryan Reddington came in second place. Reddington held the lead for most of the race, before dropping back to second early Wednesday morning.

In third place for this year’s Beargrease is defending and four-time champion Nathan Schroder. And in fourth place is Cook County resident Matthew Schmidt.

For a complete listing of the mid-distance and full marathon finishers, click here. 

As for this year’s marathon champion, Ryan Anderson, 35, was born and raised in a dog mushing family in the small community of Ray, Minn. According to his racing bio, Anderson has been around the sport of mushing since he was five years old and has been mushing competitively since the age of 10. He’s won the Beargrease three times as of Feb. 1, the UP 200 six times and had many other top finishes. In 2017 he will finally fulfill his ultimate goal of racing in the Iditarod. Also racing in the Iditarod this year will be Reddington and Schroder. The 2017 Iditarod starts on Saturday, March 4 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Congratulations to all the mushers in the 2017 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.