Richie Diehl took 3rd place in the Sheep Mountain 150, a race in the mountains between Palmer and Glennallen. The 26-year-old Aniak musher beat out 43 other teams who showed up to start the 12-dog limit race on Saturday.
Four-time Iditarod champion, Jeff King of Denali, won the race after coming out of racing retirement. He passed Aliy Zirkle of Two Rivers a mile from the finish line after she led most of the race.
Diehl finished in 27 hours, 36 minutes, which was 44 minutes behind Zirkle and six minutes ahead of fourth placed Jake Berkowitz.
The Sheep Mountain 150 has a humble purse. Diehl took home $750 dollars for third. For winning, King earned $1,750 and for second, Zirkle earned $1,250.
The race features three, 50-mile sections, with two mandatory 5 hour breaks.
