Nathan Schroeder Captures 4th Beargrease Title

DULUTH (AP) - Nathan Schroeder has captured his fourth John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon title with a pre-dawn surge over the finish line near Duluth Wednesday.

The musher from Warba and his dogs arrived at Billy's Bar in Rice Lake just before 6 a.m. to win the 32nd running of the sled race.

Schroeder picked up speed as he neared Billy's, widening his lead in the final 15 miles of the 383-mile race. Jason Campeau was about a-half hour behind and took second place. Defending champion Ryan Anderson rolled in third.

The marathon along Lake Superior's north shore started Jan. 31 near Two Harbors. The marathon is named for John Beargrease, an Ojibwe Indian from Beaver Bay who delivered mail along the North Shore from 1879 to 1899 by dogsled.