The 26th Pedigree® Stage Stop Race came to a dramatic conclusion in Teton County, Wyoming yesterday, February 6th when Anny Malo crossed the finish line in first place for the third consecutive year.
Anny’s cumulative overall time was 14 hours, 42 minutes and 35 seconds. A narrow 18 minutes and 49 seconds separated first and second place this year, a mere five seconds per mile difference.
Saturday’s 30-mile out-and-back course proved to be a surprisingly tight competition between the top overall finishers— two-time champion Lina Streeper, 36, from Fort Nelson, BC, and Anny Malo, 49, from Quebec, Canada.
Overcast sky, temperatures in the mid-20s, and strong winds, especially on the highest parts of the course put all competitors to the test. But smiles and “thumbs up” at the finish line from both seasoned competitors and rookies showed that all were pleased with their day’s efforts.
During Stage 1 in Alpine on January 30, Streeper earned the Yellow bib, posting the fastest runtime that day. After the Pinedale Stage on January 31, the Yellow Bib changed hands to Anny Malo as she claimed the fastest overall times after that stage. Anny did not relinquish that top position and defended her title as Pedigree Stage Stop Champion for a third straight year.
Érik Laforce, 54, claimed the third position overall. In addition, he won the Yellow Bib during the Kemmerer Stage 3 on February 1 and the final Teton County, Wyoming Stage 7.
Fourth place overall went to 16-time Stage Stop finisher JR Anderson, 41, from Buyck, Minnesota. He ran a masterful race consistently improving his standing at each stage.
Fifth place was hotly contested, but in the end, it was Stage Stop rookie Diane Marquis, 66, from St. Medard, Quebec who surprised everyone, including her competition, with a powerful showing in her first Pedigree Stage Stop Race.
Only 4 minutes and 7 seconds separated sixth-place finisher, Alix Crittenden, 33, driving dogs for Race Founder Frank Teasley of Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours, and seventh place Maria Torgerson.
Alix was the highest placing finisher from the race’s home state of Wyoming. Elliot Rivest, 16, pulled off eighth place, Thad McCracken, 47, finished ninth, and Austin Forney, 39, rounded out the top ten.
2021 PEDIGREE FINAL STAGE STOP STANDINGS:
WINNER – 2021 PEDIGREE STAGE STOP RACE.
Anny Malo (Bib #4) from Quebec, Canada — Overall time 14:42:34.
Stage 7 finish time 1:56:36 — 2nd place.
2ND PLACE OVERALL
Lina Streeper (Bib #8) from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada — Overall time 15:01:23
Stage 7 finish time 2:00:36 — 3rd place.
3RD PLACE OVERALL
Érick Laforce (Bib #21) from Lanoraie, Quebec, Canada — Overall time 15:16:32.
Stage 7 finish time 1:55:46 — 1st place.
4TH PLACE OVERALL
JR Anderson (Bib #7) from Buyck, Minnesota — Overall time 15:36:33.
Stage 7 finish time 2:06:45 — 7th place.
5TH PLACE OVERALL
Diane Marquis (Bib #17) from St Medard, Quebec, Canada — Overall time 15:37:38.
Stage 7 finish time 2:02:19 — 4th place
6TH PLACE OVERALL
Alix Crittenden (Bib #1) from Bondurant, Wyoming — Overall time 16:03:05.
Stage 7 finish time 2:04:34 — 6th place
7TH PLACE OVERALL
Maria Torgerson (Bib #10) from Red Lodge, Montana — Overall time 16:07:11.
Stage 7 finish time 2:03:56 — 5th place
8TH PLACE OVERALL
Elliot Rivest (Bib #11) from St-Zénon, Québec, Canada — Overall time 16:32:20.
Stage 7 finish time 2:07:42 — 8th place.
9TH PLACE OVERALL
Thad McCracken (Bib #16) from Mosier, Oregon — Overall time 16:45:39.
Stage 7 finish time 2:08:31 — 9th place
10TH PLACE OVERALL
Austin Forney (Bib #2) from Leadville, Colorado — Overall time 17:10:53.
Stage 7 finish time 2:12:02 — 10th place.
11TH PLACE OVERALL
Bruce Magnusson (Bib #6) from Newberry, Michigan — Overall time 17:34:43.
Stage 7 finish time 2:16:42 — 13th place.
12TH PLACE OVERALL
Jake Robinson (Bib #12) from Bemidji, Minnesota — Overall time 17:37:23.
Stage 6 finish time 2:17:04 — 15th place.
13TH PLACE OVERALL
Guy Girard (Bib #22) from Saint-Thomas de Joliette, Quebec, Canada — Overall time 17:57:42
Stage 7 finish time 2:25:38 — 16th place
14TH PLACE OVERALL
Rafael Nelson (Bib #9) from Bend, Oregon — Overall time 18:03:05.
Stage 7 finish time 2:12:23 — 11th place
15TH PLACE OVERALL
Doug Butler (Bib #20) from Middlebury, Vermont — Overall time 18:03:35.
Stage 7 finish time 2:25:52 — 18th place
16TH PLACE OVERALL
Ryan Beaber (Bib #23) from Lily, Wisconsin — Overall time 18:36:16.
Stage 7 finish time 2:16:57 — 14th place.
17TH PLACE OVERALL
Tim Thiessen (Bib #3) from Leadville, Colorado — Overall time 18:51:40.
Stage 7 finish time 2:15:43 — 12th place.
18TH PLACE OVERALL
Randy Dekuiper (Bib #13) from Newberry, Michigan — Overall time 19:09:55.
Stage 7 finish time 2:30:03 — 19th place.
19TH PLACE OVERALL
Gwenn Bogart (Bib #14) from Boulder, Wyoming — Overall time 19:18:25.
Stage 7 finish time Gwenn Bogart 2:25:51 — 17th place.
20TH PLACE OVERALL
Ed Stielstra (Bib #19) from McMillan, Michigan — Overall time 19:52:04.
Stage 7 finish time 2:35:28 — 21st place.
21ST PLACE OVERALL
Laura Neese (Bib #18) from McMillan, Michigan — Overall time 19:53:00.
Stage 7 finish time 2:31:54 — 20th place.
22ND PLACE OVERALL
Ben Barrett (Bib #24) from Middlebury, Vermont — Overall time 20:57:01.
Stage 7 finish time 2:46:00 — 22nd place.
23RD PLACE OVERALL
Chris Adkins (Bib #5) from Sand Coulee, Montana — Overall time 21:38:38.
Stage 7 finish time 2:55:25 — 23rd place.