Tetzner, Engeberg among top finishers in Junior World Championship sled dog races

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Joseph Wellmann races in the 1-dog class race Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 during the Junior World Championship Sled Dog Race at Tozier Track. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Several racers won their heats by considerable margins Saturday on the first day of competition in the Alaskan Sled Dog and Racing Association’s Junior World Championships at snowy Tozier Track.

Leonie Tetzner finished first in the single-dog, quarter-mile race in 67 seconds, 22 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Joseph Wellmann.

In the two-dog, 2.3-mile race, Ezra Engeberg was the top finisher in 9:22, 24 seconds ahead of Mia Maruskie.

Mia Franz was the top finisher (14:20) in the three-dog, 4 mile race. Franz finished three minutes ahead of Tietje Paveglio (17:20), which was the largest margin of victory between first and second place finishers on Saturday.

The five-dog, 6-mile race saw Johanna Badalich placing first in 18:15, more than two minutes ahead of Marilla Tichotsky (20:43). All five racers raced with four dogs, with the exception of Tichotsky who raced with five.

Zachary Maruskie was the lone seven-dog, 8-mile racer, placing first by default (24:35). Maruskie raced with six dogs.

Racing resumes Sunday at 10 a.m.