JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The yellow bib changed hands yesterday in Kemmerer as Canadian Lina Streeper and team found another gear and posted the fastest time of the day.
Two-time Stage Stop champion Streeper grabbed the win in Stage 5, and took home the coveted fossilized fish award for winning the Kemmerer Stage. Streeper ran the leg in 2:13:15 (averaging 15.4 mph), half a minute faster than overall race leader and defending champ Anny Malo.
Malo still holds an 18-minute overall lead in the 27th running of the Pedigree Stage Stop Race. Streeper, Cathy Rivest, Dave Torgerson, and JR Anderson round out the top 5.
Today is a rest day for competitors as they head to Alpine. The dogs will get lots of massages and foot care on their day off.
Longtime Stage Stop veteran Bruce Magnusson also had a solid run in Kemmerer, finishing 5th in Stage 5 and moving up to 10th overall. Alix Crittenden, a model of consistency, finished 7th yesterday but drops a spot in the overall to 7th. Hans Gatt came out of nowhere to post the 3rd fastest time in Stage 5. He now climbs to 6th in the overall.
Austin Forney, Ryan Baeber, and Rachel Courtney also had good runs Wednesday.
The top 3 spots look locked in unless one of those leaders has a serious problem in the remaining two legs of the race. Positions 4-11 are showing the most volatility and where they’ll all finish is anyone’s guess.
The Alpine run Friday is a 30-miler. Conditions call for a cold day and a fast track.
