Jeff King wins Knik 200 Sled Dog Race

Jeff King successfully defended his title Sunday in the Knik 200 Joe Redington Sr. Memorial Sled Dog Race.Four-time Iditarod champion King, also the winner of the 2006 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, crossed the finish line of the 200-mile race at 10:57 a.m. Sunday.Jon Little finished just three minutes behind King, followed by Sebastian Schenulle, Melanie Gould and Ray Redington Jr., one of two of Joe Redington Sr.’s grandsons to run this year’s race. Ryan Redington finished ninth.The race, which is a qualifier for the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race held in March, allows mushers the opportunity to run part of the Iditarod Trail and see how their dogs perform. The trail goes from Knik Lake to the Skwentna Roadhouse and back to Knik Lake.Thirty-six teams began the race Saturday. By Sunday afternoon four teams had scratched.Bruce Braden, a race organizer, said the race, which has no major sponsors, relies on local contributions and the work of over two dozen volunteers to run the race, named for Joe Redington Sr., considered the father of the Iditarod. For more information on the Knik 200 visit www.members.tripod.com/knik200 .