Covenant News

Covenanters Win Alaskan Dogsled Honors

NOME, AK (March 20, 2001) - Palmer Sagoonick of Shaktoolik Evangelical Covenant Church in Alaska was given the Providence Alaska Medical Center Most Inspirational Musher Award after finishing 45th in the 29th annual Iditarod. The granddaughter of another Covenant family, Ellie Claus, was honored in the junior Iditarod competition.

Sagoonick's award was significant for two reasons. This was his first race, his interest having developed as the result of previous volunteer work at the event. And, one of Sagoonick's dogs suffered a broken leg after being hit by a snow machine near the end of his journey. The dog had to be flown from White Mountain to Anchorage for treatment, making completion of the race more difficult for Sagoonick and the remaining animals.

Sagoonick (accompanying photo) received praise for his efforts during the March 18 Iditarod Awards Banquet at the Nome Recreational Center. The Iditarod, an internationally known event, is a 1,161-mile dogsled race from Anchorage to Nome. Sagoonick finished in 13 days, 9 hours, 43 minutes and 8 seconds. The winning time by champion Doug Swingley was 9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 50 seconds. Sixty-eight racers left the starting line - 57 finished.

A Native Alaskan, Sagoonick is a commercial fisherman and has been a big game guide for a year. He is married to wife, Fena, and serves with a variety of city organizations, as well as a host of local, regional and state school boards.

"As an Iditarod volunteer, I got to know the mushers and have learned a lot from them," Sagoonick said. "Since I lost my reindeer herd due to the caribou migration, I have had time to raise and race dogs competitively and now feel it is time to set a higher goal - the Iditarod."

Fifteen-year-old Claus of Chitna, Alaska, finished fifth in a field of 14, competing for the second time. She is the daughter of Paul and Donna Clausen and operates her own dog kennel business. She also is the granddaughter of John and Eleanor Claus, who also live in Chitna and attend First Covenant Church in Anchorage. Eleanor Claus has been a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church Executive Board since 1998 and has been involved with numerous other denominational boards. Ellie, a tenth grade student, earned the Humanitarian Award at the Junior Quest event, a race she won.

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