The 2023 winner of the 250-mile Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race scratched from the race on Sunday afternoon, according to race organizers.
Katherine Langlais of Glenwood, New Brunswick was the first woman to win the 250-mile race when she crossed the finish line first in 2023, the last year the race was held before this weekend.
“As of 4:05 p.m. Katherine Langlais (bib No. 3) is an official scratch from the 2025 Can-Am Crown 250 Mile race. Her dog team is fine, but the musher is unable to continue with the race,” said Jim Cunningham, race marshal on Sunday.
Langlais’s team of Alaskan huskies from Akkada Kennel in Glenwood, Brunswick, began the race at 10:06 a.m. Saturday. Her team was the first to reach the Portage Lake checkpoint at 4:54 p.m. Saturday.
The team made it through Rock Brook checkpoint and went on to Syl-Ver checkpoint, where she decided just before it was time for her to get ready to continue that she would scratch from the race.
Andre Longchamps of Trilongmiles Kennel in Pont-Rouge, Quebec, who has finished in the top three places in this race for several years, also scratched before leaving Syl-Ver checkpoint. The reason was not listed.
Mushers Jaye Fouche, Remy Leduc and multi-time winner Martin Massicotte had left Syl-Ver and were on their way to the Allagash checkpoint Sunday evening.
Race organizers said the mushers should finish the Can-Am 250 at the Lonesome Pine Trails finish line between 8 a.m. Monday, March 3, and 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.
There was no race in 2024 due to lack of snow.
