Veteran Yukon musher wins 2nd Yukon Quest in a row

Michelle Phillips and her dog team crossed the finish line in Teslin, Yukon, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, marking her second Yukon Quest 450 victory in a row. 

As soon as her sled stopped, the veteran musher walked down her line of dogs — giving each a cuddle. She said she's grateful for them.

"It was challenging for sure, but it was good. They did really good," she said. 

Her husband and business partner, Ed Hopkins, was the first to greet her at the finish line. Together, they own Tagish Lake Kennels just outside Carcross. 

He said he's proud of his wife for her work ethic. 

"She's trained really hard this year," said Hopkins.

Hopkins said Phillips and Ben Simard, another musher, spent six weeks on the Canol Road training for the event. 

Annie Johnston, a member of the Teslin Tlingit Council, is another one of the winner's cheerleaders. 

"She's almost like a champion of ours. It makes me proud it's someone from the Yukon." 

Johnston said she's glad to see the race happening in her backyard. 

"It's just amazing that it happened here, there's quite a few people here from Teslin." 

Thinking of a hot meal

Phillips held on to the lead for a good chunk of the race, at times leap-frogging with other competitors. 

Jessie Royer from Seeley Lake, Montana, came in second place and Jesse Terry from Sioux Lookout, Ontario, arrived shortly after midnight, claiming third. 

The route started and ended in Teslin for the first time this year. Race organizer Sarah Tomlin said she's happy the way everything turned out.

"There were some times that I was like, I didn't see how it was going to come together, but the team of volunteers, when everybody starts showing up, it just flows." 

After three and a half days on the trail and covering more than 659 kilometres, Phillips said all she was thinking about at the end of the race was eating a hot meal. 

Her next race, the Iditarod, will take place in less than a month and cover twice the distance. It kicks off March 2.