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Slideshow: Finish of the 2026 Kuskokwim 300

KYUK | By MaryCait Dolan,
Katie Baldwin Basile, Josiah Swope
Published January 25, 2026 at 8:46 PM AKST
Musher Pete Kaiser speaks to reporters after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Musher Pete Kaiser speaks to reporters after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Isabel Dyche and Riley Dyche pose with Riley's lead dogs after his second-place finish in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Isabel Dyche and Riley Dyche pose with Riley's lead dogs after his second-place finish in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Mike Williams Jr. high-fives fans as he drives his dog team into a third-place finish in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Mike Williams Jr. high-fives fans as he drives his dog team into a third-place finish in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Musher Jessica Klejka and family pose with their lead dogs after Klejka's fourth-place finish in the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026. From Left: Sam Brewer, Jessica Klejka, and their children, Luke and Lucy.
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Musher Jessica Klejka and family pose with their lead dogs after Klejka's fourth-place finish in the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026. From Left: Sam Brewer, Jessica Klejka, and their children, Luke and Lucy.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Jessica Klejka and Mike Williams Jr. greet each other after finishing the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Jessica Klejka and Mike Williams Jr. greet each other after finishing the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Among the top five finishers in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) were Mike Williams Jr. (3rd place), Jessica Klejka (4th place) and Pete Kaiser (1st place). All three were born and raised in Kuskokwim communities.
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Among the top five finishers in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) were Mike Williams Jr. (3rd place), Jessica Klejka (4th place) and Pete Kaiser (1st place). All three were born and raised in Kuskokwim communities.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Joe Bavilla and his grandkids drove up from Napaskiak on the Kuskokwim Ice Road to watch the finish of the 47th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Joe Bavilla and his grandkids drove up from Napaskiak on the Kuskokwim Ice Road to watch the finish of the 47th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Wade Marrs crosses the finish line to take 10th place in the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Wade Marrs crosses the finish line to take 10th place in the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Josiah Swope
Mike Williams Jr. finishes third in the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Mike Williams Jr. finishes third in the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Josiah Swope
A curious sled dog waits on the line at the finish of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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A curious sled dog waits on the line at the finish of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Josiah Swope
Jessica Klejka's daughter hops off the sled after crossing the finish line of the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026. Klejka finished fourth in the race, carrying her daughter for the last 200 yards.
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Jessica Klejka's daughter hops off the sled after crossing the finish line of the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026. Klejka finished fourth in the race, carrying her daughter for the last 200 yards.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Ryan Redington finishes the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in fifth place on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Ryan Redington finishes the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in fifth place on Jan. 25, 2026.
Kaite Baldwin Basile
Mike Williams Jr. drives his dog team into a third-place finish in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Mike Williams Jr. drives his dog team into a third-place finish in the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Pete Kaiser high-fives fans on his way into the chute, winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) and making him the winningest musher in K300 history on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Pete Kaiser high-fives fans on his way into the chute, winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) and making him the winningest musher in K300 history on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Jackie Klejka waits for her daughter, musher Jessica Klejka, to cross the finish line of the 47th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Jackie Klejka waits for her daughter, musher Jessica Klejka, to cross the finish line of the 47th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Ryan Redington finishes the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in fifth place on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Ryan Redington finishes the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in fifth place on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Musher Pete Kaiser poses with this family and lead dogs after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300. From Left: Ari Kaiser, Bethany Kaiser, Aylee Kaiser, Delmer, Pete Kaiser and Mookie.
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Pete Kaiser poses with this family and lead dogs after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026. From Left: Ari Kaiser, Bethany Kaiser, Aylee Kaiser, Delmer, Pete Kaiser, and Mookie.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Pete Kaiser leaves the finish line after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Pete Kaiser leaves the finish line after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Ryan Redington finishes the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in fifth place on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Ryan Redington finishes the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in fifth place on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Pete Kaiser and Mike Williams Jr. greet each other after finishing the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Pete Kaiser and Mike Williams Jr. greet each other after finishing the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Mike Williams Jr. hugs family members after finishing the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in third place on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Mike Williams Jr. hugs family members after finishing the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in third place on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Pete Kaiser hugs family, friends, and fans after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300), making him the winningest musher in K300 history on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Pete Kaiser hugs family, friends, and fans after winning his 10th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300), making him the winningest musher in K300 history on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
Mushing fans take cover from the freezing rain at the finish line of the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Mushing fans take cover from the freezing rain at the finish line of the 47th Annual Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile
A musher nears the finish line of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in Bethel on Jan. 25, 2026.
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A musher nears the finish line of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) in Bethel on Jan. 25, 2026.
Josiah Swope
Pete Kaiser high-fives people gathered at the finish line of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Pete Kaiser high-fives people gathered at the finish line of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Josiah Swope
Pete Kaiser hugs his wife Bethany Kaiser after winning the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Pete Kaiser hugs his wife Bethany Kaiser after winning the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300) on Jan. 25, 2026.
Katie Baldwin Basile

At 10:40 a.m. on Sunday (Jan. 25) morning, Bethel’s Pete Kaiser made history as he crossed the finish line of the 47th Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race (K300). This victory, his tenth, makes him the winningest musher in race history, surpassing veteran musher Jeff King’s previous nine-win record.

Riley Dyche placed second, crossing the finish line at 11:10 a.m., and Mike Williams Jr. placed third, arriving back in the chute at 11:41 a.m.

At 11:47 a.m., Jessica Klejka placed fourth, the first woman to finish in the top five since 2002. Ryan Redington rounded out the top 5 finishers at 12:07 p.m.

Despite a variety of challenges faced by mushers on the trail, from moose holes to canine stomach bugs, the race remained tight as the first teams sped from Tuluksak back to Bethel.
Alaska State News
MaryCait Dolan
MaryCait Dolan (she/her) is a Multimedia Producer at KYUK.
See stories by MaryCait Dolan
Katie Baldwin Basile
Katie Baldwin Basile is an independent photographer and multimedia storyteller from Bethel, Alaska.
See stories by Katie Baldwin Basile
Josiah Swope
See stories by Josiah Swope