Baker wins Iditarod in record time

NOME, Alaska, March 15 (UPI) -- John Baker won Alaska's grueling Iditarod sled dog race in record time Tuesday, beating the old mark by 4 hours.

Baker finished the 1,150-mile trek from Anchorage to Nome in eight days, 18 hours and 46 minutes. That beat the previous fastest time of eight days, 22 hours and 46 minutes set in 2002 by four-time winner Martin Buser.

It was Baker's first win after finishing in the Top 10 11 times since first entering in 1996. He was fifth last year and came in third in 2002 and 2009.