The two local speed sled dog mushers — Mark Dean of Yellow Jacket and Wes Widener of Mancos — are finishing among the leaders.

Dean and Widener competed recently in Ouray at the Iron Dog Challenge Sled Dog Race.

Dean captured second place in the Adult Four-Dog Speed Class. He finished the 8.4-mile course with a two-day total time of 27 minutes, 28 seconds. Dean took fifth place in the Adult Eight-Dog Speed Class. He finished the 16.4-mile layout with a total time of 51:23. He also grabbed first place in the Adult Two-Dog Skijoring Class. Dean finished the 8.4-mile race with a total of 35:52.

Widener came in 11th place in the Adult Six-Dog Speed Class. He finished the 13.2-mile course with total time of 42:48. Widener also placed 14th in the Adult Four-Dog Speed Class. He crossed the finish with a total time of 36:13.

The Iron Dog Challenge was sanctioned by the International Sled Dog Racing Association. All points earned by the mushers counts toward the International Championship Series for sled dog racing.

Dean and Widener also ran their dogs at the Colorado Blue Ididarace Sled Dog races at Kremmling. The event was sponsored by the Colorado Blue Adventurers.

Dean took fourth in the Adult Four-Dog Speed Class with a time of 31:16. He grabbed sixth in the Adult Eight-Dog Speed Class with a clocking of 1:06:06. And he finished fourth in the Adult Two-Dog Skijoring Class with a time of 35:40.

Widener finished 15th i the Adult Six-Dog Speed Class with a time of 57:56.