In Brief : Runyan Leads U.S. Sled Dog Sweep

Defending champion Joe Runyan led a 1-2-3-4 American sweep in the seventh stage of the Alpirod international sled dog race today.

Kathy Swenson finished second to keep her overall lead in the race, scheduled to end Sunday in Northern Italy.

Runyan covered the 45-kilometer (28-mile) course from Samaden to Lavin, a tiny village in the Engadine Valley near St. Moritz, in 1 hour, 47 minutes and 14 seconds.

Libby Riddles took third place and Tim White fourth. Pascal Nicoud of Switzerland, the first of the European mushers, finished fifth.

The leg produced no changes in the overall standings, which are led by Swenson, followed by White, Nicoud and Runyan.

After another stage in the Engadine Valley on Tuesday, the race returns to Italy, where it began a week ago. Organizers have had to shift some stages and shorten others because of the lack of snow due to Europe’s mild winter.