In the same city where her Iditarod dreams begin, Aliy Zirkle is getting an award from the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.
The Two Rivers musher, 2000 Yukon Quest champion and runner-up in the last three Iditarod Trail sled dog races was announced Wednesday as one of four recipients for the hall of fame’s Directors’ Awards.
“The Directors’ Awards give our organization the opportunity to shine a light on some of Alaska’s sports figures who are making history right now,’’ Harlow Robinson, Alaska Sports Hall of Fame executive director, said Wednesday in a press release. “It’s a nice bookend to the inductee enshrinements.”
The Trajan Langdon Award recognizes leadership, sportsmanship and inspiration, and is named for the former standout basketball guard for East Anchorage High School and Duke University. Langdon, now a scout with the National Basketball Association’s San Antonio Spurs, played with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers from 1999-2002 and played in Italy, Turkey and Russia from 2002-11.
Zirkle, 45, was recognized by the hall of fame for her demeanor in the Iditarod as much as her three straight top-two results among 14 entries in the race. “Nobody has made second place look so good,’’ the release said. “Known for her trademark smile, this 45-year-old Iditarod musher is as gracious as she is good.
She puts her dogs first, always praises the competition and never makes excuses. “Zirkle showed tremendous character when she finished the 1,100-mile race in second for third consecutive year,’’ the release continued, “And she did it with a smile.”
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