Pinehurst musher starting young

Four-year-old Harleigh Dutton and her dog Denali claimed second place in the pee wee division at the U.S. Pacific Coast Championship Sled Dog race last weekend in Priest Lake.

Harleigh finished only nine seconds behind a boy from Calgary, Canada, Smith Fradette.

Harleigh was the youngest musher by one year and had the youngest dog at 18 months.

Harleigh and Denali train year-round. When no snow is available for sledding they use a go-kart with no motor to run on the streets of their hometown of Pinehurst.

The daughter of Tammy and Buck Dutton, Harleigh's mother said her daughter has been on a sled since she was strapped to one while still in her infant seat.

"We lived in Alaska along the Iditarod Trail and gained some knowledge from the people that ran in that race," she said.

Tammy Dutton described conditions at the race last weekend as "terrible" with pouring rain and a slushy trail. Despite such a setting, Harleigh's enthusiasm never faltered.

"The kid race was at the end of the day, and she kept asking, is it my turn?" Tammy said.