Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Honor

On Wednesday evening, Aliy learned she was one of four recipients for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame’s Directors’ Awards.

Aliy was awarded the Trajan Langdon Award for Leadership, Sportsmanship and Inspiration.

This award is for a person or group of people who have demonstrated leadership, integrity and sportsmanship during the past year in such a way as to positively influence and inspire others to be better sportsmen or sportswomen.

The citation reads: Nobody has made second-place look so good. 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 the third consecutive year. And she did it with a smile. After being caught in the eye of a brutal storm, Zirkle nearly chased down eventual winner Dallas Seavey, losing by a mere 2½ minutes in one of the most dramatic finishes in the race’s 40-year history.

Aliy said she is honored and humbled to receive the award and very grateful to the Hall of Fame for recognising her and her team in such a way.

Here is a link to the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer story.