Iditarod Day 5: 2nd Update

Nic Petit has passed through the traditional halfway point of the Iditarod race -- the checkpoint of Iditarod, and continued on the trail, having already taken his 24-hour layover.

The Iditarod leaderboard shows Petit as checking into Iditarod at 12:13 and out just nine minutes later at 12:22.

Last year's runner-up still had all 14 dogs in his team.

According to the Iditarod GPS tracker, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, last year's champion, is hot on Petit's heels. Ulsom left the checkpoint of Ophir at 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, three hours before Petit's departure at 2:17 a.m. Thursday. He checked in to Iditarod at 12:37 p.m.

Aliy Zirkle led the field into Iditarod, winning the race's halfway award. She remains there this afternoon, having not yet completed her 24-hour layover.