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American distance jockey is abandoned in Mongolia after getting too sick to ride in 620-mile race: ‘They told me to ride it out’

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American distance jockey is abandoned in Mongolia after getting too sick to ride in 620-mile race: ‘They told me to ride it out’


A Wyoming-based extreme distance jockey was left to fend for herself in Mongolia after race organizers “couldn’t give a crap” about what happened to her when she fell too sick to compete in the 620-mile trek across the East Asian country.

Dede Anders, 49, was a last-minute entry in the Mongol Derby and arrived in Mongolia on Aug. 1 after race organizers reached out to her last month when another competitor dropped out, she told the Cowboy State Daily.

From the nation’s capital of Ulaanbaatar, Anders took an eight-hour trip to the race starting point and was all set to take the lengthy ride across the Mongolian Steppe.

Wyoming native and lifelong rider Dede Anders was a last-minute entry in the Mongol Derby. Mongol Derby

The race — self-proclaimed as the world’s toughest horse race — recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224, according to The Mongolian Derby’s website.

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However, on Monday, two days before the race was set to start, she became violently ill.

“It’s a lot of gastrointestinal stuff,” Anders told the outlet. “I was throwing up and stuff like that.”

The race — which usually takes 10 days to complete as riders navigate through wicked terrain and spend, on average, around 13 hours a day in the saddle — was now out of the question given her condition.

Even worse, when Anders tried to seek medical help at the base camp, she was shocked by the lack of empathy or care the race’s medical staff showed for one of their registered riders.

“Two medics looked at me. They told me I needed nothing but did nothing for me. They told me to ride it out,” the lifelong horse racer told the outlet.

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An aerial view of part of the Mongolian Steppe in Batsumber in Tuv province on June 30, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

Anders, a US Army medic veteran with a doctorate in medical science and emergency medicine from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., was astonished that a race that claimed to have “an international team of highly experienced medics” did so little to help her.

“One of the medics didn’t even touch me or ask me any questions,” she told the outlet.

“The other one took my pulse for a couple of seconds. They didn’t take my vitals, didn’t ask if I was diabetic or what medications I was taking. All they told me was it would pass in 24 hours.”

Anders then met with the Mongol Derby’s race director, Katherine, to tell her she wouldn’t be racing because of how sick she became.

“Katherine came to my yurt and talked to me at least twice,” Anders said. “I told her I was sick both days.”

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Anders tried to seek medical help at the base camp, but was shocked by the lack of empathy or care the race’s medical staff showed for one of their registered riders. Facebook / Dede Anders

During this time, she claims the race provided her with no medical care but instead drove her back to Mongolia’s capital, where a driver stranded her at a hotel.

“They put me in a vehicle for eight hours sick with a GI bug, with a driver who barely spoke English,” Anders told the outlet.

“I had to use Expedia from base camp to book a hotel, had the driver stop in the city, and get my passport so I could finally check into the hotel.”

She claims being “dumped off” back in the capital was the thing only organizers of the derby did to help her while ill.

“I was too ill to get on a horse for 620 miles,” Anders shared. “But I was also too ill to get in a car for eight hours and be dumped off into a city without a passport or a flight home.”

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Now alone and still dealing with illness in a foreign country, Anders’ trouble continued when she struggled to find a flight back to the US.

“I had to call home and have my boyfriend book a flight for me because I didn’t have cellphone reception,” she said. “Seattle is the closest I could get. I just want to get back to the US.”

The experienced rider couldn’t find a flight back to the US until Aug. 11, and once she lands in Seattle, she will need to make other travel arrangements to get back to Wyoming.

As she waits to return home, Anders said she has emailed race organizers about her feelings about how she was treated but hasn’t “received a response.”

The course recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224. Photothek via Getty Images

“I paid around $30,000 to go over for this thing,” the rider said. “My entry fee alone was almost $17,000, and I didn’t even get my blood pressure taken when I was sick.”

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Prior to the drama, Anders told Cody Enterprise that she was making “payments of about $900 per month” to foot the cost of the race she once considered a “lifelong dream.”

Missing out on the Mongol Derby, which she described as “kind of a mess” and “not very organized,” is the least of her concerns now, given how apathetic the race’s medical staff was while she was ill.

“I work in the ER, and I have my doctorate in emergency medicine,” she told the outlet.

“You couldn’t swing a cat and hit a medic over there. I don’t know what the holdup was, but I was definitely blown off for whatever reason.”

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Two Champions Crowned as Wyoming Prep Girls Basketball Season Enters Final Week

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Two Champions Crowned as Wyoming Prep Girls Basketball Season Enters Final Week


The 2026 Wyoming prep girls’ basketball season is nearly done. Two state champions were crowned in Classes 1A and 2A last Saturday. Southeast won the 1A title for the third consecutive season, and Sundance won the 2A title for the first time in eight years. Class 3A and 4A held their regional tournaments, which qualified teams for the state tournament later this week in Casper.

WYOPREPS WEEK 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL STANDINGS 2026

These are the girls’ basketball team records for all games played through March 7, 2026. For all but 16 teams, this is the final record of the season. Those squads will play in the 3A-4A state tournament starting on Thursday in Casper.

1A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Burlington 24-5, 8-0

Riverside 14-10, 6-2

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Dubois 11-10, 4-4

St. Stephens 3-16, 1-7

Meeteetse 1-20, 1-7

1A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Cokeville 23-4, 10-0

Little Snake River 23-4, 8-2

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Farson-Eden 16-12, 5-5

Saratoga 13-11, 5-5

Ft. Washakie 8-13, 2-8

Encampment 3-19, 0-10

1A Northeast: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Upton 16-7, 10-0

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Kaycee 13-12, 7-3

Hulett 12-13, 7-3

Arvada-Clearmont 9-12, 4-6

Casper Christian 4-13, 2-8

Midwest 1-16, 0-10

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1A Southeast: (Overall Record, followed by Reg. Season Points)

Southeast 24-5, 40 points

Lingle-Ft. Laramie 17-11, 31 points

Lusk 15-13, 26 points

H.E.M. 13-11, 24 points

Rock River 6-14, 12 points

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Guernsey-Sunrise 2-18, 4 points

2A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Thermopolis 16-13, 5-1

Greybull 16-15, 4-2

Rocky Mountain 9-17, 2-4

Shoshoni 11-18, 1-5

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2A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Wyoming Indian 23-7, 6-0

Big Piney 8-16, 4-2

Kemmerer 2-21, 1-5

Wind River 2-23, 1-5

2A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Sundance 23-4, 5-0

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Big Horn 21-6, 4-1

Tongue River 18-11, 3-2

Pine Bluffs 17-12, 2-3

Moorcroft 7-18, 1-4

Wright 3-23, 0-5

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WyoPreps 1A-2A Girls State Basketball Scoreboard 2026

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WyoPreps 1A-2A Girls Regional Basketball Scoreboard 2026

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3A West: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Cody 24-0, 10-0

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Lander 21-4, 9-1

Pinedale 20-5, 7-3

Powell 16-9, 6-4

Lovell 16-10, 4-6

Worland 9-16, 2-8

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Lyman 10-11, 2-8

Mountain View 4-19, 0-10

3A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Wheatland 22-4, 10-0

Buffalo 13-11, 8-2

Douglas 14-11, 6-4

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Burns 16-13, 5-5

Torrington 10-11, 5-5

Glenrock 12-13, 3-7

Newcastle 1-22, 1-9

Rawlins 2-21, 0-10

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4A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Green River 23-2, 6-0

Natrona County 9-16, 4-2

Kelly Walsh 8-15, 2-4

Rock Springs 5-20, 0-6

4A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Star Valley 16-7, 5-1

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Evanston 16-10, 5-1

Riverton 7-19, 1-5

Jackson 3-19, 1-5

4A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)

Cheyenne East 21-3, 11-1

Cheyenne Central 16-9, 10-2

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Sheridan 14-10, 7-5

Thunder Basin 14-10, 6-6

Laramie 12-11, 6-6

Campbell County 1-19, 1-10

Cheyenne South 1-21, 0-11

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*The second Campbell County-Cheyenne South girls’ game was canceled.

Wyoming 3A Boys Swimming & Diving State Championships 2026

Photos from the 3A Boys State Swim Meet

Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Marcello Monterastelli Photography & Jared Newland, WHSAA





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Why This Wyoming Town Deserves More Attention

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Why This Wyoming Town Deserves More Attention


A pristine trail town tucked into the breathtaking beauty of western Wyoming, Dubois puts the ‘wild’ in the Wild West. Just 55 miles from Yellowstone National Park and located in the Wind River, Owl Creek, and Absaroka mountain ranges, the town is a welcoming alpine community with stunning views from every street. From enjoying the fresh powder on the winter slopes to hiking, biking, or riding through the wildflower-covered peaks in the summer, Dubois is a year-round destination that offers adventure in every season. In addition to its serene location, Dubois is a vibrant town with lots on the menu from fine dining to lively western-style saloons.

The History of Dubois

Old West piano player on the front port of historic saloon in Dubois, Wyoming. Image credit Sandra Foyt via Shutterstock

The Wind River Valley remained sparsely populated until the late 1800s, when pioneering homesteaders established the first settlements, initiating a small yet lively community. While fur traders, explorers, and some Native American tribes were familiar with the area, it was the arrival of homesteaders that helped shape its identity. This led to the emergence of a town, supported by the expansion of cattle and sheep ranching.

Dubois was officially incorporated in 1914 and grew over the years, benefiting from its logging, farming, and tourism sectors. Today, with a population of 778 as of the 2022 census, Dubois remains true to its Western heritage, offering visitors an authentic cowboy experience.

Things to Do in Dubois

CM Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming.
CM Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming. Image credit Dana Lane via Flickr.com

Get that cowboy experience at one of the oldest guest ranches in the country, the CM Ranch which opened in 1927. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced rider, or never been on a horse, the experienced staff at this busy dude ranch will show you the ropes. Guests can choose their own adventure, from riding trails through desert badlands and mountain highlands to fly fishing in the backcountry.

Sunset on the Painted Hills Near Dubois, Wyoming.
Sunset on the Painted Hills Near Dubois, Wyoming.

Dubois is located in mountain country, possibly the only place where you can observe three distinct types of mountains: those formed by glaciers, volcano-created peaks, and ranges caused by shifting underground plates. It is a haven and playground for nature lovers. If you prefer walking over riding, numerous local guides are available to help you explore the trails and enjoy the best vistas. For those who prefer to go alone, the Bonneville Pass Trail offers a scenic climb through valley meadows, while the Five Pockets Trail provides spectacular views of Horse Creek with the Absaroka Mountains as a backdrop.

Look out for ancient carvings while you are exploring; Wyoming is home to stunning examples of rock art. In the Wind River Range, you will find the Torrey Lake Petroglyph District, which includes around 175 well-preserved petroglyphs. For more information on where to see the best pictograms or find accessible trails, speak to the staff at the Dubois Museum. This specialty museum traces the geology of the area, its early inhabitants, and its history of homesteading. They also offer custom guided tours of petroglyphs, native sheep trap and buffalo drive sites, and more.

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Wind River in the Summer Near Dubois Wyoming.
Wind River in the summer Near Dubois Wyoming.

Dubois is a favorite spot for anglers, featuring pristine lakes, streams, and rivers teeming with fish like rainbow trout, brook trout, and cutthroat trout. Try casting your line at Torrey Creek. The waters aren’t just for fishing; you can also enjoy kayaking or canoeing, or relax with a float trip guided by Wind River Float Trips.

In winter, the country is even more beautiful, and there are still lots of ways to enjoy it. Go ice-fishing, take a dog-sled ride through the snowy wonderland, or try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Downtown Dubois

Exterior of Outlaw Saloon with view of street and mountains in Dubois, Wyoming.
The exterior of Outlaw Saloon in Dubois, Wyoming. Image credit Sandra Foyt via Shutterstock

Many Wild West legends have strolled through Dubois, including the infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy. While things may have changed over time, the town still radiates quirky character and Western charm. After a day outdoors, grab a bite at the Rustic Pine Tavern, open since 1919, or visit the Outlaw Bar and Saloon. Once called the Branding Iron Inn, the Outlaw Bar has remained a beloved Dubois gathering spot for generations.

In the summer months, the town hosts the Dubois Friday Night Rodeo, which runs through June, July, and August. The family-friendly event features Mutton Bustin, Calf Riding, Mini Bull Riding, Pee Wee Barrel Racing, and more.

What Makes Dubois Different

Main street in the western town of Dubois Wyoming.
The main street in the western town of Dubois, Wyoming. Image credit Sandra Foyt via Shutterstock

Dubois remains a timeless town nestled amid Wyoming’s towering mountain ranges. This cowboy haven has preserved its natural beauty and charm for centuries, attracting explorers, pioneers, hunters, and adventurers. Visitors can saddle up at a dude ranch, scale mountain peaks, fish or float on glacial rivers, and unwind at the local rodeo—offering an ideal setting for unforgettable experiences and a break from everyday life.



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Western Wyoming Finishes Second at NJCAA Wrestling Championships – SweetwaterNOW

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Western Wyoming Finishes Second at NJCAA Wrestling Championships – SweetwaterNOW






Zach Marrero. SweetwaterNOW photo by Jayson Klepper

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Western Wyoming Community College placed second at the NJCAA Wrestling Championships on Saturday, finishing with 188 team points and producing nine All-Americans, including four national runners-up. Their 188 points are the second-most all-time.

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Indian Hills repeated as national champion with 201.5 points, the most points of all time, while Iowa Central finished third with 145.5. Western improved on last year’s third-place finish while sending four wrestlers to the championship round, the most runner-up finishes at the tournament, though the Mustangs were unable to secure an individual national title.

Zach Marrero reached the championship match at 133 pounds after earning a 4-2 decision in the semifinals. In the final, Marrero faced Indian Hills’ Olli Webb. The two were tied 1-1 after three periods before Webb secured a sudden-victory takedown to win 4-1.

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At 165 pounds, Banks Norby advanced to the finals with an 8-7 semifinal decision over Tom Stoll of Northeastern Junior College. Norby then faced Henry Dillingham of Clackamas in the championship match. Dillingham scored seven points in the third period to pull away, and Norby was unable to record a takedown as he finished second.

Banks Love also reached the championship bout at 184 pounds. Love snuck past Asadbek Fayzullaev of Northwest 10-9 in the semifinals. In the final, he fell to Jarrel Miller of Iowa Central 16-9. Love scored seven points in the final period, but Miller also scored nine in the period to secure the win.

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At 197 pounds, Trevyn Gates reached the finals after pinning Samuel Montoya of Southeast Nebraska in the semifinals. Gates’ run ended in the championship match when he was pinned in 2:03, giving him a runner-up finish.

Western also had two wrestlers earn third-place finishes.

At 125 pounds, Stockton Allen dropped his semifinal match by technical fall but responded in the consolation bracket. Allen secured third place with a fall in 1:27 over Truth Vesey of Harper.

Green River’s Tommy Dalton also placed third at 149 pounds. Dalton lost in the semifinals by fall in 4:22 but rebounded with a 17-6 major decision to reach the third-place match. He then defeated Ayson Rice of Southeast Nebraska 9-3 to earn the bronze.

Francisco Ayala finished fifth at 174 pounds. After dropping into the consolation bracket, Ayala won two of his three matches to reach the fifth-place bout, where he defeated Iowa Western’s Matteo Nikolov 4-2. Trailing 1-0 entering the final period, Ayala secured a takedown with 12 seconds remaining to claim the win.

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Dmitri Alarcon placed sixth at 141 pounds. Alarcon lost in the semifinals by fall before dropping a 20-9 decision in the consolation bracket. In the fifth-place match, he led 5-2 after the opening period but gave up a four-point nearfall in the second and fell 6-5.

At 157 pounds, Hixon Canto finished seventh. After advancing through the consolation bracket Friday, Canto lost a 6-4 decision Saturday before taking seventh place by medical forfeit.

Heavyweight Kort Wilkinson saw his tournament end a day earlier. Wilkinson was one point away from the quarterfinals before falling to Cito Tuttle of Rochester 3-2 in double overtime. He won two matches in the consolation bracket before losing a 5-0 decision to Naasir Edmonds, ending his season on the opening day of the tournament.

Western Wyoming’s second-place finish marks an improvement from its third-place result at the 2025 NJCAA Wrestling Championships and caps a season that also included the program’s ninth straight Region 9/Plains District title.

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