Julie Smith/News Tribune photo:
As his wife Salli O'Donnell paddles by in the background, Mike Malone expressively uses both hands to point downriver as he indicates he'll be at the next checkpoint, which is in Mokane, to see if O'Donnell needs a break of any kind. As O'Donnell passed the Jefferson City checkpoint on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, she was ahead of all but one of her competitors in this year's MR340 and averaging 7.89 miles per hour. The couple is from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and made the trip to Kansas City's Kaw Point where O'Donnell and hundreds of other paddlers started the race early Tuesday morning.
The world's longest non-stop river race came to a halt mid-race Wednesday.
The Missouri American Water MR340, a multi-day race with a checkpoint in Jefferson City, raises money for Missouri River Relief and the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum.
