Fans Cheer as Paddler Completes 340-Mile Race Down Missouri River

A crowd gathered on the banks of the Missouri River in St. Charles Thursday afternoon to welcome paddlers as they completed the Missouri American Water MR340, a race that stretches from Kansas City, Kansas to St. Charles. 

More than 340 boats entered the race and left Kaw Point on Tuesday morning. By Thursday night, 28 boats had made it to St. Charles. 

Matt Dresslaer, of Kansas City, finished in fourth place in the solo category, paddling into the shore around 11:50 a.m. on Thursday. He was the 12th boat to complete the race, despite facing sickness on the first day.

"I started getting sick, started to have some upchucks ... had to take some time out and wait it out," he said. "My ground crew they always took good care of me, they got me healthy and got me back out on the river."

Dresslaer has competed in the MR340 four times total, last year taking first place on a three-man team. He said paddling down the river in a three day race is "on the bucket list."

As for whether he'll compete next year, "you never know," he said. 

Many of the paddlers are expected to cross the finish line on Friday. A multi-paddler team based in Texas, "Winter is Coming", finished the race in 35 hours 58 minutes, setting a world record, according to race officials.