Jefferson City checkpoint kicks off day two of the MR340 race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri River 340 heads into day two as the Jefferson City Carl R. Noren Access checkpoint opens Wednesday morning for the longest non-stop river race in the world.

Hundreds of racers are paddling the river in this annual race across the state that began at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City. The Carl R. Noren Access in Jefferson City is checkpoint number four along the race route.

There were a total of 535 racers that started in Kansas City and 379 boats. The number of racers is currently down to 508 as of Wednesday morning due to 27 that did not make the required cut time.

The MR340 is a race with non-motorized boats, kayaks and canoes heading 340 miles down the Missouri River to the finish line in St. Charles.

This race is four days long and there are some racers who will paddle throughout the night and skip checkpoints to reach the finish line by Wednesday evening, even though the finish line stays open until 9 p.m. Friday.

There are a total of 18 safety boats that will go downstream, staying alongside racers and at every checkpoint. If there is no safety boat around the racers at the time of an emergency, racers are instructed to call using a required phone and dial the dispatch safety number.

People are able to track the racers in their journey across the state here.