Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Other sports


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Iditarod | Lance Mackey keeps lead, but sounds skeptical

Defending champion Lance Mackey was the first musher out of this Yukon River checkpoint Saturday in the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog...

NULATO, Alaska — Defending champion Lance Mackey was the first musher out of this Yukon River checkpoint Saturday in the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, leaving with a team he said was not running at top form.

"I'm not sure they're going to have what it takes," Mackey said of his 14-dog team before leaving Nulato to head to Kaltag, 42 miles away. "But I'm not giving up. A lot can happen between now and Nome."

The 37-year-old Fairbanks, Alaska, musher also was the first to reach Kaltag, which is 351 miles from the finish line in Nome. Mackey arrived in Nulato with 14 dogs — two hours ahead of four-time champion Jeff King, whose 16 dogs looked alert and fresh. King is from Denali, Alaska.

In Nulato, Mackey said his own dogs were finally responding to medicine for lingering diarrhea.

Mackey fretted that King's dogs will seize the lead.

"I'm going to do everything I can to keep that from happening," Mackey said. "But in all honesty, I think he's in control."

As for Washington mushers, Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble was 65th, Gene Smith of Omak was 72nd and Steven Madsen of Cougar was 85th.

Note

Zaster, a 7-year-old male on the team of rookie musher John Stetson, died. A necropsy determined aspiration pneumonia as the likely cause of death, according to race officials, who said more tests will be conducted.

Stetson has pulled out of the race.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Other Sports headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Summit West to open on Saturday

NEW - 11:53 PM
NW Briefs: NW Briefs: Washington volleyball falls at USC

Auto racing: Martin Truex Jr. earns pole for NASCAR event

NW Briefs: Seattle Pacific women out in first round of NCAA soccer tournament

Briefs | NHL: Red Wings beat Canucks in Detroit

Advertising

Video

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.

Video shows violent arrest by SPD
Fort Lewis Memorial
Highlights: Ken Auletta talks about "Googled"
Seattle International Cabaret Festival
Ken Auletta talks about "Googled"
Medal of Honor
Pelosi answers questions at Swedish Medical Center
Pelosi speaks at Swedish Medical Center
"Pistol" Pete Ryan

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising