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

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...

By The Associated Press

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.

More Other Sports headlines...

E-mail article Print view Share: Digg Newsvine

More Other Sports

Emerald Downs: Thursday's Emerald Downs results

Briefs | Michael Phelps breaks 100 fly world record

Michael Phelps breaks 100-meter butterfly world record at U.S. nationals

Lance Armstrong stays a split second off Tour lead

NW Briefs: Hydros driver Jean Theoret: "I drowned" after boat flip

Advertising

Video

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.

2009 fireworks time lapse

Tribal Fireworks Rivalry

Raw video | Renton apartment fire

Moonwalk: Michael Jackson's YouTube Legacy

Pride Parade 2009

Tour the Richmond Night Market

Vancouver Olympic venue: Richmond Oval

Ravenna Kibbutz

Northgate parking lot turns into water-quality channel

nwjobs

Job market trends

Transition time: Financial squeeze at home sends 'economommies' back to work
Post a comment

Search for a Job

Salary Advice
Career Center

Employers: Post a Job

Nine to Thrive
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
What not to wear to work this summer
Post a comment

nwautos

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