Bethel teen wins Jr. Iditarod by two seconds

Frontiersman

WILLOW LAKE — Bethel’s Jessica Klejka, 17, outraced Fairbanks’ Cain Carter to win the closest Junior Iditarod in history Sunday on Willow Lake.

Kjelka won her first Jr. Iditarod by two seconds, less than the length of a dog team.

Kotzebue’s Quinn Iten was third, three minutes behind, while Wasilla’s Wade Marrs placed fourth.

Klejka sprinted the final yards to hold off Carter, who caught up to Kjelka as the two reached the final straightaway on the lake.

“I thought they were going to catch me,” Klejka said.

Klejka, a senior at Bethel Regional High School, won a $5,000 scholarship for taking first place, while Carter got a $3,000 scholarship for his runner-up finish.

Junior Iditarod

Into Willow (finish)

As of 1:55 p.m. Sunday

1. Jessica Klejka, 8:49:02 a.m.; 2. Cain Carter, 8:49:02 a.m.; 3. Quinn Iten, 8:52 a.m.; 4. Wade Marrs, 9:05 a.m.; 5. Ava Lindner, 9:21 a.m.; 6. Michael Owens, 9:24 a.m.; 7. Fawn Wilson, 9:41 a.m.; 8. Jesse DeLoach, 9:46 a.m.; 9. Patrick Mackey, 10:17 a.m.; 10. Amanda K. Olson, 10:24 a.m.; 11. Anita Winkler, 10:24:02 a.m.; 12. Charlie Allison, 11:15 a.m.; 13. Rebekah Ruzicka, 11:22 a.m.; 14. Mereditha Mapes, 11:55 a.m.; 15. Jeff Holt, 11:56 a.m.; 16. MacKenzie Davis, 12:15 p.m.; 17. Garry McKeller, 12:19 p.m.; 18. Shameka Nelson, 12:32 p.m.; 19. Carole Keller, 4:22 p.m.; 20. Yuta Takagi, 4:24 p.m.

Out of Susitna River

19. Yuta Takagi, 12:22 p.m.; 20. Carole Keller, 12:22 p.m.

Out of Susitna River

21. Kristen Crain, 2:25 p.m.