Iditarod champ outruns field

DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman reporter

KNIK - Jeff King and Lance Mackey turned the final 100 miles of the Joe Redington Memorial Knik 200 Sled Dog Race, on Sunday, into a duel between former champions.

King, winner of three Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race titles, left Skwentna nine minutes behind Mackey, the defending Yukon Quest champion, early Sunday morning.

King was the first musher to cross the finish line on Knik Lake at 9:57 a.m.

Less than ideal weather conditions this winter made King happy to finally be able to get some race experience for his dogs. Sunday, he was happy with their performance.

Mackey and Ryan Redington engaged in a drag race over the first 100 miles, reaching Skwentna separated by just two minutes late Saturday. After a mandatory six-hour layover they resumed their duel for the title just before 2 a.m. Sunday as the snow began falling heavily.

Much to their surprise they were joined on the trail by King, who was holding his team back for the return run. Also entering the mix was Bryan Bearss, a former handler for King. The pair were just 10 minutes back when they left for the return trip to Knik Lake.

&#8220The trail was hard and fast all the way and any one of a handful of teams could have made a move,” Redington said. &#8220It was just a question of how hard you wanted to let the dogs run and how much you wanted to win.”

King, who was fourth to leave the midway checkpoint, quickly moved to the front and controlled the pace over the final 50 miles.

&#8220His team looked really strong when he passed me,” Mackey said. &#8220We just couldn't keep pace.”

After passing Mackey, King set his sights on the open trail back to Knik Lake, which follows the Iditarod trail between Knik Lake and Skwentna.

Mackey eventually crossed the line 20 minutes behind King and Redington and 13 minutes after Mackey. Bearss, who was 10 minutes behind Mackey at the midway point, finished four minutes after Redington.

Of the 54 mushers who started the race, all but two finished. William Hane scratched after being the last musher to reach Skwentna. Iditarod veteran Lynda Plettner also withdrew after the six-hour layover.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.