Junior Iditarod off and running

WILLOW — A baker’s dozen teams of 14- to 17-year-old mushers left the Willow Community Center this morning to begin the first leg of the 2010 Junior Iditarod. The mushers will travel 75 miles to Yenta Station, spend the night and return Sunday morning.

The young racers will have favorable conditions as new snowfall is expected to help improve trail conditions. The mushers were cheered on as they left the starting gate by a crowd of fans and supporters, including former Miami Dolphin and NFL Hall-of-Famer Larry Csonka and his “North to Alaska” television crew.

Look for more on the Junior Iditarod start in Sunday's print edition of the Frontiersman.

2010 Junior Iditarod Field

Guillermo Anton, Kaye Berg, Jonathan Biggerstaff-Myers, Jeff Holt, Jeremiah Klejka, Emily Krol, Meredith Mapes, Merissa Osmar, Rebekah Ruzicka, Ilsa Schwarzburg, Tobin Sworts, Yuta Takagi and Anitra Winkler.