Mackey leads list of former champs to declare for 2011 race

WASILLA — Lance Mackey took the first step in his fun for a fifth straight Iditarod title. Mackey, the four-time defending champ, is one of four past champions who have already entered the field for the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Rick Swenson, who has won the race five times, has also committed to making the trek from Willow to Nome in 2011. Four-time champion Martin Buser and 2004 champ Mitch Seavey are also among the 46 to sign up. The present field is vastly made up of Alaskans, but also includes three Canadians, one Englishman and a Jamaican musher.

2011 Iditarod field

(as of signups)

Mitch Seavey, Sterling; Hugh Neff, Tok; Sebastian Schnuelle, Paxson; Mike Williams Jr, Akiak; Paul Gebhardt, Kasilof; Aliy Zirkle, Two Rivers; Jim Lanier, Chugiak; Jodi Bailey, Chatanika; Melissa Owens, Nome; G.B. Jones, Knik; Ken Anderson, Two Rivers; Dallas Seavey, Willow; Brennan Norden, Kasilof; Kelley Griffin, Wasilla; DeeDee Jonrowe, Willow; Kristy Berington, Kasilof; Wattie McDonald, United Kingdom; Michael Suprenant, Chugiak; Bruce Linton, Kasilof; Scott Janssen, Anchorage; Hans Gatt, Whitehorse; Ellen Halvorson, Wasilla; Judy Currier, Fairbanks; Bob Storey, Willow; Newton Marshall, Jamaica; Billy Snodgrass, Dubois, Wyo.; Lance Mackey, Fairbanks; Martin Buser, Big Lake; Jessica Hendricks, Two Rivers; Michelle Philips, Tagish, Yukon; Gerry Willomitzer, Whitehorse; Allen Moore, Two Rivers; Karin Hendrickson, Willow; Zoya DeNure, Paxson; Ramey Smyth, Willow; Magnus Kaltenborn, Big Lake; Trent Herbst, Ketchum, Idaho; Angie Taggart, Ketchikan; Ray Redington Jr., Knik; Linwood Fiedler, Willow, Lachlan Clarke, Buena Vista, Colo.; Kris Hoffman, Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Tom Thurston, Oak Creek, Colo.; Mike Santos, Cantwell; Robert Bundtzen, Anchorage; Kelly Maixner, Big Lake.