Young mushers hit Junior Iditarod trail

WILLOW — The Junior Iditarod title has returned to the Klejka family.

Jeremiah Klejka, 17, hit the finish line at the Willow Community Center at 11:46 a.m. Feb. 27 to win the mid-distance sled dog race, open to young mushers ages 14 to 17. Klejka is the second member of his family to win the race in the last four years. His older sister, Jessica, won the race in 2008.

Klejka finished the course that stretches from Knik Lake to Yentna Station to Willow Community Center in 1 day, 11 hours and 46 minutes to win the title and the $5,000 scholarship that goes along with it. Klejka hit the finish line with 15 of his dogs.

He finished fourth last year.

Cantwell’s Anitra Winkler arrived at the finish line at 12:12 p.m. to finish second and earned a $3,000 scholarship prize. Wasilla’s Emily Krol was third and won $1,500.

Kaye Berg of Eagle River was fourth and Jenny Greger of Bozeman, Mont., finished fifth. Bert and Greger earned $1,000 and $500 scholarships respectively.

Ninilchik’s Merissa Osmar, the 2010 champion, finished eighth.

According to race officials, Coway Seavey (10th) and Osmar were the top two mushers into Yentna Station, with Seavey holding an eight-minute lead. After the mandatory 10-hour layover, Conway and Seavey were the first two mushers out of the checkpoint, but after crossing the Big Su, they missed a turn on the trail. In total, the mushers ended up taking about a 20-mile detour, and Klejka was able to rush into the lead.

Junior Iditarod 2011 standings

Into Willow Community Center

1. Jeremiah Klejka, 11:46 a.m.; 2. Anitra Winkler, 12:12 p.m.; 3. Emily Krol, 12:34 p.m.; 4. Kaye Berg, 12:39, 12:39 p.m.; 5. Jenny Greger, 12:47 p.m.; 6. Jesse Klejka, 1:09 p.m.; 7. Shameka Nelson, 1:43 p.m.; 8. Merissa Osmar, 2:20 p.m.; 9. Meredith Mapes, 3:14 p.m.; 10. Conway Seavey, 3:58 p.m.; 11. Aea Robinson, 3:59 p.m.; 12. Selji Takagi, 5:19 p.m.