Young racers live up to legacies at Junior Iditarod

WASILLA — The Seavey family has produced some of the great Iditarod storylines in recent years.

Through three generations, the Seaveys have been part of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since the 1,000-plus-mile race made its debut in 1973.

Dan Seavey was among the 22 to finish the first race. Dan’s son Mitch won the Iditarod in 2004, and his grandson, Dallas, is the defending Iditarod champion.

But there is another grandson, and a reason for mushing fans of the Seavey family to pay close attention to another sled dog race. Dallas’ younger brother, Conway, is back to defend his own title in the 2013 Junior Iditarod, which starts Saturday in Knik.

“It’s great to have the family in different races,” Iditarod Trail Committee communications director Erin McLarnon said Thursday. “It’s really neat.”

Conway, of Sterlong, won the 2012 Junior Iditarod with a time of 19 hours and 30 minutes. This year, Conway is among 13 signed up for the 2013 race, which starts Saturday at 10 a.m. on Knik Lake, Mile 13, Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Conway is also one of three mushers in the field who finished in the top 5 last year. Wasilla’s Benjamin Harper, who placed third last year, is back. Jenny Greger of Bozeman, Mont., also returns after her fifth-place finish last year.

“There’s going to be great competition out there,” McLarnon said.

McLarnon also noted Eagle River’s Alea Robinson. The 17-year-old recently won the Race to the Sky 350 in Lincoln, Mont.

“To have this young girl win a big race like that and come in to the Junior Iditarod is just amazing,” McLarnon said.

Robinson was one of two teenagers in the Race to the Sky 350, but the youngest of the 10 to mushers to register.

Robinson finished 30 seconds ahead of Iditarod veteran Jessie Royer to win the race.

The Junior Iditarod course will take the 13 teams from Knik Lake to Eagle Song. They will loop around to the Yentna Station Roadhouse, where mushers will stay on an overnight layover. Following the layover, mushers will head from Yentna to the finish at the Willow Community Center.

McLarnon said trail reports have been good.

“It’s definitely improved,” she said. “It’s great trail. The temperatures are right where they want them. It should be a fun couple of days.”

McLarnon said the top teams should reach Willow by 9 or 10 a.m. Sunday.

2013 Junior

Iditarod field

Jonathon Biggerstaff, Takeetna; Abigail Brooks, Fairbanks; Jenny Greger, Bozeman, Mont.; Benjamin Harper, Wasilla; Joshua Klejka, Bethel; Jimmy Lanier, Chugiak; Caleb Miller, Bethel; Annika Olesen, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada; Noah Pereira, Clarkson, NY; Alea Robinson, Eagle River; Conway Seavey, Sterling; Taylor Steele, Hopewell, Penn; Malinda Tjelta, Sheyenne, N.D.