Lance Mackey's first to Nome

Lance Mackey won the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, finishing with a combined time of 9 days, 11 hours, 46 minutes, 49 seconds. After sliming out of Elim Checkpoint 50 minutes ahead of Jeff King, Mackey built on that lead over the final 77 miles of the race. Jeff King pulled into Nome with a time of 9 d, 13 hr, 5 min, 51 sec.

This was Mackey’s second consecutive Iditarod Championship and the second major long distance race he has won this year. He was the winner in the Yukon Quest in February. (He also won the Quest last year to give him a remarkable run of four major races in two years.) Now he has his sights on the 400 mile All Alaska Sweepstakes race and its $100,000 winner take all prize. That race starts March 26. By then, Mackey and his team of dogs, several of whom had to be left behind on the trail due to illness or injury, should be healthy and well rested.