Day 6: As expected, Mackey retakes Iditarod lead

March 14, 2009

by Channel 2 News staff
Friday, March 13, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Two-time defending champion Lance Mackey retook the lead in the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race late Friday night as the trio of competitors who passed him in Anvik presumably settled in for their mandatory eight-hour layovers in Grayling.

Earlier Friday four-time champion Jeff King, Yukon Quest winner Sebastian Schnuelle and Aaron Brumeister were all in and out of Anvik and on their way to Grayling within a three-minute window as Mackey -- who had built a commanding lead over the previous 24 hours -- completed his eight-hour stop.

But none of the three had taken his mandatory eight-hour break along the Yukon River, and as all three arrived within 11 minutes of each other in Grayling it appears they are in for their breaks.

Mackey arrived in Grayling at 10:50 p.m. and left five minutes later, still with all 16 of his dogs on the line. Mackey earned a seven-course feast for being the first to Anvik, and completed his mandatory eight-hour layover there. That means both of his race-required stops are complete.

King and Schnuelle still have 15 dogs each while Burmeister is down to 12.

The foursome of King, Schnuelle, Burmeister and Mackey has separated themselves somewhat from the rest of the pack. While they have all at least reached Grayling, only four other teams had reached the previous checkpoint in Anvik.

Cim Smyth, Sonny Lindner, Hans Gatt and Mitch Seavey all arrived between 10:16 p.m. and 11:10 p.m. Gatt and Seavey, who has also completed his eight-hour stop, left shortly after 11 p.m.

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