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Teens Compete in Alaskan Dog Race
What did you do last weekend? Seventeen-year-old Jessica Klejka spent two days on a sled pulled by dogs through 150 miles of Alaskan snow. When it was over, Jessica was the winner of this year's Junior Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
Every year since 1978, teenage mushers, as the racers are called, have competed in the freezing contest of skill and will. The race follows part of the Iditarod trail. They drive their dogs over ice and snow in freezing weather for about 80 miles. Then they take a break to feed their dogs and themselves before they continue on to the finish line.
This year's Junior Iditarod was the closest race ever. Jessica led most of the way, but was caught less than a mile from the finish line by 16-year-old Cain Carter and his team of dogs. The two teams raced to the very end, with Jessica winning by only seconds. Jessica won a $5000 scholarship which she can use when she starts college this Fall.
Jessica gets to be part of the opening ceremonies for the adult Iditarod which begins this weekend. In that race, men and women race from Anchorage to Nome -- a distance of about 1100 miles. The race takes about two weeks to finish. On your mark, get set, mush!
I'm Lucy and that's what happened in Sports this week!
Photo: Jeff Schulz, AlaskaStock.com
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