Lance Mackay first into Nome

by Channel 2 News staff
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

NOME, Alaska -- Lance Mackey has pulled a feat some thought impossible even two days ago.

He has defied the odds and pushed his dog team more than 1,000 miles to win the 36th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race after winning the 1,000-mile-plus Yukon Quest race.

And it's the second year in a row he's won both races back-to-back.

Jeff King, a four-time champion himself, has run neck and neck with Mackey for the last several days. At one point Monday night he was just minutes behind the leader as the two pulled out of the Koyuk checkpoint about 16 minutes apart.

But most of Tuesday and certainly Wednesday morning belonged to the reigning Iditarod champion, who now claims his second title in the Last Great Race.

Mackey pulled into Nome at about 2:45 Wednesday morning.

Borrowed from KTUU Channel 2 website.