Owens (left) and Kleedehn (right) are the two rookies who may take the 2008 Iditarod Rookie of the year. Photos courtesy www.iditarod.com.
Story Created:
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:12 PM AKDT
Story Updated:
Mar 11, 2008 at 3:12 PM AKDT
With the end of the race close at hand, the race for rookie of the year begins to gain great focus. The competitors are the youngest and oldest rookies in this year's race, Nome's Melissa Owens, and Canada's William Kleedehn. The two were last seen Tuesday in 24th and 29th place, respectively.
At 18-years-old, Owens holds the title of youngest woman ever to run the Iditarod. Despite having a prosthetic leg, 49-year-old Kleedehn is highly competitive and also highly respected. While the two have few physical similarities, both share the same spirt for the race. Arriving in Unalakleet minutes apart, the two were wearing large smiles on their weather beaten faces.
Owens' team began slow Sunday afternoon, but by the time she reached Kaltag about 35 miles away, she decided to keep going.
Owens, who began the race suffering from anxiety which prevented her from holding any food down, was ravenous" I've been eating everything in sight," she said.
Owens shared her feelings on the aspect of the day-and-night journey of the race. Upon cresting a hill within the view of the lights of Unalakleet, one of her main leader dogs sped up. "The lights looked like Nome and I think he knew were getting closer," she said. Owens said that the country she was traveling through had a definable quality, that her and the dogs were both able to pick up on.
When asked if she was actually racing, Owens said, "Yeah, I'm trying to get the top rookie spot and I imagine he is, too," nodding towards Kleedehn.
Kleedehn was more circumspect. He never directly answered the question as to whether or not he is actually racing, expect to say that his intention from the beginning has not been to race. Kleedehn said he wants to investigate the Iditarod for its potential, to determine whether he will race next year.
"It's not a race trail. It's a journey. I really like it," said Kleedehn. He added that he wondered why he waited so long to try it. "Now I have to come back and do it again. I'd do it by snowmachine if I didn't have dogs." Kleedehn has been most fascinated by the landscape changes offered by the race, "The changes of geography and all this is totally awesome."
Kleedehn has run 11 Yukon Quests.
Owens' quick pass through Shaktoolik to Koyuk may have put her too far ahead for kleedehn to catch up. This could be the move that puts her in her home town first.
