[Monday February 18th story by Genesee Keevil]

'Now it's a race'

PELLY CROSSING

Ken Anderson and Lance Mackey have made it a race.

The two leading mushers in this year’s Yukon Quest arrived in Carmacks at 10:40 a.m. Monday.

Only three minutes separated the two competitors after a 14-hour, 169-kilometre sprint to the village from Stepping Stone.

Anderson is a accomplished Iditarod racer who is no stranger to long-haul mushing.

Mackey is also known for back-to-back 160-kilometre runs.

In Fairbanks, they are neighbours, but not friends.

It is looking like a 285-kilometre race to the finish.

They are expected into Whitehorse no later than noon on Wednesday.