Iditarod '11 Update 4 - When to 24?

The top third of the field is in Takotna. Martin Buser, who also won the Spirit of Alaska award for being the first to McGrath, was the first in, followed by Lance about an hour and a half later. They’ve been resting 6 hours, so some teams will certainly take their 24 there. Time will tell if a musher will run farther to Ophir, or even try the move that Lance used in ’09 and run straight through to Iditarod, leaving the field behind.

In the Rookie Race, Nicolas Petit is in front, into McGrath. Mike Santos, Justin Savidis, Cain Carter, Kelly Maixner, Jodi Bailey and Magnus Kaltenbrn in Nikolai.

The back of the pack is primarily in Rohn, with James Bardoner on the way and Bob Story still reported to be in Rainy Pass.

Paul Gebhardt and Jessica Hendricks scratched in Nikolai.

Unofficial Standings as of 7am ET (Based on Trackers and Standings)

1. Martin Buser (11)

2. Lance Mackey (17)

3. Sebastian Schnuelle (31)

4. Hugh Neff (35)

5. Ray Redington Jr (3)

6. Mitch Seavey (28)

7. Robert Bundtzen (10)

8. Hans Gatt (23)

9. Dallas Seavey (21)

10. Michael Williams, Jr (41)

11. John Baker (53)

12. Sonny Lindner (52)

13. DeeDee Jonrow (2)

14. Ramey Smyth (30)

15. Bruce Linton (65) (13)

16. Aliy Zirkle (18)

17. Sven Haltmann (45)

18. Jessie Royer (58)

On the trail to Takotna

19. Rick Swenson (49)

20. Peter Kaiser (54)

21. Michelle Phillips (39)

22. Ken Anderson (43)

In McGrath

23. Judy Currier (29)

24. Trent Herbst (4)

25. Nicolas Petit {R} (14)

On the trail to McGrath

26. Gerry Willomitze (33)

27. Kelley Griffin (20)

28. Allen Moore (5)

29. Robert Nelson (51)

30. Kristy Berington (7)

31. Karin Hendrickson (37)

32. Cim Smyth (59)

33. Matt Hayashida (61)

34. Mike Santos {R} (27)

35. Newton Marshall (6)

36. Justin Savidis {R} (63)

37. Cain Carter {R} (48)

38. Paul Johnson (46)

39. Kelly Maixner {R} (55)

In Nikolai

40. Lachlan Clarke (42)

41. Jodi Bailey {R} (16)

42. Billy Snodgrass (24)

43. Magnus Kaltenbrn {R} (22)

On the trail to Nikolai

44. Wattie McDonald (38)

45. Ed Stielstra (56)

46. G.B. Jones (40)

47. Gerald Sousa (62)

48. Matt Giblin (60)

49. Kirk Barnum (47)

50. Angie Taggart {R} (19)

51. Ellen Halverson (26)

52. Heather Siirtola (50)

In Rohn

53. Scott Janssen {R} (32)

54. Tom Thurston (25)

55. Kris Hoffman {R} (8)

56. Brennan Norden {R} (44)

On the trail to Rohn

57. James Bardoner {R} (57)

In Rainy Pass

58. Bob Storey {R} (15)

ROOKIES

25 Nicolas Petit {R} (14)

34 Mike Santos {R} (27)

36 Justin Savidis {R} (63)

37 Cain Carter {R} (48)

39 Kelly Maixner {R} (55)

41 Jodi Bailey {R} (16)

43 Magnus Kaltenbrn {R} (22)

50 Angie Taggart {R} (19)

53 Scott Janssen {R} (32)

55 Kris Hoffman {R} (8)

56 Brennan Norden {R} (44)

57 James Bardoner {R} (57)

58 Bob Storey {R} (15)

SCRATCHED

Melissa Owens

Zoya DeNure (9)

Jessica Hendricks

Paul Gebhardt