Lance Mackey Storms Through Elim Checkpoint, Extends Iditarod Race Lead

Lance Mackey flew into the Elim checkpoint Monday afternoon, and just as quickly, he was gone again, extending his lead to more than three hours in the 2010 Iditarod over four-time champion Jeff King, who dropped to third.

Mackey stayed only 15 minutes, just enough time to feed his dogs, before heading out to White Mountain, where the windchill is currently -26 degrees.

Mackey, who is often talkative at checkpoints, had little to say to reporters. He signed someone's hat, shooed away a kid who stepped through his team, and sipped coffee from a foam cup (instant Starbucks with cream and sugar provided by one of the checkers; they said they're prepared to provide the same service to other mushers who come through).

Once King arrived to Elim, he all but conceded the race to Mackey, saying he wouldn't be able to catch him unless he made a mistake. "We'll see if he steps on his cape or somebody else finds a rocket launcher and takes him down."

King added, "I won't -- I can't --do what he's doing."

"We have 24 hours to go. We'll see if he steps on his cape or if somebody else finds a rocket launcher and takes him down," King said.

via www.alaskadispatch.com