Iditarod Musher Profile 

Melissa Owens, 19, was born in Nome and has spent her whole life there. She is still a high school student, involved in AE21, a distance learning program. Melissa says that "mushing is in my blood." She said she began mushing "as soon as I could stand on the runners. My family had a team and my dad ran Iditarod the year I was born." She completed four Jr. Iditarod races and was the 2005 champion. She raises and trains most of her own dogs. She says, "I love racing and loved my trip last year. I love working with my dogs and am really excited about the team this year. They are some really good athletes. Melissa's hobbies are gymnastics, dogs and mushing.

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