2008 Iditarod Musher Profile

Melissa Owens will be one of the youngest to run the Iditarod and the youngest girl. She won’t turn 18 until February 18. She was born and raised in Nome where she has lived her whole life. She is still a high school student, involved in AE21, a distance learning program. Melissa says that “mushing is in my blood.” When she was an infant, her dad, Michael, took her on stage with him to draw his starting number and now, 18 years later she will be drawing her own starting number. She has completed four Jr. Iditarod races and was the 2005 champion. She has also run the Jr. Quest, the Tug Bar and the Don Bowers 200 as well as Nome Kennel Club races. She raises and trains most of her own dogs and has worked closely with DeeDee Jonrowe the last several years. She has also worked with the Willis family for many years. Melissa’s hobbies are school, gymnastics, hiking and dogs.