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NOME - It was a nostalgic journey down the trail for Raymie Redington in the 2000 Iditarod. And emotional. Redington, 55, of Knik, finished the 28th annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 29th place with a time of 11 days, 22 minutes, his fastest ever. But he had other things on his mind besides his in-the-money placing that paid $1,500. This was the first Iditarod since the death of his dad, Joe Redington, the father of the Iditarod and the man who did the most to popularize the 1,100-mile race across the state. Joe Redington died in June at 82. Doug Swingley of Lincoln, Mont., who won the race in record time Tuesday, received the first Joe Redington Sr. Trophy. "I thought about him a lot," said Raymie Redington, who included two of his dad's dogs in his team. "We did it eight times together." This was the 11th Iditarod for Raymie, who was the only musher in this year's race who also started the inaugural Iditarod in 1973. Raymie has no plans to race next year because two of his sons, Ray Jr. and Ryan, will enter. When it was suggested that would be more relaxing for him, Raymie quoted Bud Smyth, father of racers Ramey and Cim. "Bud Smyth told me one time it's worse watching than racing," Raymie said. 20TH FOR JONROWE: It was not the finish DeeDee Jonrowe of Willow was used to, but it was the one she was after. Jonrowe, who scratched last year after 11 straight top-10 finishes, was rebuilding her team. Her goal this year was a top-20 finish, and she got 20th, more than a day behind champion Doug Swingley. Jonrowe sprinted down the finish chute in front of her eight dogs, to wild applause from local fans. "It took me two years to get here this year," said Jonrowe, summing up her bitter disappointment of 1999. Jonrowe went out fast, but as soon as the leaders increased the pace, she throttled back. "I knew I wasn't going to do that," said Jonrowe, who intended this trip to be an educational one for her 2-year-old dogs. DISAPPOINTMENT: Two of the many mushers who battled viruses in their dog teams and placed well below their expectations were Vern Halter of Willow in 21st and John Baker of Kotzebue in 22nd. They kept each other company and their minds off their misery by traveling and chatting. "I met all his friends," Halter said. "He knows everyone in the villages." Halter considered scratching when it took his dogs four hours to cover a 14-mile stretch of the 112-mile run from Cripple to Ruby. "You go out to compete," he said. "It's not fun at all. It's the only chance in the year to show off a good team." Baker, eighth last year, struggled with sick dogs. "I knew within a few days I'd have to do all that I could to finish," he said. "When I left Rohn River, I wasn't sure I could come all the way to Nome. I was really worried. It wasn't until Unalakleet or Koyuk ... that was the first time I felt I could make it." BREAKTHROUGH FOR STEER: When top racers like Halter and Baker fall back, someone replaces them. Zack Steer, 26, of Anchorage turned in one of the great unexpected performances of the 2000 Iditarod, moving to 14th place in just his second race. Steer wasn't optimistic about his Iditarod prospects after a dismal International Rocky Mountain Stage Stop Race in Wyoming early this year. He finished 20th in a field of 22. "I was thinking top 30," Steer said, "then, 'Let's try and finish.' " He finished with flair, recording a time of 10 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes. Steer tinkered with his team even after the dogs started running, dropping three animals who ran from Anchorage to Eagle River. "I threw in my subs, and my subs did great," said Steer, who was 22nd in his previous Iditarod in 1998 and proposed to his wife Anjanette at the finish line. Steer comes from an athletic family. Sister Becky excels in triathlons and sister Rachel is a United States champion in biathlon. "I have to finish in the top 20 to compete with my sisters," he said. Mission accomplished. q Lew Freedman is the Daily News sports editor. He can be reached at lfreedman@adn.com.
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