Iditarod

Photos: Aliy Zirkle on the Iditarod Trail

Even today, the T-shirt slogan faintly echos: "Where men are men and women win the Iditarod."

After Libby Riddles won the 1985 Iditarod and the late Susan Butcher followed up by dominating with four victories in the next five years, T-shirts proclaiming women's stranglehold on Last Great Race were seen throughout Alaska and even in the Lower 48.

But today, as Two Rivers musher Aliy Zirkle heads into the home stretch of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race trying to hang with the leaders, historians may note it's been 22 years since Butcher's last victory -- and no woman has won since. Both Butcher and DeeDee Jonrowe, the most consistently strong musher never to win, came close. But once Butcher retired after the 1994 Iditarod, female fortunes floundered. Dramatically.

From 1991-94, an average of 4.5 women finished in the Iditarod's top 20. From 1996-2000, an average of 1.2 women made upper crust.

But with Zirkle's hunt for a victory and several other women among the top 30 racers, this Iditarod could end up with the best showing by women dog drivers in 18 years, the last time five women (Jonrowe ninth; Butcher 10th; Kate Persons 12th; Peryll Kyzer 14th; Diana Dronenburg 19th) earned a spot in the top 20.

Should Zirkle win, get ready for some fresh T-shirts.

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