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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:34 a.m., Thursday, March 12, 2009

Iditarod: Buser maintains trail sled dog race lead

Associated Press

TAKOTNA, Alaska — Martin Buser is still the leader in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, but a Norwegian musher has scratched after being injured in a crash.

Buser, a four-time champion of the 1,100-mile race, was the first to reach Ophir, arriving at the checkpoint at 4:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Next in was veteran Jim Lanier, who arrived at 12:10 a.m. Thursday. Five others also have reached Ophir, which is 687 miles from the finish in Nome on Alaska's windswept western coast.

Norwegian musher Bjornar Andersen scratched Thursday in Takotna after being injured in a sled crash on Wednesday.

Race spokesman Chas St. George says Andersen likely suffered internal injuries, but the extent was not immediately known. Andersen is being flown to Anchorage for further medical care.