Jessica Klejka, 17, says she started mushing by herself when she was in the fifth grade. “My family had dogs and I enjoy training them.”

This will be her fourth Jr. Iditarod and she also plans on running the Kusko 300 in January. A senior at Bethel Regional High School, she participates in cross-country running, decathlon, drama club, pep band and National Honor Society. Her other hobbies and interests are running, camping, reading, and hanging with friends and family. “I am the oldest of seven children and everyone helps train the dogs. Last summer, my main lead dog, who led in the last three Jr. Iditarod’s and two Bogus Creek 150’s, died having puppies. We were able to rescue the puppies and now have these beautiful puppies to carry on Jesse’s memory.?

Jessica said she plans to attend college and after that, she will come back to mushing.