A new race marshal for the 2018 Yukon Quest was named this week.

Doug Harris is returning to the position, after serving as race marshal in 2000 and 2001.

“The Yukon Quest has evolved over the years, and thrived to improve the support and safety to the mushers and their dogs on the trail,” said Harris in a Yukon Quest news release. “In that spirit, I am looking forward to working in collaboration with the mushers, volunteers on the trail and in the checkpoints, veterinary team and the Yukon Quest organization to ensure the 2018 Yukon Quest race is a success.”

Harris is an experience long-distance musher. He participated in a one-month sled dog journey from Dawson City to Fort McPherson, N.W.T., and back. He has finished the Yukon Quest twice, in 1996 and 1998.

Harris also served as a race judge in 1999, YQ300 race marshal in 2009 and was a rules committee member in 2003.

Also returning for the 2018 race are head veterinarian Nina Hansen, race manager Alex Olesen and assistant race manager Briana Mackay.

Hansen has eight years of Yukon Quest experience and 2018 will be her fourth year as the head veterinarian.

Olesen is returning for his sixth year in a row and Mackay for her third.

The Yukon Quest field evened out at 20 mushers this week as veteran Mark Stamm of Riverside, WA signed up for his second Quest. He last raced in 1988 and finished 18th.

The YQ300 maxed out at 25 mushers as rookies Lisbet Norris and Chris Ciancibelli added their names to the start list.

The 2018 Yukon Quest 1,000-mile International Sled Dog Race beings Feb. 3 in Fairbanks.