Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The First FInishers Are In Nome

Dallas Seavey became the youngest winner of the Iditarod yesterday when the 24/25 year-old crossed the finish line in Nome and passed under the Burled Arch at 19:29:26 AKDT. (My confusion with his age has to do with the fact that I heard it was his birthday. When the race started he was 24. When he crossed the line in Nome he (may have been) 25--depends on what time of the day he was born I guess. Officially they say 25.) The trip from Willow to Nome took Dallas and his team (he finished the race with 9 of the 16 dogs he started with) a total of 9 days, 4 hours,29 minutes and 26 seconds.

The Seavey family has a long and rich history with the 40 year old race. Dallas' dad, Mitch, won the race in 2004 and Grandpa Dan (now 74) raced in the first one in 1973. Both Mitch and Dan are still on the trail to Nome in this years race.

Second place went to Aliy Zirkle who passed under the arch almost exactly one hour later at 20:29:10 AKDT with 10 dogs in harness after 9 days, 5 hours, 29 minutes and 10 seconds.

Other finishers (so far): 3rd Ramey Smyth, 4th Aaron Burmeister, 5th Peter Kaiser and 6th Ray Redington, Jr.

There are still 48 mushers on the trail and they will be coming into Nome in the next couple of days. This race isn't over by a long shot. We may not have to wait for some fat lady to sing, but until the last musher on the trail comes in and blows out that Red Lantern, this thing is still on!

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