DATE: Friday, March 20, 2009
TO: Race Officials
Race Veterinarians
Media
Volunteers
FROM: Mark Nordman, Race Marshal
A five year old male named Maynard in the team of Warren Palfrey (Yellowknife NWT, Canada) died on the trail between Safety and Nome late last evening. The incident occurred about an hour before Palfrey’s arrival.
A necropsy will be conducted by a board certified pathologist to make every attempt to determine the cause of death.
IDITAROD XXXVII Musher Melissa Owens (bib #30) made the decision to scratch in Elim at 4:03 pm today (Alaska Time). The Nome Alaska musher had 10 dogs on her team when she made the decision. She left Elim heading toward White Mountain at 11:10:00 am. She made the decision to turn around and return to Elim. She scratched based on the team’s best interest.
Iditarod race veteran Hans Gatt, (Bib # 25) made his way down Front Street in Nome at 10:07:3208 am (Alaska Time) under a clear blue sky. The White Horse YT, Canadian musher arrived in Nome with 13 dogs on his team. This is the second year in a row that Gatt has been in the top ten. Last year Gatt made the trek to Nome finishing sixth.
Iditarod race veteran Ramey Smyth, (Bib # 16) arrived in Nome Alaska at 7:52:08 am (Alaska Time) with an early morning crowd of Iditarod 2009 race fans cheering him on. The Willow Alaska musher arrived in Nome with 8 dogs on his team. This is the second year in a row that Smyth has been in the top ten. Last year he finished third.
The degree of separation between Aaron Burmeister (Bib #56) and Jessie Royer (Bib # 17) was a cool 11 minutes behind. Burmeister and Royer made their way on to Front Street in Nome at 4:56 am and 5:07 am respectively. Burmeister, who has spent years training on the sea ice in Nome Alaska, came in with 9 dogs on his team posting his highest position on the leader board (7th). Royer arrived in 8th position with 13 dogs on her team… all wagging their tails. This is Royer’s second top ten finish… she placed 8th in 2005 too.
IDITAROD XXXVII Musher Ed Iten (bib #4) made the decision to scratch in Elim at 8:50 am this morning (Alaska Time). Iten had 10 dogs on his team when he made the decision. Iten said his team was tired from the run to Elim. He rested them there and finally made the decision to scratch based on the team’s best interest.
In the early morning hours of Thursday three lamps appeared on the Nome sea ice. All three looked like a small convoy heading for their final destination. The convoy contained 2004 Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey (Bib #21), Cim Smyth (Bib #37), and Dallas Seavey (Bib #62). The three had traveled together up the coast and weathered a torrent of windswept bone chilling trail conditions to make it in to Nome at 4:18 am, 4:27 am and 4:49 am respectively. There were plenty of race fans along in the chute to greet all three. Mitch Seavey finished 4th, Cim Smyth finished 5th, and Dallas Seavey finished 6th.
For Mitch and Dallas Seavey the finish was very special. Dallas (at twenty-one) and Mitch (at forty-nine), their travel together as father and son exemplified the synergy that is a big part of the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. There’s new blood at the top of the leader board!
Veteran Iditarod Musher John Baker, (Bib # 44) arrived in Nome Alaska at 8:18:51 pm (Alaska Time) completing his 13th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Kotzebue Alaska musher has now been in the top ten for his tenth year. His 3rd place finish netted him $55,000. Baker arrived in Nome with 9 dogs.
2009 Yukon Quest Champion Sebastian Schnuelle, (Bib # 34) arrived in Nome Alaska at 7:05:04 pm (Alaska Time) with a crowd of Iditarod 2009 race fans cheering him on. The White Horse YT, Canada musher arrived in Nome with 13 dogs on his team. He held off a number of other mushers who tried to pass him along the Gold Coast, in the end Schnuelle was victorious in his quest to continue in improve his place in the 2009 Iditarod. He told the crowd that he would definitely be back one more time to compete in the 2010 Iditarod.
In 2008, Lance Mackey proved the impossible was possible again. Today, (March 18, 2009) Lance Mackey made an indelible mark on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and on his legacy as an Iditarod Champion. The Fairbanks Alaska musher arrived in Nome Alaska at 11:38:46 am under a blue sky with thousands of race fans cheering him on. Mackey (Bib #47) made his way under the burled arch with 15 very happy, healthy members of his team. Mackey now joins the legendary Susan Butcher and Montana musher Doug Swingley as having accomplished three consecutive Iditarod Championships. He created an impressive gap between himself and the rest of the pack that has not been seen since 2001. This win was, in a word, “impressive.” Mackey set the pace in the 2009 Iditarod after taking his 24 hours in Takotna. From that point forward Mackey’s teams runs were blistering. He passed all of his competitors and grew his lead each step of the way.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin called to congratulate Mackey on his three-peat. Iditarod Principal Partner Anchorage Chrysler Dodge owner Rod Udd was on hand to present Mackey with his third Dodge Ram Quad Cab Pick-up truck in a row. Principal Partner Wells Fargo’s Representative Loren Prosser presented Mackey a check for $69,000. In addition, Principal Partner ExxonMobil’s Representative Bill Brackin, and Principal Partner GCI’s Representative, Gary Samuelson presented Lance with the garland of roses for his two lead dogs Maple and Larry.