Once again, musher, Dallas Seavey, wearing bib number 16, with his team of six, crossed the finish line in Nome to claim first place in Alaska’s favorite dog-sled event , the Iditarod.

The 29-year-old musher not only finished first , but smashed the record for fastest finish in eight days, 11 hours, 20 minutes and 16 seconds. This win carved a little less than two hours from his previous record finish.

In addition to topping that feat, Seavey finished first for the fourth consecutive year, placing him in the ranks of other four-time winners, Susan Butcher, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Doug Swingley, and Lance Mackey. Only one musher has won more, veteran musher, Rick Swenson, who won the Iditarod five times, taking home his fifth win in 1991.

Dallas Seavey’s father, Mitch Seavey, followed his son to the finish line at 3:05:25, just 45 minutes later. Third to Nome was Aliy Zirkle, whose race was marred by a collision with a Nulato snow-machiner who had been drinking late at night over the weekend. Despite that, Zirkle would take home her fifth Top Five finish when she crossed the finish line at 9:42:36 am this morning. Wade Marrs, wearing bib number 33, crossed the line at 11:22:02 am to take home fourth, followed by bib number 11, Peter Kaiser, just under three minutes later, at 11:24:55 am.[xyz-ihs snippet=”adsense-body-ad”]

Jeff King, who had a tragic encounter with the same snow machine driver, Arnold Demoski, and lost his three-year-old dog, “Nash” to the incident, arrived in Nome at 3:00:46 pm to finish 9th.

Shortly after Dallas crossed the finish line, Senator Lisa Murkowski issued a congratulations to the 29-year-old four-time champ, saying, 

“A huge congratulations once again to Iditarod champ Dallas Seavey! It’s exhilarating to watch the father-son team of Mitch and Dallas challenge each other to be their best. This Iditarod has been one for the books, with its ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, but as always Dallas has persevered. He proudly carries on the Seavey family legacy! From whiteout conditions, sub-zero temps, wind chills and treacherous terrain, it is an impressive feat for all mushers who cross the finish line in Nome.”

Upon hearing the news of Seavey record-breaking finish, Governor Walker congratulated Seavey, saying, 

“Congratulations to Dallas Seavey for his fourth, and record-breaking, Iditarod win this year. This race is so uniquely Alaskan, requiring true grit and perseverance to succeed. As the youngest four-time Iditarod champ, Dallas will go down in the record books as one of our state’s greatest athletes. Best of luck to all the teams who are still out on the trail. We eagerly await your safe arrival in Nome.”

Alaska’s junior senator, Dan Sullivan also congratulated the winner. “Dallas Seavey is becoming a living legend of sorts, taking his 4th Iditarod title in just the last five years, and again setting a new speed record for the history books,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “And to make the race even more meaningful, Dallas was soon joined by his dad, Mitch Seavey, who finished a close second. Mitch must be a proud dad and Dallas a proud son. Congratulations Dallas on your record-breaking victory!”

The sixth four-time champion took home a purse of $75,000 and a new Dodge for his Herculean efforts.

Coverage of the finish line can be viewed on KTUU’s video, here.

  Alaska, dallas seavey, finish, iditarod, nome, winners