Last mushers arrive in Nome, teams honored with awards

NOME, Alaska (KTUU) - The final competitor in this year’s 53rd Iditarod has arrived in Nome.

Early Monday morning, Iditarod Rookie Ebbe Pedersen, from Norway, crossed under the burled arch, earning the Red Lantern award.

This comes after Fairbanks Rookie Jenny Roddewig — who was at the trail of the race — scratched a few hours later in White Mountain, resulting in Pedersen being presented with the award that is intended for the final finisher of the race. That award, according to the Iditarod, represents perseverance on the trail.

Pedersen’s arrival marked the end of a nearly 14-day race that started on March 3 in Fairbanks. This year, the race spanned 1,128 miles.

“It was a long time, I will tell you what, I don’t think I would want to do one more run longer,” Jessie Holmes, this year’s Iditarod champion, said. “It’s not about this moment now, it’s about all the moments on the trial.”

During the race this year, a third of the competitors did not make it to Nome. That includes 9 teams that scratched and two teams who were withdrawn from the race.

Of the 22 teams who crossed the burled arch, seven were rookies. One of those teams included Samantha LaLonde, who was awarded Rookie of the Year.

“My dogs, they were awesome, they got me here. It was so much fun. It was really hard but I feel like we learned a lot together,” LaLonde said.

LaLonde was running 6-time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey’s puppy team.

Additionally, Rookie Calvin Daugherty was awarded the “Most Inspirational Musher” award, while Veteran Nicholas Petit received the “Donlin Gold Sportsmanship” award. Veteran Paige Drobny was also recognized this past weekend for outstanding dog care. She was awarded the “Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian” award.

“I have the best dogs in the world as does every other musher here,” Drobny said. “I am super proud to be their person that helps them get down the trail.”

Holmes' champion dogs, Polar and Arctic, were also recognized for being outstanding lead dogs. They were awarded the “Nome Lolly Medley Memorial Golden Harness” award.

“This is really special cause its all about the dogs,” Holmes said. “The beautiful thing about them is how much they love and care for their whole pack. They are one big family.”

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