The 2024 Iditarod Wraps Up In Nome

By Colin A. Warren

Rookie and Fairbanks-area local, Lauro Eklund, and last year’s champion, Ryan Reddington, talk at the finish line with Eklund’s lead dog, Concho, in front

With Fairbanks-area local, Jeff Reid, finishing under the Burled Arch in Nome on March 16th, the 2024 Iditarod is complete with twenty-nine of the original thirty-eight mushers finishing the entire race. This year was an eventful race with more than one record broken, tragic dog deaths on the trail for the first time in years, snowmachine harassment of the mushers, and a competitive race full of veterans and rookies. 

Dallas Seavey finished the race last Tuesday, March 12th, at 5:16 p.m. in nine days, two hours, sixteen minutes and eight seconds. While he didn’t come close to beating his own course record, he did become the first Iditarod racer in history to win the event six times, even after suffering a two-hour penalty early on in the race for killing a moose that injured one of his dogs on the trail and not gutting it. He was interviewed on the trail and said he accepted the penalty for not cleaning the moose carcass as mushers are expected, according to the rules. His dog, Faloo, injured by the moose encounter, underwent two surgeries and is expected to survive. Dallas was met under the Burled Arch by his father Mitch, who won the Iditarod three times, and his grandfather, Dan, who has also participated in the race. 

Rookie of the year and Fairbanks-area local, Josi Thyr, under the Burled Arch

For the first time in the race’s history, four women finished in the top ten. Paige Drobny was first amongst them, coming into Nome in fifth place in nine days, thirteen hours, twelve minutes, and twenty-six seconds. She was followed by veterans Mille Porsild, Amanda Otto, and Jessie Royer. This year, the rookie of the year, which is typically given to the highest placing rookie, was won by Fairbanks-area local, Josi Thyr, who finished the race in fifteenth place. It was also revealed after the race that nineteenth place finisher, Jessica Klejka, was fifteen weeks pregnant while she competed.

For the first time in five years, sled dogs participating in the race died. Three dogs from three different teams passed on the trail. Trail veterinarians were shocked by this due to the rigorous welfare and health checks administered to the dogs before and during the race. Necropsy results of the dogs that passed will be shared with the public after they are complete.

Musher Bailey Vitello’s dog team was hit on the last stretch of the trail by a snowmachine. No dogs were injured in the accident. Two other racers reported being harassed by the same snowmachiner. The Alaska State Troopers reported that they have the snowmachiner in custody.

The 52nd Iditarod finisher’s banquet is slated to take place tonight, March 17th, in Nome, where awards will be distributed.