Bethel musher wins Iditarod

WASILLA — A Bethel musher made Iditarod history early Wednesday morning.

Peter Kaiser hit the finish line on Front Street in Nome at 3:39 a.m. Wednesday to claim the 2019 Iditarod crown, and became the first musher of Yup’ik decent to win the Last Great Race. Kaiser, a four-time Kuskokwim 300 champ, earned his first title on his 10th run of the Iditarod. He also added to a resume that includes a trio of fifth-place finishes, and five years in the top 10. Kaiser needed 9 days, 12 hours, 39 minutes, 6 seconds to win.

Willow’s Ramey Smyth was the first Valley musher to cross underneath the famed burled arch in Nome, finishing in eighth place. Smyth hit the finish line Wednesday night at 11:13 p.m. He followed his nine dogs in just before midnight, logging a total time of 10 days, 8 hours, 13 minutes, 50 seconds.

Smyth’s finish is his best since he placed third in 2012. It’s also the second straight year he finished eight. Smyth, a member of a prominent Valley mushing family, scratched in 2014 and did not race the following two years. He jumped back in the Iditarod field in 2017 and placed 12th.

Smyth has now finished the Iditarod 22 times, and has 11 top-10 finishes. He was the runner-up in 2011 and placed third in both 2008 and 2012.

Entering this year, Smyth recorded the fastest time from Safety to Nome eight times.

Joer Leifseth Ulsom, the 2018 champ, finished as the 2019 runner-up. The Norweigan musher crossed the finish line at 3:51 a.m. Wednesday, about 12 minutes behind Kaiser. Jessie Royer, Aliy Zirkle and Travis Beals rounded out the top 5.

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