Big Lake musher second rookie to finish Iditarod

NOME — Willow’s Ramey Smyth was the runner-up in the 2011 Iditarod, but not the only Mat-Su Valley musher to raise a few eyebrows in the latest edition of the Last Great Race.

Big Lake’s Kelly Maixner was the second rookie in the field to pass under Nome’s famed burled arch at the finish line. Maixner finished 30th overall in the field, thanks to his time of 10 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes and 31 seconds. Nicolas Petit was the only rookie better, beating Maixner by just about five hours.

Maixner, a North Dakota native, averaged just more than four miles per hour during his trek from Willow to Nome. He hit the finish with 11 of his dogs.

Smyth finished a career-best second with his mark of 8 days, 19 hours, 50 minutes and 59 seconds. It’s actually the second-best time in the 39-year history of the race, besting Lance Mackey’s trail record set last year.

“That was shocking to me,” Smyth said by cell phone about finishing with a better time than the previous Iditarod record. “I wasn’t racing to break the record.”

John Baker, the 2011 champion, set the new Iditarod record, beating Smyth by about an hour.

Willow’s Dallas Seavey, son of former Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, finished fourth in the race. Race favorite DeeDee Jonrowe, another Willow musher, was 12th. Four-time champion Martin Buser of Big Lake was 18th. Ramey’s brother Cim finished 21st, edging Willow driver Matt Hayashida, who was 22nd.

Wasilla’s Kelley Griffin finished 26th in the field.

Talkeetna’s Gerald Sousa hit Nome Friday night to finish 38th and Willow rookie Justin Savidis finished two minutes later to place 39th.

A trio of Valley mushers sit at the back of the pack.

Wasilla’s GB Jones sat in 45th as of Saturday, and Wasilla’s Ellen Halverson was 46th. Talkeetna’s Heather Sirtola was in line for the Red Lantern Award as of Saturday.