Mushers trickle into Nome

NOME -- Mitch Seavey claimed the title of the 32nd annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race late Tuesday, but the 2004 race is far from over.

As of press time Friday evening, 53 mushers had reached Nome and 24 competitors were still on the trail.

Willow's Doug Grillot was expected into Nome sometime Friday evening and 10 mushers, including Wayne Curtis and Peter Bartlett of Wasilla, were taking their mandatory eight-hour layover in White Mountain.

The remainder of the field still on the trail were stretched out from Elim to Shaktoolik. Willow's G.B. Jones is currently on pace to capture the red lantern.

As of Friday evening, Jones stood in last place, behind Steve Madsen by nearly four hours and had not left Shaktoolik.

Wasilla High School physical eduction teacher Sue Allen stood in 73rd place, in Koyuk.

Seavey rolled into Nome at 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday, completing the run in nine days, 10 hours and 20 minutes.

The Seward musher was awarded $69,000 and a new Dodge truck for his first-place finish.

Jeff King (2nd), Kjetil Backen (3rd), Ramey Smyth (4th) and Ed Iten (5th) rounded out the top five. Smyth was the first Mat-Su Valley musher to reached the burled arch on Front Street in Nome.

The race is expected to be complete next week.