Veterans trading leads at the front of the Iditarod pack

A pair of veterans have traded the lead at the front of the pack.

Four-time champion Dallas Seavey was the first to leave Rohn south toward the finish line Saturday during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Seavey arrived at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and left two minutes later. Seavey was also the first to arrive in Rainy Pass, just after 10 p.m. Saturday.

Veteran Aaron Burmeister was the first to arrive in Rohn, hitting the checkpoint at 4:26 p.m. As the first to Rohn on the second half of the course, Burmeister earned the Bristol Bay Native Corporation Fish First Award. The honor includes 25 pounds of fresh Bristol Bay salmon filets, $2,000 and a wood burned art piece by BBNC shareholder artist Apay’uq Moore.

A pair of mushers, including past champion Pete Kaiser, scratched on Saturday. Kaiser scratched at 9 a.m. in McGrath, citing the decision was in the best interest of his team. Veteran Riley Dyche scratched at 8:15 a.m. in Iditarod, also saying it was in the best interest of his team.

As of 11 p.m. Saturday, Seavey was in Rainy Pass, Burmeister and Brent Sass had left Rohn and three other teams were into Nome.

For complete results, see https://iditarod.com/race/2021/standings/

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