Willow musher first to reach the coast

WASILLA — Wade Marrs was the first to hit the coast, but the Willow musher’s lead didn’t last long.

Marrs followed his team into Unalakleet at 4:05 p.m., the first to reach the checkpoint. But Mitch Seavey was the first to leave, exiting Unalakleet at 4:28 p.m., after a mere five-minute stay in the community that borders the Norton Sound. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Seavey was the only musher out of Unalakleet, but three — Marrs, Nicolas Petit and Dallas Seavey — were still there.

Petit followed followed Marrs into town three minutes later. Dallas Seavey arrived at 4:45 p.m. Ten others were en route to Unalakleet from Kaltag. The field continues to include 68 mushers. Only three — Mark May, Mark Selland and rookie Ryan Anderson — had scratched.

As the first musher to reach Unalakleet, Marrs earns the Wells Fargo Gold Coast Award, which includes a gold cup trophy and $3,500 worth of gold nuggets, according to a press release issued by the Iditarod.