Complete Junior Iditarod Race Coverage

Junior Iditarod Post-Race Wrap-Up

by Tyrell Seavey 

    I’m getting old!  I am officially retired from the Jr. class of Iditarod racing, and I’m going to miss it.  This year’s Jr. didn’t go as well as last year’s; we went into the race strong but, because of some tired and sore dogs, we slowed in the end. 

   Blue, my Blue Harness Lead Dog from last year, was one of the dogs who got sore, so I needed a replacement.  Turbo came to the rescue, and led from the EagleSong checkpoint (mile 62) to the halfway checkpoint, Yentna (mile 77).  At Yentna the chief vet, Phil Meyers, noticed some swelling in Turbo’s mouth.  

    After a little investigation we found that two of Turbo’s teeth were loose and precariously hanging in the side of his mouth.  The teeth needed to be pulled but since we were 80 miles from the nearest vet clinic we ended up pulling the teeth with a Leatherman pocket tool.  Turbo is a tough dog; he didn't even seem to notice.  After a few antibiotic pills and an 11 hour rest we hit the trail again with Turbo in single lead.  Turbo led the rest of the way to the finish line in fine style.

    I crossed the finish line 33 minutes behind race winner Cali King in second place, and after congratulation her and my dogs we drove back to the Knik Road crossing to watch by young brother Dallas as he made his way towards the finish line.  A very large part of the Jr. Iditarod is sportsmanship, so as the other teams came in to the finish line Cali and I made our way around congratulating the other race finishers.

    At the post-race banquet I was pleasantly surprised as Turbo was voted as the Blue Harness Lead Dog for the 2002 race.  This is the first time in a long time a non-championship leader has received that award.  My goal is to continue racing at least until the 2003 Iditarod when I will be racing a young team of up-and-coming dogs from my dad's kennel.  After that I am looking into college, but I'm sure I will always be involved with sled dogs and Iditarod-level racing.  Right now preparations for our snowmobile trip to Nome are in the forefront as we take care of the last minute details.  We'll see you on the trail!

Tyrell Seavey

Anchorage, Alaska

Editor's Note:  Tyrell Seavey is one of the founders of Ultimate Iditarod.  He has raced in four Jr. Iditarod races, placing second in his first two races, winning last year's event, and placing second again this year.  He was the Rookie of the Year in his first Junior, and his lead dogs have won the Blue Harness Award in both of the last two years.  Tyrell will follow the Iditarod with musher Bill Gallea to provide complete race coverage during the race.