53-year-old musher becomes oldest Iditarod champ
53-year-old musher becomes oldest Iditarod champ
NOME, Alaska (AP) — A 53-year-old former champion has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to become the oldest winner of Alaska's grueling test of endurance.
Mitch Seavey and 10 dogs crossed the Nome finish line to cheering crowds at 10:39 p.m. Alaska time Tuesday night.
"This is for all of the gentlemen of a certain age," he said after crossing the finish line.
Seavey's victory in the 1,000-mile race came after a dueling sprint against Aliy Zirkle, last year's runner-up, along the frozen, wind-whipped Bering Sea coast toward Nome. The pair jostled for the lead, with Zirkle never more than a few miles behind. Also trailing by a dozen or so miles was four-time champion Jeff King.
http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2013/03/13/mitch-seavey-in-iditarod-lead-aliy-zirkle-close