Dallas Seavey wins Iditarod race in record time

NOME, AK (AP) — Dallas Seavey has won his third straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Race officials say Seavey set a record with his finish in 8 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes, 16 seconds.

Seavey arrived in Nome at 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, winning his third straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and his fourth in the last five years.

The previous record time was set in 2014 by Seavey, when he finished in 8 days, 13 hours, 4 minutes, 19 seconds.

The nearly 1,000-mile Iditarod started March 6 in Willow, Alaska, and took mushers across two mountain ranges, down the mighty Yukon River and along the Bering Sea coast.

This year’s race was marred by a man who purposely rammed his snowmobile into two mushers’ teams, killing one dog and injuring several others.

Eighty-five mushers began the race, but 12 have so far scratched, including four-time champion Lance Mackey. He dropped out Monday, citing personal health concerns.

The 29-year-old Seavey joins a list of mushers with four titles that includes Mackey, the late Susan Butcher, Martin Buser, Doug Swingly and Jeff King.

The only person with more victories is Rick Swenson with five championships.

Dallas’ father, Mitch Seavey, has won twice.

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