Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 16 March 2017

Mitch Seavey sled dogs. No question.”

Dallas Seavey finished in
Continued from Page 17 second place, five minutes
ahead of France native
“Sweet” was the first thing Nicolas Petit.
Mitch Seavey said after The family’s ties to the race
getting off the sled at the go back to the first Idi-
finish line under the famed tarod, held in 1973, when
burled arch. It was broad- Mitch Seavey’s dad, Dan,
cast live statewide. mushed in the event. The
His wife, Janine, greet- younger Seavey, who is 30,
ed him with a hug. “Oh, had wins in 2012 and from
my gosh, look at what 2014 to 2016.
you’ve just done,” she told The race started March 6
him. “You’ve changed in Fairbanks, with 71 teams.
the sport.” Five mushers scratched.
After talking to his wife, Fans lined the finish, clap-
Seavey greeted each ping and cheering on
of his dogs and thanked Seavey. As his team fin-
them with a frozen snack. ished the last few blocks
He later posed with his two of the race, Seavey yelled,
lead dogs, Pilot and Crisp. “Good boys! Hep!”
“They get frustrated when Just before reaching the
they go too slow, so I just let In this March 15, 2016, file photo, Mitch Seavey, left, and Dallas Seavey speak to fans after the chute, he got off his sled
them roll, which was scary Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. and ran with the dogs a bit.
because I’ve never gone Associated Press Four dogs associated with
that fast, that far ever, but the race have died this
that’s what they wanted to Seavey said at the finish and the keys to a new pick- his father finished second year, including a 4-year-
do,” he said. line. “They trusted me to up truck for winning the the last two years. The two old male named Flash who
Seavey said the dogs stop them when they need- world’s most famous sled are close but competitive. collapsed on the trail early
know only one thing — 9½ ed to stop and feed them, dog race. “He and I have such a Tuesday when his musher,
to 10 mph. “They hit their and I did that, and they The Seaveys have now great relationship,” Mitch Katherine Keith, was about
peak, they hit their speed, gave me all they could.” won the last six races. Dal- Seavey said. “There’s no 10 miles outside the check-
and that’s what they do,” Seavey picked up $75,000 las Seavey won four, and malice, we just love running point in Koyuk.q