For the second time in her long career, Willow musher DeeDee Jonrowe took home the coveted Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award Sunday night during ceremonies in Nome.
The Seppala award for outstanding dog care throughout the 1,000-mile race from Willow to Nome is voted on by the veterinarians working the race. Jonrowe won the same award in 1991.
Jonrowe, who finished 10th in 9 days, 14 hours, 43 minutes -- the 15th top-10 finish of her career. "I had a huge string of dogs most of the trip," she told the race's website on Front Street in Nome. Jonrowe had 14 dogs all the way to White Mountain, the penultimate checkpoint. But one of her stalwarts, Galaxy, had to be dropped there.
One of champion Dallas Seavey's lead dogs, Guinness, captured the Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award. Here's a breakdown of the awards handed out.
• Pen Air Spirit of Alaska Award – Aliy Zirkle, who finished second behind Dallas Seavey.
• GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award – Jim Lanier, who won a cash award for the first time in a career that dates back to the 1970s. Lanier reached the halfway checkpoint of Cripple first by taking his 24-hour layover much later than the rest of the field. He finished 33rd.
• Wells Fargo Bank Alaska Gold Coast Award -- Aliy Zirkle, who was the first musher to Unalakleet.
• Nome Kennel Club Fastest Time from Safety to Nome Award -- Mike Williams, Jr., of Akiak, who made the 22-mile run to the finish line in 2 hours, 57 minutes. The sprint allowed him to jump ahead of defending champion John Baker into eighth place.
• Horizon Lines Most Improved Musher Award -- Rohn Buser, who finished 18th in 10 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes. In his rookie race four years ago, Buser finished 37th.
• Jerry Austin Rookie of the Year – Brent Sass, the Yukon Quest veteran, who finished in 9 days, 20 hours, 25 minutes – good for 13th place.
• Fred Meyer Sportsmanship Award – Lance Mackey, the four-time champion.
• ExxonMobil Mushers Choice Award -- Dan Seavey, the grandfather of champion Dallas Seavey, who raced the inaugural Iditarod and at age 74 finished this one even faster.
• Northern Air Cargo Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award – Michelle Phillips of Tagish in Canada's Yukon Territory, who finished 16th.
• Golden Clipboard Award – The town of Nulato on the Yukon River.
• Golden Stethoscope Award -- Volunteer veterinarians Ruth Kothe and Tanja Kruse
• Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award – DeeDee Jonrowe of Willow
• City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award Winner – Guinness, the lead dog of champion Dallas Seavey