When the WMIX teams started moving, they filed down to the Bering Sea and into Nome in a pretty compact group. The first of the group to make Nome was Kevin Hanson who arrive at 17:37. Four teams followed between 18:00 and 19:00. The last four were under the arch before 20:00. That’s a fan’s dream to have teams come to the arch in such close succession.
Rookie Sam Paperman graduated to veteran status claiming 24th place in 12 days, 4 hours and 41 minutes. Sam had 12 dogs in harness. Sam spent 27 hours and 34 minutes in WM. With his large well rested team he made Safety in 6 hours flat. His run from Safety to Nome was 3 hours and 2 minutes. Paperman has known Travis Beals since he was a kid and now works for Beals at Turnings Heads Kennel. Sam took the THK puppies to Nome. He started off with youngster and finished with HS graduates. Out of his team only two were veteran racers. Paperman’s favorite part of the trail was Rainy Pass. That sentiment didn’t continue through the Dalzell Gorge.
The next musher to the burled arch was re-rookie Sydnie Bahl. Bahl’s first attempt on Nome in 2025 in the Idita-River Iditarod ended at Grayling 2. Now having endured the coldest Iditarod in recent memory she earned 25th place along with the coveted finisher’s belt buckle. Sydnie came to the arch with 11 dogs in harness in 12 days, four hours and 56 minutes. Bahl was in WM for 34 hours and 22 minutes. Her run to Safety took 6 hours and 2 minutes at an average speed of 9.12 mph. She was very happy coming out of McGrath after an unexpected visit from her husband. He had flown in from Anchorage and landed at 10:35 knowing she would come off her 24 at 10:48. He sprinted to the checkpoint. She was putting the last booties on and attaching tug lines. They had time for a brief kiss before she was off to Takotna. Bahl’s favorite spot on the trail was the view from Takotna when running from McGrath to Ophir.
The third time was the charm for Brenda Mackey. Brenda attempted the race in 2021 and again 2025 with scratches in Nikolai and Tanana. Today. Brenda arrived in 26th position to earn Iditarod veteran status and the coveted finisher’s belt buckle. Brenda had 10 dogs in harness and completed the run in 12 days, 5 hours and 23 minutes. She stayed in WM for 35 hours and 23 minutes. Her run time to Safety was 5 hours and 46 minutes at 9.54 mph. Her time from Safety to Nome was even more impressive, 2 hours and 48 minutes. Being out of the top twenty her time won’t be considered for the Fastest from Safety to Nome Award. Brenda’s favorite part of the trail was the coast. While on the trail, she thought a lot about her father Rick who won the race in 1983 and Her grandfather Dick who won in 1978. Brenda was five when her Dad won and doing Iditarod has been her dream ever since, that’s 40 plus years of working to make her Iditarod dream come true.
