Junior Mushers were congratulated by veteran Iditarod contestants Kelly Griffin and Newton Marshall. Griffin told the teens the hardest part of the race is getting to the starting line and everyone who gets to the starting line is a winner. Marshall said that he was proud to be doing something few Jamaicans have the opportunity to do. He told the teens, “If you want something, you have to go after it yourself and if you do, the results can be endless.”

Jr. Iditarod sponsor, Lynden Transportation presented scholarships to the top five finishers, Noah Pereira, Conway Seavey, Jenny Greger, Ben Harper and Alea Robinson. Jonathan Biggerstaff won the Red Lantern Award for perseverance. Jenny Greger received the humanitarian award voted on by the veterinarians. Jenny Greger’s leader McGee received the Blue Harness award.