Emily Robinson, age 16 from Nenana, Alaska, has claimed her third consecutive Jr. Iditarod Championship! Call it hat trick or three-peat, it puts her in an elite class of Jr. Iditarod mushers as there is only one other musher to claim three consecutive victories.  Tim Osmar claimed his three-peat in 1982, 83 & 84.  In 2022, Emily earned her championship and Rookie of the Year honors by just 6 seconds over Hannah Wappet in the Jr. Iditarod Stage Race held in Cantwell.  In 2023, Emily claimed gold by only 15 minutes over Morgan Martens.

Emily was first to arrive at Yentna Station (17:58) and first to depart the halfway checkpoint at 04:06.  Her closest competitor, Morgan Martens followed her into Yentna just 16 minutes later.  Mushers take a mandatory 10 hour layover plus start differential.  Wearing bib 18 Emily rested 10 hours and 8 minutes.  Morgan in bib 9 rested ten hours and 26 minutes.  Emily left Yentna at 04:06 Sunday morning followed by Morgan at 04:38. 

During the run back to Eagle Quest, Emily led Morgan by up to four miles.  She arrived in Eagle Quest at 07:42 followed by Morgan at 07:56.  Morgan had cut a 32 minute deficit down to 14 minutes – he was gaining on Emily.  Between Eagle Quest and the finish, Spot Tracker showed Morgan leading Emily by half a mile but that was not actually the case on the trail.  Emily’s tracker failed to update for 20 minutes while Morgan’s tracker did.  In actuality, Morgan closed to within a mile of Emily but never passed her on the return to Knik Lake.  Emily claimed the championship by 29 minutes at 11:54.  Her average moving speed was 10.3 mph.

Morgan Martens, age 17 from Brule, Wisconsin, crossed the Knik Lake finish line at 12:23 for second place. His average moving speed was 10.1 mph.  He’s accumulated a very impressive string of top three finishes in his Jr. Iditarod career.  As a rookie in 2021 he claimed Rookie of the Year honors and the Championship.  In 2022 at the Jr. Iditarod Stage Race run out of Cantwell he placed 3rd and in the 2023 Jr. Iditarod Morgan placed 2nd again to Emily Robinson.

Taking third place was Isaac Redington, age 15 from Wasilla, Alaska.  His average moving speed was 9.7 mph.  Isaac crossed the finish line at 12:54, thirty-one minutes behind Morgan.  Isaac, the great-grandson of Iditarod founder, Joe Redington, Sr. earned 5th place in the 2023 race claiming Rookie of the Year honors.

Fourth place was claimed by Hannah Wappett, age 17 from Fairbanks, Alaska.  Hannah crossed the Knik finish line at 13:33 with an average moving speed of 9.5 mph.  In her Jr. Iditarod career, Hannah has 3 top five finishes.  In 2021 she placed 4th and earned Rookie of the Year Honors and in 2022 Hannah was second. 

Ellen Redington, age 17 from Wasilla, Alaska earned 5th place.  Of her four Jr. Iditarod runs, Ellen has placed in the top 5 three times.  The great-granddaughter of Joe Redington, Sr. placed third in 2023, 5th in 2022 and 7th in 2021. 

AddieAnn Randall, age 14 from Willow, Alaska finished her rookie Jr. Iditarod run in 6th place.  She is the highest placing rookie, earning Rookie of the Year honors.  Her average moving speed was 9.2 mph.  She arrived at the Knik finish line at 13:41.  Addie Ann has run the Quest 80, Knik 100 and Knik 200 earlier this season.

Best wishes to Morgan, Hannah and Ellen as they graduate from the Jr. Iditarod and mush into the future!

More later as results and award recipients become available.