The Jamaica Gleaner

Updated March 21,2010

Jamaica's Marshall completes course

The first musher from Jamaica to enter the 1,100-mile (1,770-kilometre) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has reached the finish line at Nome, three days after Lance Mackey won for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time.

Newton Marshall finished in 47th place. The 27-year-old rookie covered the arduous course in 12 days, 4 hours and 27 minutes, reaching Nome at 7:27 p.m. local time Friday.

As of late Friday night, 48 mushers had completed the race and 15 others have scratched. Eight remain on the trail.

The last musher to reach Nome receives the Red Lantern Award. All rookies who complete the race receive an Iditarod belt buckle.

Marshall, a resident of St Ann, said before the start that he was determined to make it to Nome and excited to see the "lovely" landscape along the way.

"Anywhere I place, you know, I just have to deal with that," he said.