NOME, Alaska (AP) — Jessie Holmes, a former reality television star, won the longest-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Friday. Holmes was first to the finish line in the Gold Rush town of Nome, on the Bering Sea coast. The race began March 3 in Fairbanks after a lack of snow forced changes to the route and starting point.

Holmes had a three-hour lead over his closest competitor, Matt Hall, who said he had stopped trying to catch up.

NOME — Jessie Holmes, a 43-year-old Alabamian who came to Alaska more than 20 years ago, has earned his first win in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Holmes crossed under the burled arch in Nome just before 3 a.m. Friday with 10 dogs on the line, completing his journey in a preliminary time of 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds.

The 53rd Iditarod belongs to Jessie Holmes. The Nenana musher — who made his way to Alaska after growing up in Alabama — dominated the race, leading for much of the way and claiming five of the six major checkpoint awards along the way.

The veteran musher has maintained a consistent lead over Matt Hall and Paige Drobny for much of the past week.