SANDUSKY — Officials at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky said nine and a half weeks into its life, the $26 million GateKeeper roller coaster has had its 1 millionth rider.

Marie Saenz of Milford, Mich., became the 1 millionth rider on GateKeeper — the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest winged coaster — at about 11 a.m. Wednesday. She won a $500 Cedar Point shopping spree, a VIP tour of the park, and exclusive access to GateKeeper for the season.

Park officials said GateKeeper, which debuted publicly May 11, is on pace with the park’s other big coasters, the Millennium Force and the Raptor, which each topped 1.5 million riders in their first season. The Millennium Force drew 1.7 million riders in its 2000 debut; the Raptor drew 2 million in 1994.

First Published July 18, 2013, 4:00 a.m.