The Soldotna and Kenai Central skiing teams got in a pursuit, after all.
The two central Peninsula skiing squads were supposed to head to Anchorage for the Lynx Loppett, a two-day pursuit race, but when that didn’t happen, the squads stayed home and relied on the deft trail grooming at Tsalteshi Trails.
Kenai’s Travis Cooper and Soldotna’s Sadie Fox were the winners of the Tsalteshi Lynx event.
“We’re very happy to get this in,” Soldotna coach Dan Harbison said. “Even though it’s not the best kind of conditions, and best kind of terrain, and we didn’t get to ski with all the people we were planning on skiing with.”
Friday was a five-kilometer classic race, covering the Wolverine and Porcupine loops once. Saturday was a 10-kilometer freestyle for the varsity, covering the Wolverine and Porcupine twice.
Both Cooper and Fox were superior on both days. Friday, Cooper did his classic racing in 13 minutes, 4 seconds, while Fox finished in 16:04.
Kenai’s Jordan Theisen, at 13:26, and Kenai’s Addison Gibson, at 16:52, were second on Friday.
Saturday, Cooper covered 10 kilometers in 25:07, while Theisen was right behind at 25:46. Fox finished her skating in 28:42, while Kenai’s Alex Bergholtz was next on the list at 30:10.
Cooper won with an overall time of 38:11, while Theisen was next at 39:12 and Kenai’s James Butler was third at 39:34.
Fox’s winning total was 44:46, while Gibson was next at 47:07 and Bergholtz was third at 47:30.
Homer competes at Lars Spurkland Scramble
With the cancellation of the Lynx Loppett due to poor snow conditions at Kincaid Park, the Lars Spurkland Scramble was held Saturday at Service. Since Homer was already in Anchorage, the Mariners competed at the race.
Spurkland, president of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, died Friday morning at the age of 39 due to a ruptured aneurysm that caused cranial hemorrhaging.
The boys did an eight-kilometer skate. For Homer, Hoxie Parks was 49th in 22:34, Jacob Davis was 50th in 22:47 and Tadhg Scholz was 53rd in 23:02.
The girls also skied eight kilometers. For Homer, Rachel Ellert was 29th in 24:34, Aspen Daigle was 36th in 25:15, Sara Wolf was 38th in 25:27, Audrey Russell was 40th in 25:36 and Mariah Vantrease was 46th in 26:31.
Tsalteshi Lynx
Friday, Saturday at Tsalteshi Trails
BOYS
1. Travis Cooper, Kenai (13:04 5K classic, 25:07 10K skate, 38:11 total); 2. Jordan Theisen, Ken (13:26, 25:46, 39:12); 3. James Butler, Ken (13:28, 26:06, 39:34); 4. Levi Michael, Soldotna (13:46, 26:09, 39:55); 5. Karl Danielson, Ken (13:50, 26:22, 40:12); 6. John Mark Pothast, Sol (14:07, 26:06, 40:14); 7. Koby Vinson, Sol (15:02, 28:02, 43:04; 8. Tanner Best, Sol (14:57, 28:32, 43:29); 9. Addison Downing, Sol (15:29, 28:58, 44:27); 10. Daniel Shuler, Sol (17:22, 28:48, 46:10); 11. Aaron Swedberg, Sol (15:28, 31:07; 46:35).
GIRLS
1. Sadie Fox, Sol (16:04, 28:42, 44:46); 2. Addison Gibson, Ken (16:52, 30:15, 47:07); 3. Alex Bergholtz, Ken (17:20, 30:10, 47:30); 4. Riana Boonstra, Ken (17:17, 30:33, 47:50); 5. Mikaela Salzetti, Ken (18:19, 32:03, 50:22); 6. Olivia Hutchings, Sol (18:22, 32:12, 50:34); 7. Kirsten Nyquist, Ken (19:06, 32:18, 51:24); 8. Katie Cooper, Ken (17:27, 35:10, 52:37); 9. Emily Werner, Sol (18:43, 34:35, 53:18); 10. Mieka Chythlook, Sol (19:59, 33:36, 53:35); 11. Kellie Arthur, Sol (19:42, 33:54, 53:36); 12. Sage Link, Sol (22:50, 39:51, 1:02.41).
