The Kenai Central ski team could be seen doing a bit of everything during the recent snow drought, from bounding on Kenai Golf Course with poles to ice skating on Headquarters Lake.
On Friday and Saturday in the Colony Invitational at Government Peak, it all paid off.
The Kardinals were tops in both the girls and boys combined team results.
The girls totaled 2 hours, 15 minutes, 47 seconds, for the victory, while Soldotna was runner-up at 2:21:15 and Homer was fifth at 2:27:36. The boys had a winning total of 2:24:45, while Grace was second at 2:27:33 and Soldotna was third at 2:28:47.
Soldotna senior Sadie Fox has managed to remain one of the state’s top prep skiers despite the dreadful practice conditions, and she proved it once again Friday and Saturday.
Fox was the combined champion with a total of 30:47 in Friday’s 5K classic and Saturday’s 5K freestyle. Also in the top 10 for the Stars was Hannah Pothast in third at 32:50.
Leading the way for the champion Kardinals was Addison Gibson in second at 32:00 and Alex Bergholtz in sixth at 34:01.
The Kenai Peninsula also received a top 10 from Homer’s Aspen Daigle, who was ninth in 35:26.
The boys did a 5K classic on Friday and a 7.5K freestyle on Saturday. Trent Fritzel of Grace Christian won with a total of 33:55, while Travis Cooper led the Kards to the team title by finishing second at 34:29. Also in the top 10 for the Kards were Karl Danielson in fourth at 36:01 and Jordan Theisen in sixth at 36:34.
John-Mark Pothast led the way for Soldotna by taking third in 35:15, while Levi Michael was seventh in 36:44.
Colony Invitational
Friday-Saturday, Government Peak
Girls combined team results:
1. Kenai 2:15:47; 2. Soldotna 2:21:15; 3. Colony 2:21:16; 4. Palmer 2:23:01; 5. Homer 2:27:36; 6. Grace 2:52:01.
Boys combined team results:
1. Kenai 2:24:45; 2. Grace 2:27:33; 3. Soldotna 2:28:47; 4. Colony 2:33:37; 5. Palmer 2:40:46.
Girls individual combined results:
1. S. Fox, Sol 30:47.06; 2. A. Gibson, Ken 32:00; 3. H. Pothast, Sol 32:50; 4. R. Berrigan, Pal 33:44; 5. J. Block, Col 33:55; 6. A. Bergholtz, Ken 34:01; 7. R. Woodings, Pal 34.15; 8. L. Olsen, Col 34:27; 9. A. Daigle, Hom 35:26; 10. C. Geraghty, Col 35:29; 11. R. Norris, Val 35:59; 12. M. Salzetti, Ken 36:16; 13. S. Wolf, Hom 36:23; 14. A. Taylor, Pal 36:52; 15. K. Cooper, Ken 36:55; 16. S. Allen, Val 37:29; 17. K. Nyquist, Ken 37:33; 18. M. Alexson, Hom 37:40; 19. L. Tsao-Wu 37:58; 20. R. Ellert, Hom 38:03; 21. E. Bingham, Pal 38:07; 22. J. Kopsack, Col 38:29; 23. A. Kopsack, Col 38:33; 24. K. Athuer, Sol 38:38; 25. S. Feige, Pal 39:05; 26. J. Bethel, Col 39:27; 27. R. Youngblood, Pal 38:48; 28. L. Floyd, Ken 40:39; 29. M. Chythlook, Sol 41:00; 30. S. Link, Sol 44:01; 31. K. Keeney, Val 46:04; 32. N. Moore, Gra 46:33; 33. A. Jarvis, Gra 46:42; 34. M. Vantrease, Hom 48:18; 35. V. Demarzo, Gra 48:39.
Boys individual combined results:
1. T. Fritzel, Gra 33:35; 2. T. Cooper, Ken 34:29; 3. J.Pothast, Sol 35:15; 4. K. Danielson, Ken 36:01; 5. J. Cosegrove, Gra 36:27; 6. J. Theisen, Ken 36:34; 7. L. Michael, Sol 36:44; 8. C. Hand, Pal 37:12; 9. D. Peterson-Thompson, Col 37:14; 10. J. Alverts, Pal 37:25; 11. J. Butler, Ken 37:37; 12. G. Birch, Col 37:58; 13. K. Vinson, Sol 38:21; 14. T. Best, Sol 38:24; 15. T. Mumford, Gra 38:11; 16. T. Farring, Col 38:55; 17. W. Brown, Gra 38:56; 18. L. Seims, Was 39:18; 19. J. Davis, Hom 40:17; 20. A. Downing, Sol 41:12; 21. B. Mordue-Swalling, Pal 41:31; 22. L. Floyd, Ken 41;49; 23. S. Stasak, Sol 42:14; 24. E. Ickes, Was 42:18; 25. T. Sheldon, Gra 42:51; 26. G. Birch, Col 43:04; 27. T. Scholz, Hom 43:31; 28. C. Kincaid, Sol 43:37; 29. H. Parks, Hom 43:53; 30. E. Isaacson, Gra 44:43; 31. P. Michael, Ken 45:32; 32. S. Riopelle, Pal 46:10; 33. S. Haney, Pal 46:22; 34. E. Kempf, Ken 48:40;