Colony junior leads Knights to team title in Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS — Audrey Michaelson may have been edged in a photo finish, but the Colony junior led the Knights to a team title during the Interior Invitational at Birch Hill in Fairbanks last Saturday.

Michaelson finished as the runner-up just six-tenths of a second behind winner Megan Edic of host Lathrop.

Edic finished the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes and 42.0 seconds, a hair faster than Michaelson’s time of 19:42.6.

Michaelson and teammates Bailey Meier and Makenzie Thompson each finished in the top-5 to help the Knights score the team title. Meier clocked a time of 20:28 to place fourth, while Thompson was fifth at 20:54.

Brittany Anderson, who finished eighth with a time of 21:58, was also one of four Knights in the top 8.

Colony finished with 31 total points to beat Lathrop (34 points) in the team standings.

Brandon Schafer finished fifth to lead the Knights to a third-place finish in the boys’ team standings. Schafer crossed the finish line at 17:46.

Eli Brayton (12th), Kamber Lucas (14th) and Abe Meyerhofer (15th) also finished in the top-15 for Colony.

The Knights host the Colony Invitational Saturday at Colony High. As of Monday, 17 schools had joined the field for the race. The boys varsity race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and the girls varsity race is set to start at noon.

Interior Invitational

Saturday, Fairbanks

Girls team results:

1. Colony 31; 2. Lathrop 34; 3. West Valley 93; 4. North Pole 122; 5. Eielson 127; 6. Barrow 170; 6. (tie) 170.

Girls individual results:

1. M. Edic, Lat 19:42; 2. A. Michaelson, Col 19:42.6; 3. B. Lizotte, Lat 20:17; 4. B. Meier, Col 20:28; 5. M. Thompson, Col 20:54; 6. M. Murtiff, Eie 21:37; 7. M. Kubichek, Lat 21:44; 8. B. Anderson, Col 21:58; 9. K. Schmitz, NP 21:58; 10. M. Fifield, Mon 22:12.

Other Valley finishers:

13. T. Haan, Col 22:42; 15. J. Kopsack, Col 22:50; 19. B. Diotte, Col 23:20; 33. K. Jenkins, Col 25:45; 34. W. Nagel, Col 25:49; 39. M. Meyerhofer, Col 26:12; 45. A. Goyette, Col 27:26; 54. S. Praile, Col 29:29; 55. K. Stricklan, Col 29:42; 65. S. Egan, Col 32:50; 67. H. Michaelson, Col 33:18.

Boys team results:

1. Lathrop 25; 2. West Valley 58; 3. Colony 63; 4. Delta 119; 5. Eielson 172; 6. Monroe 179.

Boys individual results:

1. K. Hanson, Lat 16:37; 2. A. Ionashku, Del 16:45; 3. R. Kornkven, Lat 17:23; 4. E. Hoefler, WV 17:27; 5. B. Schafer, Col 17:46; 6. L. Castellini, Lat 17:58; 7. K. Rankin, Lat 17:59; 8. K. Fitzgerald, Lat 18:02; 9. J. Koeing, WV 18:11; 10. B. Signor, WV 18:13.

Other Valley finishers:

12. E. Brayton, Col 18:26; 14. K. Lucas, Col 18:37; 15. A. Meyerhofer, Col 18:39; 17. D. Sinnett, Col 18:57; 18. J. Healy, Col 19:14; 22. B. Sessom, Col 19:24; 23. L. Reed, Col 19:26; 24. B. Atikinson, Col 19:33; 29. Z. Zmuda, Col 20:09; 31. J. Link, Col 20:15; 35. L. Jaschek, Col 20:24; 37. J. Buck, Col 20:34; 43. N. Harrison, Col 20:56; 44. R. Diotta, Col 20:57; 46. C. Danner, Col 20:58; 54. C. Olsen, Col 21:17; 55. H. Colberg, Col 21:19; 70. D. Gumminger, Col 21:57; 71. A. Nelson, Col 22:04; 73. R. Lozanoff, Col 22:05; 74. J. Goyette, Col 22:06; 83. M. Bolton, Col 23:03; 87. J. Barley, Col 23:33; 90. L. Hammond, Col 23:03; 93. M. Christensen, Col 24:14.