Colony skier makes school history

PALMER — Annika Hanestad followed her second straight region title with a bit of school history.

Hanestad, a junior on the Colony High School cross-country skiing team, finished eighth overall in the girls’ skimeister standings at the ASAA/First National Cup Nordic Ski State Championships in Fairbanks. Hanestad’s finish marks the best in progam history in the girls’ class. Last year, Hanestad had tied the prior best, 10th place, originally notched by former Knight Diana Heimerl in 2001.

Hanestad finished with a two-day total time of 44 minutes, 57 seconds. During the first day of the three-day meet, Hanestad finished seventh in the girls’ 5-kilometer freestyle at Birch Hill in Fairbanks. She clocked a time of 15:57 in the interval start race. Friday, Hanestad finished 10th in the 7.5-K classic. Hanestad notched a time of 28:59 in the mass start race.

Last week, at the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Hanestad won both the freestyle and classic races en route to her second straight Region III skimeister title.

Hanestad was one of a pair of Knights to finish in the top 30 at state. Senior Alyson Kopsack was 29th. She finished 28th in the freestyle and 30th in the classic. Sofia Spaic was 41st.

Sophie Wright led the Palmer girls, finishing 45th overall.

Palmer’s Joseph Walling led all Valley skiers in the boys’ class, finishing 25th overall. Walling was 16th in the 7.5-K freestyle on Thursday and 29th in the 10-K classic on Friday.

Nate Kristich led Colony with a 54th-place finish.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.