Good indication

PALMER — Darin Markwardt had a good feeling his Palmer Moose cross country skiing squads could be among the top programs in Region III this season.

And after Palmer’s performance during the Homer Invitational in Homer on Saturday, Markwardt knows that is exactly the case.

Palmer won the boys’ team title of the seven-team invitational and the Palmer girls finished second.

“It’s nice to see we’re on the right track,” Markwardt said on Monday. “It’s a strong indication that we’re on the right path.”

Palmer placed three skiers in the top-10 of the boys’ 10-kilometer race. Junior Duney Strickland was the top Palmer skier, finishing third with a time of 24 minutes and 37 seconds. Junior Davis Dunlap followed in fourth with a time of 35:05, and junior Wylie Mangelsdorf’s time of 36:37 gave him a seventh-place finish.

“We were gunning for those three in the top seven,” Markwardt said. “It worked out just perfect.”

Markwardt also noted the work of senior captain Jacob Simon, who finished 16th with a time of 40:40.

“He really won it for us,” Markwardt said. “We won by only just over a minute. He really stepped up.”

The Palmer girls also placed three athletes in the top-seven. Junior Kimberly DelFrate finished third for the Moose at 30:58 while her twin sister Amanda was fifth at 31:50. Senior Laura Whitmore finished seventh with a time of 32:24.

“Kimberly had a standout performance placing third,” Markwardt said. “She was defeating girls that were beating her by a minute of two last year. It was a breakthrough performance on many levels.”

Markwardt said he was also thrilled with the work of Amanda DelFrate and Whitmore.

“I was not expecting such a strong performance this early in the season,” Markwardt said.

Colony, Wasilla and Susitna Valley also competed in the event.

Su Valley’s Ian Mannix (36:29) led the Rams with a sixth-place finish. The Su Valley boys finished sixth in the team standings.

Schyler Knopp (10th, 38:30) led the Colony boys to a fourth-place finish in the team standings. Leif Johnson (19th, 41:26) was the top Wasilla skier for the Warriors.

In the girls’ race, Abby Jahn (10th, 32:56) led the Knights to a fourth-place finish.

Kiersten Wilber (18th, 36:59) led the Warriors.

This weekend the Valley programs will compete in the Dimond Lynx Loppet at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Homer Invitational

Saturday, Homer

Boys’ team results:

1. Palmer 2:27:11; 2. Soldotna 2:28:21; 3. Skyview 2:41:00; 4. Colony 2:41:23; 5. Homer 2:47:20; 6. Susitna Valley 2:58:09; 7. Wasilla 3:03:19.

Boys individual results (Top 20):

1. T. Semmens, Sol 34:14.8; 2. L. Arneson, CIA 34:45; 3. D. Strickland, Pal 34:47.0; 4. D. Dunlap, Pal 35:05; 5. H. Jackinsky, Sky 36:28.4; 6. I. Mannix, SV 36:29.9; 7. W. Mangelsdorf, Pal 36:37.7; 8. I. Harbison, Sol 37:26.6; 9. R. Sanders, Sol 37:27.7; 10. S. Knopp, Col 38:30.2; 11. J. Merkes, Sol 39:11.9; 12. D. Lange, Col 40:03.5; 13. A. Lovett, Hom 40:11.6; 14. G. Murray, Sol 40:17.3; 15. J. Cook, Sky 40:19.1; 16. J. Simon, Pal 40:40.9; 17. A. Meyerhofer, Was 41:14.2; 18. P. Schneider, Hom 41:16.2; 19. L. Johnson, Was 41:26.0; 20. R. Wise, Col 41.34.7.

Other Valley finishers:

22. G. Williams, Col 42:08.8; 25. A. McConnell, Pal 42:36.8; 26. T. Figley, SV 42:46.8; 29. B. Chamberlin, Was 43:51.2; 31. J. Mastroyanis, Col 44:30.8; 34. K. Pulver, Was 47:53.8; 35. C. Elias, SV 49:04.5; 36. S. Sterling, SV 49:48.0; 37. S. Hamler, SV 50:01.6; 38. S. Chapman, Was 50:07.7.

Girls’ team results:

1. Soldotna 2:02:06; 2. Palmer 2:12:21; 3. Homer 2:15:05; 4. Colony 2:21:22; 5. Wasilla 2:42:52.

Girls’ individual results (Top 20):

1. K. Mucha, Sol 28:36.7; 2. B. Mucha, Sol 30:08.7; 3. K. DelFrate, Pal 30:58.1; 4. J. Clock, Sol 31:01.7; 5. A. DelFrate, Pal 31:50.4; 6. M. Markes, Sol 32:19.0; 7. L. Whitmore, Pal 32:24.7; 8. D. Martin, Sol 32:24.7; 9. M. Bursch, Hom 32:35.2; 10. A. Jahn, Col 32:56.7; 11. C. Skvorc, Col 34:07.1; 12. F. Bursch, Hom 34:22.9; 13. M. Schmidt, Hom 34:23.8; 14. O. Wills, Hom 34:28.0; 15. S. Stewart, Col 34:32; 16. D. Critchett, Hom 35:27; 17. M. Warburton, Hom 36:03.6; 18. K. Wilber, Was 36:59.0; 19. M. Shones, Pal 37:07.1; 20. S. Wyatt, Sol 37:18.1.

Other Valley finishers:

22. S. Stough, Pal 37:33.7; 23. C. Murray, Col 36:27.6; 24. S. Stephens, Pal 38:48.5; 25. K. Parker, Was 39:07.6; 26. C. Schleich, Was 40:09.5; 28. L. Dresse, Col 42.15.5; 29. A. Nagel, Col 43:01.6; 31. V. Schleich, Was 46:36.0; 32. S. VanBavel, Col 46:43.