Local programs fill void on schedule with Valley event

MAT-SU — The cancellation of the Dimond High School Lynx Loppet left a gap in the schedules of the four Mat-Su Valley prep cross country skiing programs. But that hole did not stay open for long.

Teams from Colony, Palmer, Susitna Valley and Wasilla participated in a 5.4-kilometer freestyle race near Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass on Friday, and skied in a 6.8-K classic event along Archangel Road on Saturday.

A pair of Colony Knights were the top athletes in their respective classes on

Friday.

Mason Wick won the boys’ race with a time of 17 minutes and 35 seconds, and finished just 23 seconds ahead of Susitna Valley’s Galen Johnston.

With a time of 23:06, Heidi Doner won the girls’ race. Doner helped the Colony girls’ win the team title of the event.

Palmer finished first in the boys’ team standings, led by Dustin Strickland, who placed third. Doner also led the CHS girls to a team win in the 6.8-K classic, by finishing first with a time of 30:36 in the classic race. Johnston won the boys’ race.

Mat-Su Pursuit

Friday, Hatcher Pass; Saturday, Archangel Road

Boys 5.4-K freestyle (Friday)

1. M. Wick- Col 17:35, 2. G. Johnston- SV 17:58, 3. D. Strickland- Pal 19:17, 4. I. Mannix- SV 19:48, 5. D. Dunlap- Pal 19:50, 6. R. Wise- Col 20:25, 7. R. Cunningham- Pal 20:37, 8. B. Chamberlin- Was 20:39, 9. W. Mangelsdorf- Pal 21:06, 10. D. Gray- Col 21:12, 11. T. Figley- SV 22:00, 12. D. Lange- Col 22:24, 13. J. Mastrayanis- Col 22:26, 14. C. John- Col 22:29, 15. D. VanHoomissen- Pal 22:42, 16. S. Knopp- N/A 22:47, 17. L. Husa- Pal 22:50, 18. T. Hopple- Pal 23:17, 19. K. Smith Pal 23:22, 20. B. Simon- Pal 23:31.

Girls 5.4-K freestyle (Friday)

1. H. Doner- Col 23:06, 2. A. Delfrate- Pal 24:32, 3. H. Kalahan- Col 24:53, 4. J. Odegard- Pal 25:28, 5. S. Stewart- Col 25:50, 6. L. Whitmore- Pal 26:01, 7. E. Vangorder- Col 26:15, 8. V. Schleich- Was 26:23, 9. C. Skvorc- 27:00, 10. D. Hoople- Pal 27:01, 11. C. Woodings- Pal 27:03, 12. M. Wick- Col 27:11, 13. K. Parker- Was 27:24, 14. S. Flores- Was 27:30, 15. K. Wilbur- Was 28:08, 16. C. Wold- Col 28:28, 17. S. Heimerl- Col 28:44, 18. S. Stephens- Pal 29:26, 19. K. Gonski- Col 29:42, 20. K. Truax- Col 29:52.

Boys team scores (Friday)

1. Palmer 1:20.50, 2. Colony 1:21.36.

Girls team scores (Saturday)

1. Colony 1:40.04, 2. Palmer 1:43.02, 3. Wasilla 1:49.25.

Boys 6.8-K classic (Saturday)

1. G. Johnston- SV 22:19, 2. M. Wick- Col 24:50, 3. D. Strickland- Pal 25:08, 4. I. Mannix- SV 25:27, 5. D. Dunlap-Pal 25:47, 6. D. Gray- Col 25:55, 7. R. Wise- Col 26:13, 8. B. Chamberlin- Was 26:16, 9. W. Mangelsdorf- Pal 26:26, 10. K. Smith- Pal 26:27, 11. R. Cunningham- Pal 26:59, 12. C. Jahn- Col 27:22, 13. D. Lange- Col 27:33, 14. T. Figley- SV 27:50, 15. S. Boyden- Col 28:03, 16. J. Masrayonus- Col 28:07, 17. D. VanHoomissen- Pal 28:19, 18. L. Johnson- Was 28:25, 19. B. Simon- Pal 28:28, 20. L. Husa- 28:35.

Girls 6.8-K classic (Saturday)

1. H. Doner- Col 30:36, 2. L. Whitmore- Pal 31:08, 3. A. Delfrate- Pal 31:28, 4. H. Kalahan- Col 31:52, 5. S. Stephens- Pal 31:578, 6. C. Woodings- Pal 31:59, 7. S. Stewart- Col 32:17, 8. C. Wold- Col 32:38, 9. S. Flores- Was 33:08, 10. D. Hoople- Pal 33:21, 11. V. Schleich- Was 33:25, 12. J. Odegard- Pal 33:29, 13. E. Vangorder 33:39, 14. K. Gonski- Col 33:57, 15. K. Wilbur- Was 34:05, 16. M. Wick- 34:30, 17. K. Skvorc- 34:34, 18. M. Shones- Pal 34:36, 19. S. Stough- Pal 34:41, 20. S. Heimerl- Col 34:51.

Boys team scores (Saturday)

1. Palmer 3:05.10, 2. Colony 3:06.01.

Girls team scores (Saturday)

1. Colony 3:48.28, 2. Palmer 3:51.08, 3. Wasilla 4:06.00.