Local skiers head to Hatcher Pass

PALMER — Most people in the Valley have been waiting, wondering when the area will be blanketed with the first big snowfall of the year. Last week, the local prep skiers simply could not wait any longer.

Cross-country skiers from Colony, Palmer and Wasilla competed in the Hatcher Pass Classic in Hatcher Pass last week.

“We threw something together at the last minute,” Colony coach Mark Strabel said. “It was good for the kids to get out and race.”

Conditions weren’t ideal, but good enough for 34 boys and 23 girls to hit a trail that was at least somewhat covered with snow.

“There was enough (snow), a little bit of white,” Strabel said. “At least enough to make it feel a little bit like winter.”

Organizers were able to put together a 5-kilometer course for the local prep skiers, who have not seen much competition this year, other than a November trip to Fairbanks. Strabel said local teams have put together another meet for Valley teams, and will ski at Mud Lake in the Butte area Friday afternoon. Strabel said nobody has hosted a high school meet at Mud Lake since about 1995, when local skiers were facing a similar lack of snow.

“We want to carry on the tradition and race out there,” Strabel said.

Typically, Strabel said, local coaches would like to see their athletes compete in six or seven meets before the school district’s holiday break. Teams have dealt with cancellations to major meets, such as the Lynx Loppett, which was supposed to be held this weekend. Strabel said he’s hoping the Knights have five meets under their belts before the break, their post-break schedule will be determined by how much snow falls between now and then.

Colony swept the Hatcher Pass Classic team titles and CHS athletes finished first in both the boys and girls classes. Colony’s Brandon Schafer won the boys race with a time of 18 minutes and 20 seconds. He finished about 19 seconds ahead of Tobin Sworts of Palmer.

Colony’s Nick Harrison, Lyon Kopsack and Erik Grazulis rounded out the top 5.

Colony’s Tracie Haan finished first in the girls race with a time of 22:24. Kiersten Johnson was the runner-up in the girls class. Colony’s Katya Jenkins, Willa Nagel and M.E. Meyerhofer rounded out the top 5.

Hatcher Pass Classic

Boys team results:

1.Colony 1:15:57; 2. Palmer 1:23:59; 3. Wasilla 1:38:00.

Boys individual results:

1.B. Schafer, Col 18:20.1; 2. T. Sworts, Pal 18:39.3; 3. N. Harrison, Col 18:56; 4. L. Kopsack, Col 19:03; 5. E. Grazulis, Col 19:37; 6. D. Sinnett, Col 20:18; 7. A. Nelson, Col 20:28; 8. C. Pulver, Was 20:32; 9. G. Birch, Col 21:03; 10. J. Lynn, Pal 21:15; 11. I. Pougher, Col 21:24; 12. C. Hand, Pal 21:29; 13. D. Gumminger, Col 21:37; 14. Z. Marsh, Pal 22:35; 15. D. Banse, Pal 22:52; 16. D. Wallace, Col 22:59; 17. B. Hoover, Col 23:02; 18. L. Seims, Was 23:04; 19. D. Dahms, Pal 23:30; 20. S. Haney, Pal 23:32; 21. D. Bell, Pal 23:56; 22. R. Palmer, Col 24:39; 23. M. Wieliczkiewi, Was 25:00; 24. S. Johnson, Pal 26:31; 25. N. Alcantra, Pal 26:44; 26. S. LaRue, Pal 27:49; 27. I. Bingham, Pal 28:29; 28. B. Lee, Was 29:22; 29. B. Swalling, Pal 30:21; 30. S. Walther, Was 31:51; 31. J. Olavarria, Was 43:03; 32. S. Dangne, Pal 47:38; 33. A. McDowell, Pal 47:53; 34. I. Maores, Pal 52:09.

Girls team results:

1.Colony 1:37:48; 2. Palmer 1:48:24; 3. Wasilla 2:00:43.

Girls individual results:

1. T. Haan, Col 22:24; 2. K. Johnson, Pal 24:35; 3. K. Jenkins, Col 24:38; 4. W. Nagel, Col 25:19; 5. M. Meyerhofer, Col 25:26; 6. M. Lundin, Pal 27:06; 7. D. Salmon, Pal 28:01; 8. D. Ingersoll, Was 28:37; 9. A. Woodings, Pal 28:40; 10. R. Burroughs, Was 28:55; 11. E. Bingham, Pal 29:14; 12. R. Partlow, Col 29:26; 13. H. Spargo, Was 30:17; 14. R. Diotte, Col 31:01; 15. M. Shones, Pal 31:54; 16. S. Copeland, Col 32:33; 17. H. Clark, Was 32:52; 18. E. Foldenau, Col 33:54; 19. J. Bethel, Col 35:38; 20. A. Ishmael, Pal 37:21; 21. C. Buck, Col 40:11; 22. A. Lapka, Pal; 23. B. Mothershead, Pal 47:31.