Mannix, Wise win ski event

SKYVIEW -- A pair of Valley skiers took home first-place honors at the Skyview Class Races on the Kenai Peninsula over the weekend.

Taz Mannix and Ross Wise each finished first in the overall standings.

Mannix, a senior at Su Valley High School, finished first overall in the girls' class. Mannix finished 32 seconds ahead of Homer's Aleta Phelps in the overall results. Mannix finished with a total time of 22 minutes and 28 seconds, while Phelps finished with a total time of 23 minutes.

Palmer's Kate Fitzgerald finished seventh overall and Su Valley's Melissa Ostermick finished 10th.

Wise, a Colony senior, placed first overall with a time of 20:02. Wise finished 38 seconds ahead of fellow Knight Kerry Klouder.

Nick Wise, Brandon Gonski and Joe Dougherty also finished in the top seven for the Knights.

Su Valley's Nico Ambrose placed eighth and Palmer's John Hundley finished ninth.

The overall score combined the results of two races. On Friday, skiers participated in a 1.5-kilometer skate sprint, and on Saturday a 5-kilometer classic race was held.

On Friday the Knights host the annual Mat-Su Pursuit at the Colony High School ski trails. Palmer and Su Valley will also compete in the event.