Moose boys, girls win sweep at borough meet

TALKEETNA — Schyler Knopp paced the Palmer boys cross country ski team to a win at Saturday’s Mat-Su Borough Cross Country Ski Championships on a day that saw the Moose place six in the top 15 finishers.

It was an eventful conclusion to an event that saw Palmer skiers sweep the meet, with the Moose girls winning as well, marking the second straight sweep for Palmer.

Coaches decided all to use the same wax for the races, putting each skier on an even keel. Rather than a mass start, each skier started in 20-second intervals from each other.

Colony Junior Brittney Anderson finished second in the girls’ race as the top Valley skier behind Valdez’s Hannah Norris. Colony senior Abby Jahn was fifth.

For the boys, Abe Meyerhofer of Colony was second, 1 minute, 50 seconds behind Knopp, and Wasilla senior Connor Mattson was the top Warrior finisher in fifth place.

Showing their strength, each member of the Palmer boys’ varsity squad finished within 20 seconds of each other’s times. It was a continuation of a strong season following up last year’s regional championship. Palmer replenished six boys’ varsity skiers and five girls’ spots.

After Anderson, teammate Abby Jahn crossed the finish line in fifth place for the Colony girls, while the rest of the top-10 reads like a Palmer roster: Lynn Meagan third, Hannah Smith fourth, Celle Hull seventh, Darby Salmon eighth and Deanna Cummings was 10th.

Head coach Galen Johnston inherited the successful program this year, as former coach Darin Markwardt left to pursue law school. Marquardt built the program to its strength with sheer numbers. Last year, the Moose junior varsity squad also won its regional.

With fresh snow and temperatures around -10 on Saturday, the trail was no problem for maintenance and speed, the skiers and coaches reported.

Valley cross country skiers will compete again this weekend in Soldotna at the Region III ski meet, hosted by Skyview High School.

Tim Rockey is a senior at Palmer High School who also writes for the Frontiersman’s Sports section.

2011 Borough Championships

Saturday, Su Valley High School

Boys team results

1. Palmer 2:14:43.8; 2. Colony 2:17:59.9; 3. Valdez 2:20:05.8; 4. Wasilla 2:31:12.3.

Girls team results

1. Palmer 1:56:35.2; 2. Colony 1:59:41.5; 3. Wasilla 2:42:02.4.

Boys 10km individual — top 20

1. Knopp, Palmer, 30:09.1; 2. Meyerhofer, Colony, 31:59.2; 3. Adamson, ,Valez, 3:37.0; 4. Snelders, Valez, 33:43.8; 5. Mattson, Wasilla, 33:47.1; 6. Walker, Valdez, 3:48.1; 7. Sinnett, Colony, 33:53.7; 8. Strickland, Palmer, 34:44.1; 9. Dahms, Palmer, 34:44.1; 10. Liebing, Palmer, 34:53.7; 11. Bean, Palmer, 35.03.5; 12. Muniz, Palmer, 35.04.6; 13. Jaschek, Colony, 35:41.1; 14. Schafer, Colony, 36:25.9; 15. Morris, Colony 36:30.9; 16. Winter, Palmer, 37:01.3; 17. Loveless, Wasilla, 37:03.8; 18. Grazulis, Colony, 37:50.3; 19. Sworts, Palmer, 38:04.9; 20. Gumminger, Colony, 38:56.7.

Girls 10km individual — top 20

1. Norris, Valdez, 27:00.3; 2. Anderson, Colony, 27:38.3; 3. Lynn, Palmer, 27:53.3; 4. Smith, Palmer, 28:00.4; 5. Jahn, Colony, 28:21.2; 6. Merioles, Valdez, 28:31.3; 7. Hull, Palmer 29:25.1; 8. Salmon, Palmer, 31:16.3; 9. Nagel, Colony, 31:29.3; 10. Dummings, Palmer, 31:47.2; 11. Fuller, Palmer, 31:55.2; 12. Haan, Colony, 32:12.7; 13. Meier, Colony, 32:27.8; 14. Thompson, Colony, 32:38.7; 15. Lundt, Palmer, 33:18.6; 16. Shones, Palmer, 33:22.3; 17. Jenkins, Colony, 34:12.5; 18. Mapes, Palmer, 34:35.1; 19. Vinzant, Wasilla, 34:46.0; 20. Johnson, Palmer, 34:59.0.