Palmer coach wins Solstice Sprints

Frontiersman staff

PALMER — Galen Johnston was the top skier during the Solstice Sprints Nordic races at Mountain Streams Bed and Breakfast near Hatcher Pass on Tuesday.

Johnston, a Palmer High ski coach and former Susitna Valley skiing standout, clocked a time of 2 minutes and 43 seconds to win the 1-kilometer classic. He finished first in the freestyle with a time of 2:30. Johnston’s combined total of 5:14.29 placed him ahead of runner-up Jeff Kase (5:58.01), Connor Mattson (6:30.03), David Knopp (6:34.57) and fifth-place Jesse Dahms (6:41.23).

Hannah Smith finished first in both women’s classes. Smith recorded a time of 3:48.29 to win the classic and 3:49.30 to finish first in the freestyle. Smith’s combined time was more than a minute better than runner-up Miranda Shones (8:59.55).

Celie Hull (9:03.51), Kiersten Dahms (9:11.00) and Melissa Keefe (9:26.52) rounded out the top five.

The Solstice Sprints were hosted as a collaborative effort by the Mat-Su Ski Club; Colony, Palmer and Wasilla prep programs; and Mountain View Streams Bed and Breakfast.

Solstice Sprints

Tuesday, Palmer

Men’s 1-K classic

1. G. Johnston, 2:43.87; 2. J. Kase, 3:06.42; 3. C. Mattson, 3:23.05; 4. D. Knopp, 3:23.78; 5. J. Buck, 3:32.89; 6. A. Strickland, 3:34.68; 7. M. Villanueva, 3:34.80; 8. J. Dahms, 3:34.89; 9. C. Winter, 3:39.14; 10. E. Morris, 3:42.85; 11. S. Boyden, 3:43.57; 12. D. Banse, 3:45.18; 13. B. Muniz, 3:45.54; 14. F. Bean, 3:45.94; 15. N. Gumminger, 3:50.65; 16. M. Ketchum, 3:53.56; 17. T. Sworts, 3:55.80; 18. A. Oliver, 4:07.16; 19. A. Nelson, 4:07.86; 20. C. White, 4:09.87; 21. S. Forrest, 4:21.82; 22. S. Dinges, 4:22.65; 23. Z. Marsh, 4:30.01; 24. D. Gumminger, 4:44.19; 25. D. Dahms, 5:40.98; 26. N. Alcantra, 6:28.38.

Women’s 1-K classic

1. H. Smith, 3:48.29; 2. M. Shones, 4:23.93; 3. K. Dahms, 4:40.13; 4. C. Hull, 4:43.21; 5. M. Keefe, 4:46.17; 6. D. Salmon, 4:58.05; 7. J. Johnson, 4:58.72; 8. K. Johnson, 4:59.89; 9. M. Mapes, 5:11.30; 10. A. Woodings, 5:12.45; 11. E. Hull, 5:20.67; 12. M. Morfe, 5:20.67; 13. G. Winter, 5:49.65; 14. L. Herm, 6:13.16.

Men’s freestyle

1. G. Johnston, 2:30.29; 2. D. Dunlap, 2:37.49; 3. J. Kase, 2:51.19; 4. J. Dahms, 3:06.23; 5. C. Mattson, 3:06.58; 6. D. Knopp, 3:10.57; 7. C. Winter, 3:17.54; 8. A. Strickland, 3:18.43; 9. B. Muniz, 3:21.30; 10. J. Buck, 3:21.61; 11. E. Morris, 3:28.06; 12. F. Bean, 3:29.39; 13. M. Villanueva, 3:33.78; 14. C. White, 3:37.55; 15. D. Banse, 3:38.95; 16. N. Gumminger, 3:42.61; 17. T. Sworts, 3:44.42; 18. Z. Marsh, 3:45.02; 19. M. Ketchum, 3:47.12; 20. A. Oliver, 3:59.65; 21. S. Dinges, 4:00.82; 22. A. Nelson, 4:18.06; 23. D. Gumminger, 4:30.34; 24. D. Dahms, 4:50.92; 25. S. Forrest, 5:14.58; 26. N. Alcantra, 5;55.98.

Women’s freestyle

1. H. Smith, 3:49.30; 2. C. Hull, 4:20.30; 3. K. Dahms, 4:30.47; 4. J. Johnson, 4:31.24; 5. M. Shones, 4:35.55; 6. M. Keefe, 4:40.35; 7. M. Morfe, 4:52.69; 8. D. Salmon, 4:53.09; 9. E. Hull, 5:09.53; 10. K. Johnson, 5:13.60; 11. M. Mapes, 5:21.84; 12. A. Woodings, 5:35.47; 13. G. Winter, 6:28.46; 14. L. Hern, 7:06.26.