Palmer senior wins Kenai Klassic

KENAI — Schyler Knopp didn’t have a second to spare, but the Palmer senior had enough to win the boys varsity 10-kilometer during the Kenai Klassic at the Tsalteshi Trails on Friday.

Knopp finished just about a second ahead of runner-up Daniel Serventi of Grace Christian to win the event filled with Region III teams. The Palmer senior posted a time of 29 minutes and 18.3 seconds, slightly ahead of Serventi’s 29:19.9. He also helped Palmer finish third in the team standings.

Knopp was one of a pair of Valley skiers to finish in the top 5 and one of four to place in the top 27. Abe Meyerhofer led fourth-place Colony with a fifth-place finish. Meyerhofer clocked a time of 30:27.

Jesse Dahms (13th), Aube Strickland (21st) and Fabian Bean (27th) finished in the top 27 for Palmer High.

Colony placed four in the top 29. Brandon Schafer was 15th, Leo Jaschek finished 16th and Eli Morris was 29th.

Connor Mattson led Wasilla with a 12th-place finish.

Palmer and Colony also placed third and fourth respectively in the girls standings. The Moose, led by ninth-place Hannah Smith, were third overall. Brittany Anderson used her fifth-place finish in the 7.5-K classic to help Colony place fourth in the team standings.

Celie Hull (13th), Meagan Lynn (16th) and Jasmin Johnson (17th) were also top 20 finishers for Palmer. Bailey Meier was 15th for Colony.

Tressa Loveless led Wasilla, with a time of 42:20.9.

A sprint race was scheduled for Saturday, but the events were cancelled due to cold temperatures.

Kenai Klassic

Friday, Kenai

Boys team results:

1. Soldotna 2:05:18; 2. Homer 2:05:36; 3. Palmer time NA; 4. Colony 2:11:27; 5. Kenai 2:13:16; 6. Grace 2:15:46; 7. Skyview 2:20:24; 8. Wasilla 2:40:40.

Boys individual results (top 10):

1. S. Knopp, Pal 29:18.3; 2. D. Serventi, Gra 29:19.9; 3. D. Jensen, Sol 29:28.2; 4. A. Lovett, Hom 30:09.8; 5. A. Meyerhofer, Col 30:27.3; 6. P. Sorenson, Hom 20:55.8; 7. B. Rowe, Hom 31:01.5; 8. J. Viekstrom, Sol 31:08.3; 9. L. Michael, Sol 31:11.4; 10. L. McLaughlin, Gra 31:28.4.

Other Valley finishers:

12. C. Mattson, Was 32:19.2; 13. J. Dahms, Pal 32:24.3; 15. B. Schafer, Col 32;41.8; 16. L. Jaschek, Col 33:15.0; 21. A. Strickland, Pal 33:49.2; 27. F. Bean, Pal 34:34.9; 29. E. Morris, Col 35:03.7; 32. B. Muniz, Pal 35:46.7; 33. R. Loveless, Was 36:02.3; 34. J. Buck, Col 36:15.3; 42. T. Sworts, Pal 37:53.4; 46. C. Pulver, Was 40:07.7; 52. O. Anthony, Was 52:11.4.

Girls team results:

1. Homer 2:03:24; 2. Kenai 2:06:08; 3. Palmer 2:10:51; 4. Colony 2:14:01; 5. Soldotna 2:15:53; 6. Skyview 2:22:33.

Girls individual results (top 10):

1. B. Mucha, Sol 27:18.8; 2. M. Schmidt, Hom 28:44.3; 3. S. Fox, Sol 29:15.5; 4. K. Morelli, Hom 30:26.4; 5. K. Nyquist, Ken 30:53.3; 6. B. Anderson, Col 31:19.7; 7. T. Ostrander, Ken 31:25.9; 8. A. Bergholtz, Ken 31:26.1; 9. H. Smith, Pal 31:35.8 10. M. Gerard, Hom 31:57.7.

Other Valley finishers:

13. C. Hull, Pal 32:20.0; 15. B. Meier, Col 32:38.9; 16. M. Lynn, Pal 33:11.2; 17. J. Johnson, Pal 33:44.7; 20. G. Jenkins, Col 34:41.1; 27. A. Woodings, Pal 35:57.3; 29. D. Cummings, Pal 36:30.6; 30. K. Jenkins, Col 36:46.6; 32. K. Sworts, Pal 38:54.5; 33. T. Loveless, Was 42:20.9; 34. N. Vinzant, Was 43:17.0; 37. K. Hudson, Was 44:06.0.