Palmer skier makes push at Lynx 5K

PALMER — Palmer High School cross-country skier Davis Dunlap picked a good weekend to have a career race.

Dunlap posted the best placing by a Valley skier Friday by taking ninth in the Lynx Loppot Pursuit 5k classic, held at Kincaid Park.

“That was the best performance by a Palmer skier that I can remember,” Palmer head coach Darin Markwardt said.

The race, which Markwardt said was the largest in state high school history, pits many of Alaska’s top high school cross-country skiers against each other.

“I’ve always thought Davis was a good skier,” Markwardt said. “But this week he went from a good skier to a great skier, all within 5K.”

Markwardt that Dunlap had been having an off week and was frustrated about prior performances. The coach told Dunlap to refocus and use any prior frustrations in the race.

“I had a really bad race during Monday’s time trials and barely made varsity,” Dunlap said. “I just kind-of had that in my head and took it out on the race on Friday.”

Dunlap said he had upped his training this year, and his goal was to be one of the state’s top racers.

Friday’s race showed he goal can become a reality.

“I think he proved he can be one of the top 10 racers in the state,” Markwardt said.

The Palmer boys posted a fourth place team finish in the 5k classic, which Markwardt labeled as phenomenal.

They posted two racers in the top 20, Duney Strickland placed 14th to go along with Dunlap’s ninth place finish.

Colony’s Gunner Williams was Colony’s top finisher, coming in at 46th, to go along with Colony’s 10th place boys team finish.

On the girl’s side, Palmer was again the top Valley finisher, with the team coming in seventh place. Palmer’s top finisher was Kimberly Delfrate, who was 22nd.

Caitlyn Skvorc placed 38th for ninth-place Colony, and Kiersten Wilber placed 71st for Wasilla, which finished 13th overall.

Contact Tyson Alger at sports@frontiersman.com or 352-2273.