Skiers find snow at Susitna Valley

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Sports Editor

TALKEETNA -- The local cross-country ski squads were in search of snow last weekend. Originally scheduled to compete in the Skyview Invitational in Soldotna, lack of snow thwarted original plans and Susitna Valley High School opted to host the "Su Valley Has Snow Races".

Colony senior Peter Doner finished first in the boys' overall standings. Doner edged Noah King, of Skyview, by just one second. Doner, with a total time of 23 minutes and 7 seconds, finished Friday's classic race in 12:07 and Saturday's freestyle race in 11 minutes.

Su Valley placed a pair of skiers in the top five. Nico Ambrose finished fourh overall for the Rams, with a time of 23:46. Fellow Ram Galen Johnston finished fifth overall at 23:46.

Doner was one of five Knights to finish in the top-10. Joe Dougherty, seventh, Brandon Gonski, eighth, Joe Heimerl, ninth, and Ryan Van Gorden, tenth, each earned top-10 spots.

Elisabeth Habermann finished first in the girls' overall standings. The Skyview skier registered an overall time of 27:02, more than a minute better than second place Katy Pankoski, of Soldotna. Palmer High's Kate Fitzgerald was the top Valley skier in the standings. Fitzgerald, third with an overall time of 28:20, finished second in the classic and fourth in the freestyle. Emily Dougherty finished seventh overall to lead Colony.

Colony won the boys' team title with a total time eight minutes better than second-place Soldotna. Su Valley and Palmer finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the boys' standings.

Homer won the girls' team title, edging second-place Soldotna by just more than two minutes. Colony, Palmer and Su Valley finished third, fourth and sixth in the standings.

Colony High School head coach Ed Strabel said the event featured great race conditions with well groomed trails, good snow and virtually no wind. Skiers raced in brisk eight degree temperatures.

Su Valley Has Snow Race

At Susitna Valley High

Boys' team results -- 1. Colony, 2. Soldotna, 3. Homer, 4. Skyview, 5. Palmer, 6. Nikiski, 7. Valdez, 8. Wasilla.

Boys' overall (7.2-K) -- 1. Peter Doner, Col, 23:07; 2. N. King, Sky, 23:06; 3. M. Jones, Hom, 23:39; 4. N. Ambrose, SV, 23:40; 5. G. Johnston, SV, 23:46; 6. S. Olendorf, Sol, 23:46; 7. J. Doughery, Col, 23:57; 8. B. Gonski, Col, 24:47; 9. J. Heimerl, Col, 24:55; 10. R. Van Gorder, Col, 25:05.

Boys' individual freestyle results (Saturday 3.6-K) -- 1. P. Doner, C, 11:00; 2. N Ambrose, SV, 11:03; 3. M. Jones, H, 11:09; 4. S. Olendorff, Sol, 11:19; 5. J. Dougherty, C, 11:23; 6. N. King, Sky, 11:29; 7. M. Farrens, H, 11:33; 8. G. Johnston, SV, 11:35; 9. B. Gonski, C, 11:42; 10. H. Van Gorder, C, 11:51.

Boys' individual classic results (Friday 3.6-K) -- 1. N. King, Sky, 11:39; 2. P. Doner, Col, 12:07; 3. G. Johnston, SV, 12:11; 4. S. Olendorff, Sol, 12:27; 6. J. Dougherty, Col, 12:34; 7. N. Ambrose, SV, 12:37; 8. J. Heimerl, Col, 12:56; 9. B. Gonski, Col, 13:05; 10. A. Spangler, Col, 13:06.

Girls' team results -- 1. Homer, 2. Soldotna, 3. Colony, 4. Palmer, 5. Skyview, 6) Su Valley, 7. Seward.

Girls overall results (7.2-K) -- 1. E. Habermann, Sky, 27:02; 2. K. Pankoski, Sol, 28:15; 3. K. Fitzgerald, Pal, 28:20; 4. E. Klaer, Hom, 28:29; 5. K. Markes, Sky, 29:13; 6. S. Glaser, Sew, 29:42; 7. E. Dougherty, Col, 31:04; 8. J. Miller, Sky, 31:17; 9. B. Osland, Sol, 31:20; 10. K. Vantrease, Hom, 31:36.

Girls' individual freestyle results (Saturday 3.6-K) -- 1. E. Habermann, Sky, 12:41; 2. K Pankoski, Sol, 13:02; 3. E. Klaar, Hom, 13:31; 4. K. Fitzgerald, Pal, 13:50; 5. K. Markes, Sky, 14:03; 6. S. Glaser, Sew, 14:19; 7. B. Osland, Sol, 14:32; 8. S. Arsenault, Hom, 14:48; 9. E. Dougherty, Col, 14:51; 10. K Vantrease, Hom, 14:54; 10. Jaime Miller, Sky, 14:54.

Girls' induvidual classic results (Friday 3.6-K) -- 1. E. Habermann, Sky, 14:21; 2. K. Fitzgerald, Pal, 14:30; 3. E. Klaer, Hom, 14:58; 4. K. Markes, Hom, 15:10; 5. K. Pankoski, Sol, 15:13; 6. S. Glaser, Sew, 15:23; 7. C. Warren, Col, 15:53; 8. E. Dougherty, Col, 16:13; 9. M. Moeglein, Col, 16:21; 10. J. Miller, Sky, 16:23.