State skiing continues today

KINCAID PARK — After the first day of state championship racing, Valley skiers are looking to improve this weekend.

Region III championship winner Travis Cooper, of Kenai Central High School, took the boys’ title in the 7.5-kilometer classic race of the state meet yesterday with a time of 20:24. Trent Fritzel of Grace Christian, last weekend’s runner-up, was the next Region III skier, coming in 21st place at 22:04.8, just 0.2 seconds ahead of Colony’s Dawson Knopp. Dawson’s brother Tracen finished right behind him in 22:07 for 23rd place.

Colony skiers Dakota Peterson-Thompson, Nick Harrison and Garrett Birch all finished before any other Valley skiers came in.

Wasilla’s Eli Ickes was next in 61st, followed by Palmer’s Colbe Hand and Josiah Alverts in 62nd and 63rd, respectively.

On the girls’ side, Lydia Blanchett of West High School took the championship medal for day one with a time of 14:40. Soldotna’s Sadie Fox, who won last weekend’s Region III meet, came in fourth at 15:22.

The first Valley finisher and only one to place in the top 25 in the girls’ race was Colony senior Greta Jenkins in 23rd with a time of 16:46.6, just 0.4 seconds behind East High Schools’ Megan Fink.

Colony’s Jordyn Block finished 26th overall with a time of 17 minutes flat, followed by Palmer’s Ruby Woodings in 43rd place at 18:17.

Friday’s races will be mass-start freestyle competitions — 7.5 kilometers for girls, 10 kilometers for boys — and the mixed relay races will be held Saturday.

2015 ASAA State Nordic Skiing Championships

Day 1 results

Boys 7.5-kilometer classic

Top 25

1. T. Cooper, Ken, 20:24; 2. M. Donaldson, WVal, 20:44; 3. H. Wonders, South, 20:48; 4. G. Schumacher, Ser, 20:52; 5. C. Tobin, Ser, 20:59; 6. C. Truskowski, Ser, 21:03.4; 7. W. Balcao, South, 21:03.9; 8. K. Denton, Dim, 21:15; 9. M. Muffoletto, Ser, 21:21; 10. R. Bickford, West, 21:22.2; 11. L. Jager, West, 21:22.3; 12. W. Mans, West, 21:23.1; 13. M. Hoefler, South, 21:24; 14. J. Mayo, WVal, 21:25; 15. J. Consenstein, West, 21:36; 16. B. Egeland, South, 21:45; 17. A. Hull, South, 21:50; 18. J. Koenig, WVal, 21:53.1; 19. T. Sayre, WVal, 21:53.4; 20. L. Cvancara, Dim, 21:58; 21. T. Fritzel, Grace, 22:04.8; 22. D. Knopp, Col, 22:05.0; 23. T. Knopp, Col, 22:07; 24. H. Wolfe, South, 22:08; 25. K. Danielson, Ken, 22:11.

Other Valley finishers

45. D. Peterson-Thompson, Col, 23:55; 46. N. Harrison, Col, tie 23:57.1; 49. Gar. Birch, Col, 24:06; 61. E. Ickes, Was, 24:56; 62. Co. Hand, Pal, 24:59; 63. J. Alverts, Pal, 25:03; 64. T. Farring, Col, 25:06; 80. L. Seims, Was, 26:52; 81. B. Mordue-Swalling, Pal, 27:01; 85. Ca. Hand, Pal, 27:10; 88. J. Houston, Pal, 28:06; 91. S. Haney, Pal, 29:35.

Girls 5-kilometer classic

Top 25

1. L. Blanchett, West, 14:40; 2. T. Hunt-Smith, Ser, 15:02; 3. E. Tarbath, Ser 15:08; 4. S. Fox, Sol, 15:22; 5. A. Flynn, South, 15:27; 6. M. York, West, 15:32; 7. M. Gellert, West, 15:34; 8. A. Gibson, Ken, 15:45; 9. R. Terry, Ser, 15:46;10. A. Amick, East, 15:49; 11. J. Difolco, WVal, 15:52; 12. Ha. Booher, Chu, 16:02; 13. F. Fick, West, 16:02; 14. H. Pothast, Sol, 16:15; 15. R. Cvancara, Dim, 16:17; 16. N. Kiekintveld, South, 16:18; 17. K. Denton, Dim, 16:21.0; 18. He. Booher, Chu, 16:21.6; 19. A. Jager, East, 16:25, 20. A. Darnell, South, 16:26; 21. I. Bembenek, South, 16:29; 22. M. Fink, East, 16:46.2; 23. G. Jenkins, Col, 16:46.6; 24. L. Von Imhof, Dim, 16:47; 25. E. Nelson, Chu, 17:00.

Other Valley finishers

26. J. Block, Col, 17:01; 43. R. Woodings, Pal, 18:17; 45. L. Olsen, Col, 18:20; 61. M.E. Meyerhofer, Col, 19:24; 64. E. Bingham, Pal, 19:46; 66. I. Warhus, Was, 19:56.1; 67. A. Taylor, Pal, 19:56.4; 71. S. Feige, Pal, 20:16; 81. A. Kopsack, Col, 22:12; 88. A. Syvertson, Was, 25:13.1, 89. R. Youngblood, Pal, 28:13.5.