Strabel wins elusive Lynxloppet title

ANCHORAGE - A below-zero wind chill didnt stifle Colonys Eric Strabel, as he glided to a dominating victory over Services Ben Crawford and Zack Hill in the annual Dimond Lynxloppet cross-country ski race at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.

The two-time state champion had never won the Lynxloppet before, which is one of the largest ski meets of the year. This year, he posted a margin of victory of 1 minute, 28 seconds.

Starting Saturdays 5.3-kilometer sprint with a considerable lead, Strabel never let up during his pursuit of his first Lynxloppet title. He added 47 seconds to his lead from Fridays race.

I knew someone that far behind me couldnt catch me, Strabel said after starting the day with a 37-second lead over Easts Tor Christopherson. I just wanted to come out aggressive today.

Strabel, who is gearing up for Besh Cup and Junior Olympic qualifying races, had a two-day total of 25 minutes, 11.8 seconds. A stiff wind could not keep the senior from winning the race.

It was tough going with the wind, he said, but the race was pretty short and I didnt feel tired until the last kilometer.

Colony finished the race with a third-place team finish with a combined time of 1:53:19.4. East High was second to the meets winner, Service High.

The Valleys top girls varsity finisher was Su Valleys Nicole Hanson, who had a two-day time of 35:50.5 for a 15th-place finish.

My mouth was frozen from the wind, Hanson said. The wind hit you like a wall.

Lack of snow has made the Lynxloppet the first major ski race of the year by default, so many of the skiers were still adjusting to a competitive environment.

We have no snow in Talkeetna where I live, so we have been practicing on a frozen lake pulling tires, Hanson said. Im not used to the hills.

After finishing in 14th place after the first day of competition, Hanson was a little disappointed that she lost a place during the second day of racing. But she hinted that she will place better when Talkeetna gets better snow on which to practice.

Diana Heimerl finished right behind Hanson with a 16th-place finish. The Su Valley girls were tops in the Valley in the team standings, finishing with a time of 2:27:51.1 and a sixth-place finish. Service High also took top honors among the girls with a 2:08:54.3 combined time.

I would have liked our girls team to have tightened up the standings a little, Colony coach Ed Strabel said.

He said a couple of his girls didnt compete because they were either sick or hurt.

Renae Moore from Su Valley finished in 20th place with a time of 35:59.1, while Sarah Dimmick of Wasilla finished 23rd at 35:41.5.

Palmers top girl was Katie Kajdan, who finished 30th.

After Strabel, Palmer Highs Lee Bolling was the next Valley boys finisher. Bolling was 16th with a combined time of 28:18.2.

Colonys Jeff Case finished 21st with a time of 28:48.4.

DIMOND LYNXLOPPET

Girls

Team standings 1. Service, 2:08.54; 2. East, 2:09:07.3; 3. West Valley, 2:16.31.8; 4. Homer, 2:18:41.1; 5. Lathrop, 2:27:12.0; 6. Su Valley, 2:27:51.1; 7. Dimond, 2:29:30.8; 8. Chugiak, 2:30:28.2; 9. Colony, 2:32:54.6; 10. Soldotna, 2:42:45.7; 11. Skyview, 2:42:52.2; 12. Kenai, 2:43:54.2; 13. Palmer, 2:47:58.2; 14. Seward, 2:48:03.1; 15. Wasilla, 2:49:48.7.

Top 15 1. Randall, East, 30:24.3; 2. Hamilton, Ser, 31:09.6; 3. Johnson, East, 31:38.9; 4. Whitney, Ser, 32:33.4; 5. Corral, WV, 32:35.5; 6. Ohms, Ser, 32:35.6; 7. May, Ser, 32:35.7; 8. Samuelson, East, 32:36.4; 9. Brady, Ser, 32:36.5; 10. Abrahamson, Hom, 32:37.3; 11. Martin, Hom, 32:39.0; 12. Sorensen, Lat, 32:57.9; 13. Baker, WV, 33:04.1; 14. Fisher, Val, 33:33.1; 15. Nicole Hanson, SuV, 33:50.5.

Other Valley finishers 16. Diana Heimerl, Col, 34:15.2; 20. Renae Moore, SuV, 34:59.1; 23. Sarah Dimmick, Was, 35:41.5; 29. Shelly Soderstrom, SuV, 36:48.9; 30. Katie Kajdan, Pal, 36:55.8; 46. Clare Baldwin, Col, 38:54.8; 49. Alicia Pickett, Col, 39:15.6; 54. Hannah Maddry, Col, 40:29.0; 58. Heidi Heiling, Pal, 41:02.8; 67. Christina Moore, SuV, 42:12.6; 70. Heiki Hanson, Was, 43:39.9; 73. Courtney Taylor, Pal, 43:58.3; 75. Kristen Wein, Was, 44:06.5; 78. Emily Smayda, Pal, 46:01.3; 80. Amanda Combs, Was, 46:20.8; 82. Becky James, Pal, 48:38.8.

Boys

Team standings 1. Service, 1:48:34.4; 2. East, 1:51:07.2; 3. Colony, 1:53:19.4; 4. West Valley, 1:55:35.0; 5. Lathrop, 1:55:35.5; 6. Dimond, 1:56:37.0; 7. Soldotna, 1:58:20.9; 8. West, 1:58:55.5; 9. Bartlett, 1:58:59.7; 10. Homer, 2:01:43.7; 11. Kenai, 2:04:14.1; 12. Chugiak, 2:04:56.3; 13. Seward, 2:06:55.3; 14. Skyview, 2:07:59.3; 15. Palmer, 2:11:56.3; 16. Wasilla, 2:17:07.5; 17. Valdez, 2:26:44.1.

Top 15 1. Eric Strabel, Col, 25:11.8; 2. Crawford, Ser, 26:39.1; 3. Hill, Ser, 26:40.8; 4. Christopherson, East, 26:46.4; 5. Kallen-Brown, WV, 26:50.9; 6. Newbould, Sol, 27:03.0; 7. Green, Bar, 27:09.0; 8. Carlstrom, WV, 27:09.5; 9. Musgrave, Ser, 27:12.8; 10. Clark, East, 27:31.6; 11. Young, Dim, 27:49.1; 12. Todd, Ser, 28:01.7; 13. Broda, Lat, 28:12.9; 14. Chappell, East, 28:16.5; 15. Josh Broda, Lat, 28:18.1.

Other Valley finishers 16. Lee Bolling, Pal, 28:18.2; 21. Jeff Kase, Col, 28:48.4; 26. Richard Hallock, Col, 28:52.5; 42. Nick Foley, Col, 30:26.7; 45. Matt Hanson, Was, 30:38.0; 46. Joe Straayer, Col, 30:38.7; 59. Zach Baer, Pal, 32:05.0; 69. Janus Leo, SuV, 33:20.8; 74. Jason Rowland, Pal, 34:00.5; 76. Will Elliott, Was, 34:29.1; 79. Cam Willingham, Was, 35:05.2; 80. Mike Rubeo, Was, 36:55.2; 81. Faustin Wirkus, Was, 37:29.1; 82. Mike Beeson, Was, 37:32.6; 83. Sean Holland, Pal, 37:32.7.Photo: Colonys Eric Strabel skis to victory in the Lynxloppet. The two-time state champion had never won the Lynxloppet before, but cruised to a 1-minute, 28-second margin of victory.Photo by GENE JANSEN.