Valley skiers win prep races

PALMER — Not only did Palmer High have the opportunity to host a prep cross-country skiing event over the weekend, but the Moose saw one of their claim an individual title.

Palmer’s Rya Berrigan skied her way to a first-place finish in the girls’ 5-kilometer freestyle during the Government Peak Invitational Jan. 13 at Government Peak Recreation Area near Palmer.

Berrigan finished the course in 12 minutes, 57 seconds. Berrigan was 23 seconds faster than runner-up Riana Boonstra of Kenai. Ruby Woodings also posted a top-five finish for the Moose Friday, placing fifth with a time of 14:30. Anahelene Taylor finished 11th for Palmer. Caitlin Bales led Wasilla with a 16th-place finish.

In the boys’ freestyle race Friday, Joseph Walling led all Valley skiers with a 10th-place finish, and time of 13:18. Taft Steiner was 16th to lead Wasilla, and Palmer’s Reese Qualls also skied to a top-20 finish, placing 17th.

Berrigan and Boonstra swapped spots at the top of the standings in the classic race Saturday. Boonstra finished first the following day with a time of 17:22. Berrigan was the runner-up at 17:49. Woodings placed sixth for Palmer, and Bales once again led Wasilla with a 12th-place finish.

In the boys’ classic, Steiner led all Mat-Su skiers with an 11th-place finish. Walling was 14th to lead the Moose.

Colony skier wins Chugiak race

Colony’s Annika Hanestad was best among the girls during the Chugiak Stampede Jan. 14 in Chugiak.

Hanestad finished the 7.5-K classic race in 27 minutes and 29 seconds. She was about 45 seconds faster than runner-up Aubrey LeClair of West Anchorage. Hanestad was one of a pair of Knights to earn top-20 finishes in the girls’ race. Cathelyne Powers was 16th with a time of 31:49.

In the 10-K boys’ race, Gavin Block led the Knights with a 15th-place finish and time of 34:06. Elic Cowan was 23rd with amakr of 35:36. Colony was fifth in the boys’ team standings.

Government Peak Invitational

Jan. 13-14, Palmer

Girls’ 5-K freestyle (Friday):

1. R. Berrigan, Pal 12:57; 2. R. Boonstra, Ken 13:20; 3. R. Lindquist, Sew 13:43; 4. R. Norris, Val 13:53; 5. R. Woodings, Pal 14:30; 6. K. Arthur, Sol 14:33; 7. K. Davis, Hom 15:03; 8. K. Holmes, Hom 15:21; 9. A. Daigle, Hom 15:21; 10. C. Cooper, Ken 15:21; 11. A. Taylor, Pal 15:29; 12. I. Bergholtz, Ken 15:48; 13. S. Lindquist, Sew 16:00; 14. M. Salzetti, Ken 16:21; 15. A. Baxter, Pal 16:27; 16. A. Danielson, Ken 16:33; 17. C. Blackwell, Sol 16:39; 18. M. Erickson, Sol 16:48; 19. C. Bales, Was 16:51; 20. T. Husotn, Val 17:28; 21. E. Downing, Sol 18:39; 22. H. Delker, Sol 19:03; 23. S. Hill, Sol 19:05; 24. K. Hundricks, Sol 22:28.

Boys’ 5-K freestyle (Friday):

1. K. Danielson, Ken 11:44; 2. K. Vinson, Sol 11:45; 3. J. Kupferschmid, Sol 12:32; 4. J. Schuler, Sol 12:42; 5. A. Downing, Sol 12:50; 6. C. Rorach, Hom 12:51; 7. J. Davis, Hom 12:55; 8. P. Michels, Ken 12:56; 9. B. Swanson, Val 13:14; 10. J. Walling, Pal 13:18; 11. E. Kempf, Ken 13:32; 12. J. Sparks, Sol 13:34; 13. J. Dammeyer, Sol 14:21; 14. D. Waclawski, Hom 14:23; 15. J. Harris, Sol 14:24; 16. T. Steiner, Was 14:37; 17. R. Qualls, Pal 14:43; 18. C. Dull, Ken 14:56; 19. T. Debnam, Ken 15:01; 20. A. Ravencraft, Was 15:12; 21. L. Smith, Sew 15:15; 22. E. Sturdy, Sew 15:21; 23. K. Taylor, Pal 15:49; 24. J. Hancock, Val 15:59; 25. M. Singh, Pal 16:18; 26. C. Cummins, Val 16:37; 27. C. Prevost, Val 17:16; 28. K. Greathouse, Was 17:52.

Girls 5-K classic (Saturday)

1. R. Boonstra, Ken 17:22; 2. R. Berrigan Pal 17:49; 3. R. Norris, Val 18:02; 4. R. Lindquist, Sew 18:16; 5. K. Arthur, Sol 19:15; 6. R. Woodings, Pal 19:25; 7. K. Davis, Hom 20:15; 8. I. Bergholtz, Ken 20:17; 9. K. Holmes, 20:22; 10. K. Cooper, Ken 20:42; 11. C. Blackwell, Sol 20:45; 12. C. Bales, Was 20:49; 13. S. Lindquist, Sew 21:09; 14. T. Huston, Val 21:38; 15. M. Erickson, Sol 21:45; 16. A. Daigle, Hom 21:52; 17. A. Danielson, Ken 22:15; 18. S. Hill, Sol 22:38; 19. M. Salzetti, Ken 23:05; 20. H. Delker, Sol 23:33; 21. K. Hendricks, Sol 24:52; 22. E. Downing, Sol 25:06.

Boys; 5-K classic (Saturday):

1. K. Danielson, Ken 14:17; 2. J. Kupferschmid, Sol 15:14; 3. K. Vinson, Sol 15:22; 4. A. Downing, Sol 16:03; 5. J. Sparks, Sol 16:52; 6. C. Rorach, Hom 17:14; 7. J. Shuler, Sol 17:24; 8. J. Davis, Hom 17:47; 9. P. Michels, Ken 17:53; 10. E. Kempf, Ken 18:00; 11. T. Steiner, Was 18:09; 12. B. Swanson, Val 18:17; 13. J. Dammeyer, Sol 18:29; 14. J. Walling, Pal 18:36; 15. T. Debnam, Ken 18:39; 16. J. Harris, Sol 19:00; 17. D. Waclawski, Hom 19:08; 18. M. Signh, Pal 19:32; 19. A. Ravencroft, Was 19:39; 20. R. Qualls, Pal 20:03; 21. C. Dull, Ken 20:11; 22. L. Smith, Sew 20:19; 23. K. Taylor, Pal 21:04; 24. E. Sturdy, Sew 21:11; 25. K. Greathouse, Was 21:28; 26. C. Cummins, Val 23:48; 27. C. Prevost, Val 24:01; 28. J. Hancock, Val 24:16.