Valley squads sweep Mat-Su Invitational team titles

PALMER — Less than two seconds separated twins in the boys race and Valley squads swept the team standings as local cross-country skiers competed in their first official race of the 2015-16 season Saturday afternoon during the Mat-Su Invitational at the Government Peak Recreation Area near Palmer.

Colony’s Dawson Knopp edged twin brother Tracen by 1.5 seconds to win the boys’ 5-kilometer classic race. Dawson Knopp clocked a time of 11:30.0, while Tracen was just behind at 11:31.5. The Knopp brothers were among three Knights to finish in the top 6 of the boys standings. Dakota Peterson-Thompson was sixth, with a mark of 12:27, and the trio helped Colony win the boys team title, with a total time of 49:02.

Palmer’s Josiah Alverts rounded out an all-Valley top 3 in the boys race, finishing third with a time of 11:36. Wasilla’s Eli Ickes posted a 10th-place finish to lead the Warriors. Michael Jurasek was 24th to lead Susitna Valley.

Palmer placed a pair of skiers in the top 4 of the girls’ 5K classic. Rya Berrigan was the runner-up with a time of 14:26. Ruby Woodings finished fourth with a mark of 14:46. The duo helped Palmer edge Kenai for the girls’ team title. Palmer finished with a total time of 1:00:54, 16 seconds faster than Kenai’s 1:01:12. Eva Bingham (15:44) finished 10th for the Moose. Lisbeth Olsen led Colony with a third-place finish, clocking a time of 14:32. Alyson Kopsack (15:52) was 11th for Colony. Kayla Munday’s time of 19:52 led Wasilla.

Mat-Su Invitational

Saturday, Gov Peak Rec Area

Girls team scores:

1. Palmer 1:00:54.2; 2. Kenai 1:01:12.4; 3. Colony 1:03:29.8; 4. Homer 1:04:50; 5. Soldotna 1:12:03.5; 6. Valdez 1:10:00.9; 7. Wasilla 1:21:31.3.

Boys team scores:

1. Colony 49.02.2; 2. Soldotna 50:47.9; 3. Palmer 56:48.2; 4. Kenai 58:48.2; 5. Homer 1:02:26.2; 6. Valdez 1:17:00.8.

Girls individual results:

1. A. Gibson, Ken 13:56; 2. R. Berrigan, Pal 14:26; 3. L. Olsen, Col 14:32; 4. R. Woodings, Pal 14:46; 5. R. Norris, Val 15:05; 6. M. Salzetti, Ken 15:08; 7. K. Cooper, Ken 15:20; 8. R. Ellert, Hom 15:37; 9. K, Arthur, Sol 15:42; 10. E. Bingham, Pal 15:44; 11. A. Kopsack, Col 15:52; 12. S. Feige, Pal 15:57; 13. M. Vantrease, Hom 16:11; 14. C. Powers, Col 16:24; 15. S. Wolf, Hom 16:29; 16. M. Alexson, Hom 16:31; 17. I. Block, Col 16:40; 18. I. Bergholtz, Ken 16:46; 19. A. Baxter, Pal 17:05; 20. M. Lundin, Pal 17:14; 21. M. Chythlook, Sol 17:41; 22. L. Leadbetter, Col 17:55; 23. B .Bennett, Sol 18:04; 24. M. Michaud, Ken 18:05; 25. M. Lindeman, Ken 18:13; 26. M. Salzetti, Ken 18:24; 27. T. Huston, Ken 18:51; 28. K. Munday, Was 18:52; 29. O. Tennant, Pal 19:02; 30. E. Wright, Col 19:09; 31. G. Miller, Pal 19:12; 32. J. McNelly, Val 19:35; 33. A. Syvertson, Was 19:52; 34. C Morton, Ken 20:08; 35. N. Pollock, Ken 20:08; 36. T. French, Col 20:12; 37. T. Ulman, Col 20:24; 38. H. Delker, Sol 20:34; 39. S. Hollers, Ken 20:44; 40. C. Bales, Was 20:53; 41. K. Hallstrom, Was 21:53; 42. C. Harrell, SV 21:59; 43. A. Noetzold, Sol 22:01; 44. K. Germain, SV 22:10; 45. K. Hendricks, Sol 22:13; 46. G. Singh, Pal 22:13.3; 47. A. Nurmatova, Sol 22:34; 48. B. Fosgard, Ken 22:47; 49. L. Alverts, Pal 23:17; 50. H. Holcomb, SV 23:18; 51. C. Copson, Col 23:34; 52. T. Malone, Col 24:34; 53. K. Matturo, Ken 24:37; 54. H. Janecek, Ken 25:19; 55. A. Foster, Was 25:19; 56. A. Alfaro, Val 25:28; 57. M. Little, Was 25:52; 58. E. Syth, Hom 26:49; 59. L. Sage, Col 28:47; 60. C. Yerbich, Col 28:52; 61. T. Vangorder, Col 29:57; 62. D. Doyle, Ken 30:22; 63. M. Tickner, Ken 39:21.

Boys individual results:

1. D. Knopp, Col 11:30; 2. T. Knopp, Col 11:31; 3. J. Alverts, Pal 11:36; 4. K. Danielson, Ken 11:47; 5. L. Michael, Sol 11:52; 6. D. Peterson-Thompson, Col 12:27; 7. K. Vinson, Sol 12:54; 8. J. Kupferschmid, Sol 12:57; 9. A. Downing, Sol 13:03; 10. E. Ickes, Was 13:11; 11. T. Farring, Col 13:32; 12. C. Rouch, Hom 14:01; 13. J. Davis, Hom 14:03; 14. B. Grover, Col 14:12; 15. B. Swalling, Pal 14:16; 16. J. Houston, Pal 14:16; 17. E. Kempf, Ken 14:16; 18. J. Shuler, Sol 14:20; 19. B. Swanson, Val 15:03; 20. N. Kristich, Col 15:04; 21. J. Sparks, Sol 15:43; 22. S. Deering, Col 15:47; 23. M. Torkelson, Ken 16:06; 24. M. Jurasek, SV 16:19; 25. J. Wisner, Hom 16:34; 26. C. Dull, Ken 16:38; 27. R. Qualls, Pal 16:38; 28. J. Dammeyer, Sol 16:42; 29. T. Debnam, Ken 16:54; 30. M. Singh, Pal 17:22; 31. B. Sutherland, Col 17:38; 32. S. Relay, Val 17:42; 33. E. Super, Hom 17:46; 34. W. Benjamin, Sol 18:00; 35. D. Halfacre, Col 18:01; 36. M. Clyde, Col 18:05; 37. D. Cordero, Pal 18:17; 38. K. McKimmey, Pal 18:23; 39. R. Taylor, Ken 18:29; 40. A. Super, Hom 18:34; 41. C. Prevost, Val 19:13; 42. E. Cowan, Col 19:42; 43. M. Chapman, Col 19:53; 44. B. Morrow, Ken 21:10; 45. C. Strong, Ken 21:44; 46. R. Stankowitz, SV 22:21; 47. B. Olsen, Ken 23:09; 48. I. Amberg, Val 25:01; 49. C. Cummins, Val 25:04; 50. B. Smith, Col 38:03.