It was an Anchorage affair -- south-side style -- in Thursday's opening race of the state nordic skiing championships at the Birch Hill Recreational Area in Fairbanks.
The Service girls and South boys each grabbed Day 1 leads in the team standings thanks to their plethora of top-ten classical style performers.
Service's Esther Kennedy edged Chugiak's Kinsey Loan by 1.3 seconds to win the girls 5-kilometer race and lead five Cougars into the top 10. Annie Liotta of West finished third.
Among the boys, it was the usual suspects from Anchorage -- Service's Tyler Kornfield and South's Scott Patterson and Andrew Dougherty.
Kornfield was the winner in 21 minutes, 32.7 seconds, beating Patterson by 4.6 seconds in the 7.5-K race. In third place, in 22:04.6, was Dougherty.
The victory gives Kornfield a slim lead over Patterson in the battle for Skimeister honors, which goes to the boy and girl with the fastest combined times from the two individual races.
Patterson is the defending Skimeister and picked up his second straight regional Skimeister title at last week's Cook Inlet Conference championships.
"It is a big deal," Kornfield said. "It would be important to win it to end my high school career."
Patterson and Dougherty put South into the team lead. Three skiers from South placed in the top six and four were in the top 12 as the Wolverines built more than a two-minute lead over second-place West, which was led by Nick Treinen's fourth-place finish. Joining Patterson and Dougherty in the top 12 were teammates Aaron Fletcher (sixth) and Sam Dougherty (12th).
The race was held in 20-degree temperatures and moderate snowfall.
"The trail was great," Andrew Dougherty said. "This is the first time I've skied in Fairbanks where it was warmer than 10 degrees. That makes it a lot more enjoyable."
Racing continues at Birch Hill with today's 7.5-K girls and 10-K boys freestyle races.
2009 ASAA State Nordic Skiing Championships
At Birch Hill Recreation Area, Fairbanks
Thursday's Girls Classical Results
Team Standings -- 1) Service 1:11:38.3; 2) Chugiak 1:13:25.9; 3) South 1:13:44.7; 4) West 1:15:29.4; 5) Soldotna 1:15:46.5; 6) West Valley 1:16:58.6; 7) Palmer 1:19:38.2; 8) Lathrop 1:20:07.1; 9) Homer 1:20:09.5; 10) East 1:21:01.0; 11) Colony 1:22:19.3; 12) Kenai 1:23:18.6; 13) Grace Christian 1:26:00.9; 14) Eagle River 1:26:20.6; 15) Dimond 1:27:21.1; 16) North Pole 1:28:39.6; 17) Valdez 1:30.11.1; 18) Wasilla 1:31:03.5; 19) Seward 1:31:45.3; 20) Skyview 1:35:44.4; 21) Bartlett 1:38:31.5.
Individual Results (5-K) -- 1) Esther Kennedy, Ser, 17:29.2; 2) Kinsey Loan, Chu, 17:30.5; 3) Annie Liotta, Wes, 17:40.5; 4) Karina Packer, Sou, 17:45.1; 5) Rebecca Mamrol, Ser, 17:50.6; 6) Kailey Mucha, Sol, 17:51.7; 7) Mackenzie Kanady, Ser, 18:07.3; 8) Lauren Hess, Ser, 18:11.2; 9) Alyson McPhetres, Chu, 18:16.2; 10) Greta Anderson, Ser, 18:19.8; 11) Christina Knapp, Eas, 18:20.1; 12) Kate Backstrum, Sou, 18:22.8; 13) Anna Price, Ser, 18:25.2; 14) Molly Watkins, Ken, 18:29.8; 15) Tristan Ramey, Sou, 18:32.3; 16) Marisa Rorabaugh, WV, 18:36.7; 17) Kimberly Delfrate, Pal, 18:38.5; 18) Heather Edic, Lat, 18:40.1; 19) Morgan Bender, Chu, 18:46.8; 20) Hannah Boyer, WV, 18:48.8; 21) Kryston McPhetres, Chu, 18:52.4; 22) Celia Haering, Wes, 18:53.8; 23) Sarah Cresap, GC, 18:57.1; 24) Christi Schmitz, NP, 19:04.1; 25) Sarah Falcone, Sou, 19:04.5;
26) Maranda Merkes, Sol, 19:05.6; 27) Emily Rogers, Sou, 19:05.7; 28) Bree Mucha, Sol, 19:16.3; 29) Megan Baker, Wes, 19:25.2; 30) Maggie Bursch, Homer, 19:27.5; 31) Molly Larsen, Wes, 19:29.9; 32) Brittany Hippe, Dim, 19:32.1; 33) Jasmine Clock, Sol, 19:32.9; 34) Eliza Rorabaugh, WV, 19:36.6; 35) Mikayla Hamlin, Lat, 19:41.3; 36) Kristi Louthan, Ken, 19:47.7; 37) Amanda Delfrate, Pal, 19:56.2; 38) Wendy Boger, WV, 19:56.5; 39) Jaclyn Arndt, Homer, 19:59.8; 40) Bonnie Scott, Chu, 20:04.1; 41) Caitlin Skvorc, Col, 20:07.0; 42) Shannon Stough, Pal, 20:10.5; 43) Emma Laukitis, Homer, 20:17.6; 44) Sarah Poggi, ER, 20:22.3; 45) Sydney Stewart, Col, 20:22.9; 46) Makenzie Barnwell, Sew, 20:24.2; 47) Frances Bursch, Homer, 20:24.6; 48) Melissa Flynn, Eas, 20:24.7; 49) Katie Miller, Homer, 20:26.6; 50) Stephanie Dow, Sou, 20:28.6;
51) Rebecca Farr, Eas, 20:32.6; 52) Rosemary Hanson, Lat, 20:41.7; 53) Jasmine Neeno, Wes, 20:42.5; 54) Madigan Stanley, Wes, 20:44.6; 55) Jackie Klecka, ER, 20:48.7; 56) Ellen VanGorder, Col, 20:49.0; 57) Lara Frisch, Val, 20:50.6; 58) Laura Whitmore, Pal, 20:53.0; 59) Melanie Smith, Sol, 20:54.2; 60) Mariah Shones, Pal, 20:58.5; 61) Elizabeth Whisenhant, WV, 20:58.9; 62) Abby Jahn, Col, 21:00.4; 63) Megan Edic, Lat, 21:04.0; 64) Marie Schmidt, Homer, 21:04.8; 65) D.Anne Martin, Sol, 21:13.1; 66) Kim Fitzgerald, Lat, 21:15.8; 67) Sydney Stone, Lat, 21:17.4; 68) Mariah Applegate, GC, 21:17.8; 69) Morgan Michels, SV, 21:18.4; 70) Megan O'Leary, Sew, 21:27.8; 71) Rachael Schmoker, WV, 21:37.1; 72) Kelley Schmitz, NP, 21:38.8; 73) Sarah Freistone, Dim, 21:40.5; 74) Rachel Carey, Eas, 21:43.6; 75) Cory Schleich, Was, 21:46.0;
76) Valerie Schleich, Was, 21:54.5; 77) Kristen Lessard, Chu, 21:57.4; 78) Lindsay Dreese, Col, 21:57.7; 79) Rachael Echols, Bar, 22:00.2; 80) Jenny Klecka, ER, 22:07.8; 81) Taylor Stewart, Col, 22:11.9; 82) Vanessa Anderson, Ken, 22:16.4; 83) Samantha Feemster, Sew, 22:16.9; 84) Melissa Grammer, Val, 22:33.4; 85) Stephanie Stephens, Pal, 22:37.8; 86) Michelle Klaben, Ken, 22:44.7; 87) Jaala Gionet, GC, 22:44.9; 88) Olivia Pfiefer, Ken, 22:56.0; 89) Betsy Winkle, GC, 23:01.1; 90) Sarah Frankl, ER, 23:01; 91) Ashley Strauch, Dim, 23:03.9; 92) Sarah-Marie Chan, Dim, 23:04.6; 93) Hannah Norris, Val, 23:20.4; 94) Katherine Parker, Was, 23:21.0; 95) Carol Clonan, Sky, 23:26.4; 96) Tristen Larson, Val, 23:26.7; 97) Valerie Stewart, ER, 23:40.7; 98) Brenna Wheeler, ER, 23:42.2; 99) Malalaika Kelly, Val, 23:45.7; 100) Josephine Reagle, Eas, 23:45.8;
101) Tamlyn Silva, Sky, 23:46.0; 102) Elisha Hollers, Sky, 23:53.6; 103) Rita Spann, NP, 23:56.4; 104) Charlotte Goffinet, NP, 24:00.3; 105) Jenna Wright, Was, 24:02.0; 106) Allyse Eide, NP, 24:06.6; 107) Kaitlyn Meyers, Bar, 24:32.1; 108) McKinley Wallace, Eas, 24:38.1; 109) Meera Oftedal, Sky, 24:38.4; 109) Robin Stramp, Dim, 24:38.4; 111) Nichole Rood, NP, 24:45.8; 112) Christine O'Callaghan, Bar, 25:07.3; 113) Janice Simmons, Val, 25:33.1; 114) Kailyn Davis, Dim, 25:33.9; 115) Robyn Hall, Was, 25:51.5; 116) Lillian Bassler, GC, 26:17.6; 117) Sonja Wood, Bar, 26:51.9; 118) Katie Clonan, Sky, 27:24.0; 119) Melissa Cunniff, Bar, 27:31.1; 120) Amanda Olsen, Sew, 27:36.4; 121) Gabby Serventi, GC, 28:03.3.
Thursday's Boys Classical Results
Team Standings -- 1) South 1:30.34.3; 2) West 1:32:58.9; 3) Service 1:34:40.2; 4) Lathrop 1:35:30.6; 5) West Valley 1:40:52.6; 6) Palmer 1:41:44.2; 7) Soldotna 1:41:51.7; 8) Chugiak 1:43:42.6; 9) East 1:45:08.1; 10) Homer 1:46:59.2; 11) Colony 1:47:22.0; 12) Dimond 1:48:36.4; 13) Skyview 1:50:59.0; 14) Wasilla 1:54:30.0; 15) Kenai 1:55:05.5; 16) Seward 1:56:55.1; 17) Su Valley 1:57:21.0; 18) Eagle River 1:58:47.2; 19) Grace Christian 2:01:10.6; 20) Bartlett 2:07:42.6; 21) Valdez 2:11:15.7.
Individual Results (7.5-K) -- 1) Tyler Kornfield, Ser, 21:32.7; 2) Scott Patterson, Sou, 21:37.3; 3) Andrew Dougherty, Sou, 22:04.6; 4) Nicholas Treinen, Wes, 22:24.6; 5) Erin Phillips, Eas, 23:04.2; 6) Aaron Fletcher, Sou, 23:09.9; 7) Donald Haering, Wes, 23:11.4; 8) Logan Hanneman, Lat, 23:16.6; 9) Jordan Buetow, Lat, 23:24.5; 10) James Crimp, Wes, 23:32.3; 11) Silas Talbot, Ser, 23:35.4; 12) Sam Dougherty, Sou, 23:42.5; 13) Neil Liotta, Wes, 23:50.6; 14) Forrest Mahlen, Sou, 24:08.7; 15) Robert Hovda, Lat, 24:17.9; 16) Kyle Barnhart, Ser, 24:18.3; 17) Kelsey Boyer, WV, 24:19.9; 18) Patrick Nugent, Lat, 24:31.6; 19) Lars Arneson, Cook Inlet, 24:41.0; 19) Dunedin Strickland, Pal, 24:41.0; 21) Travis Semmens, Sol, 24:45.3; 22) Jacob Remington, WV, 24:47.6; 23) Anders Nyquist, Ken, 24:57.8; 24) Isaac Lammers, Chu, 24:59.6; 24) Davis Dunlap, Pal, 24:59.6;
26) Vanya Rybkin, WV, 25:04.9; 27) Corbyn Jahn, Col, 25:10.8; 28) John Glen, Ser, 25:13.8; 29) Will Anderson, Homer, 25:14.4; 30) Aaron Chase, Sol, 25:19.9; 31) Ben Fitzgerald, Chu, 25:23.3; 32) Nathaniel Knapp, Eas, 25:24.7; 33) Wylie Mangelsdorf, Pal, 25:26.5; 34) Ian Mannix, SV, 25:28.1; 35) Kyle Todd, Dim, 25:34.2; 36) Scott Wheeler, Wes, 25:42.4; 37) Josh Branham, Lat, 25:46.6; 38) Ryan Sanders, Sol, 25:47.0; 39) Hunter Jackinsky, Sky, 25:47.9; 40) Kyle Carpenter, Dim, 25:58.4; 41) Gabe Murray, Sol, 25:59.5; 42) Jack Novak, Sou, 26:17.1; 43) Stefan Hajdukovich, Lat, 26:17.7; 44) Dan Bradley, Chu, 26:19.4; 45) Jacob Arthen, ER, 26:22.0; 46) Gunner Williams, Col, 26:24.5; 47) Andrew Arnold, GC, 26:27.1; 48) Jacob Kirk, GC, 26:31.1; 49) Leif Johnson, Was, 26:33.7; 50) Ted Hoople, Pal, 26:37.1;
51) James Leder, WV, 26:40.2; 52) Baruch Chamberlain, Was, 26:40.8; 53) Jordan Merkes, Sol, 26:46.8; 54) Jack Anderson, Homer, 26:47.5; 55) Jacob Hakala, Chu, 27:00.3; 56) Kevin Rowe, Homer, 27:02.2; 57) IntiMayo Harbison, Sol, 27:06.5; 58) Kenneth Brewer, Chu, 27:18.3; 59) Conrad Chapman, Chu, 27:23.4; 60) Bryce Monaco, Dim, 27:33.6; 61) Jani Lane, Ser, 27:35.3; 62) Jacob Simon, Pal, 27:35.7; 63) Dan Fink, Eas, 27:42.6; 64) Will Wright, Wes, 27:45.1; 65) Schyler Knopp, Col, 27:45.3; 66) Leif Danielson, Sky, 27:53.9; 67) Patrick Schneider, Homer, 27:55.1; 68) Andre Lovett, Homer, 27:59.5; 69) Jonathan Mastroyanis, Col, 28:01.4; 70) Michael Zweifel, Sew, 28:03.8; 71) Hugh Cosgrave, Ser, 28:07.0; 72) Steven Sinnett, Col, 28:23.7; 73) Andrew Ferfinoff, Sew, 28:31.5; 74) Ryan Helminski, Sky, 28:33.4; 75) Brayden Holt, Sky, 28:43.8;
76) Alec Sweetland, Sky, 28:49.8; 77) Joey Hansmeyer, Eas, 28:56.6; 78) Andrew McConnell, Pal, 28:57.8; 79) Abe Meyerhofer, Col, 29:01.5; 80) Tim Flynn, Eas, 29:12.6; 81) Cole Beck, Val, 29:13.4; 82) Carl Richmond, WV, 29:14.2; 83) Tyler Figley, SV, 29:14.9; 84) Justin Marsh, Sky, 29:17.3; 85) Victor Wickwire, WV, 29:21.9; 86) Trevor Clayton, Dim, 29:30.2; 87) James Watkins, Ken, 29:32.7; 88) Brett Chase, Sew, 29:35.5; 89) John Sanders, ER, 30:05.6; 90) Anton Krull, Ken, 30:07.4; 91) Connor Mattson, Was, 30:25.0; 92) Aaron Williams, Ken, 30:27.6; 93) Joseph Nyholm, Sew, 30:44.3; 94) Alex Schumann, Dim, 30:48.1; 95) Josh Pakhala, Was, 30:50.5; 96) Jacob Wahry, Eas, 30:51.3; 97) Evan Atchley, Ken, 31:00.0; 98) Erskine Frank, Dim, 31:00.1; 99) Matthew Johnson, ER, 31:07.4; 100) Michael Bramer, Bar, 31:09.5;
101) Cameron Johnson, ER, 31:12.2; 102) Elias Curtis, SV, 31:12.7; 103) Justin Herrick, ER, 31:15.4; 104) Suvan Sterling, SV, 31:25.7; 105) Robert Colles, Bar, 31:31.8; 106) Jacob Timmons, ER, 31:38.2; 107) Tyler Greeson, Bar, 31:39.0; 108) Austin Gillespie, Sew, 31:57.7; 109) Kenley Scarlett, Ken, 32:32.9; 110) Kasey Walker, Val, 32:38.6; 111) Quinn Verfaillie, Val, 32:49.2; 112) Rick Loveless, Was, 33:00.9; 113) Matt Stoller, NP, 33:11.9; 114) James Colles, Bar, 33:22.3; 115) P.J. Sebastiani, Bar, 33:37.6; 116) Matthew Eller, GC, 33:46.4; 117) Levi Turner, GC, 34:26.0; 118) Matthew Viergutz, GC, 36:26.9; 119) Brett Wells, Val, 36:34.5; 120) Casey Reece, NP, 40:33.4; 121) Matt Adamson, Val, 40:52.5.
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