South High graduate Jessica Yeaton was one of three skiers with Alaska ties to claim NCAA All-America honors Thursday at the NCAA national championships in Utah.
Yeaton, skiing for Montana State, placed fifth in the women's 5-kilometer classic race at Soldier Hollow.
UAA and UAF each produced an All-America finish -- Lukas Ebner for UAA and Nichole Bathe for UAF.
Ebner finished the men's 10-K classic race in 25 minutes, 28.5 seconds -- good enough for seventh place. It was his second All-America performance for the Seawolves, who now have 140 All-America finishes dating back to 1979. All-America honors go to athletes with top-10 performances at the national meet.
Bathe placed fourth in the women's race in 14:07.7. Yeaton was right behind in 14:21.1.
Competition continues Friday with slalom races.
NCAA championships
Women's 5-K classic -- 1) Anya Gruber, Vermont, 13:38.40. Alaska finishers -- 4) Nichole Bathe, UAF, 14:07.7; 5) Jessica Yeaton, MSU, 14:21.10; 12) Stephanie Kirk, Vermont, 14:32.80; 20) Hannah Boyer, Northern Michigan, 14:48.70; 27) Annie Liotta, MSU, 15:00.50; 29) Marine Dusser, UAA, 15:02.50; 34) Mackenzie Kanady, UAA, 15:25.70; 37) Kate Backstrum, MSU, 15:30.60.
Men's 10-K classic -- 1) Rune Malo Oedegaard, Colorado, 24:34.50. Alaska finishers -- 7) Lukas Ebner, UAA, 25:28.50; 11) Logan Hanneman, UAF, 25:49.90; 14) Silas Talbot, Dartmouth, 25:52.80; 16) Michael Fehrenbach, UAF, 26:11.80; 18) David Norris, MSU, 26:27.30; 24) Scott Patterson, Vermont, 27:05.10; 26) Etienne Richard, UAA, 27:18.70; 39) Andrew Arnold, UAA, 28:40.70.
Special Olympians compete this week
Nearly 300 athletes from across the state will gather in Anchorage this weekend for the Special Olympics Winter Games.
The event begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. with opening ceremonies at East High.
Competition will be held Saturday and Sunday at Hilltop (alpine skiing and snowboarding), East High (nordic skiing, unified floor hockey and snowshoeing and the Dimond Ice Chalet (figure skating).
The closing ceremony is Sunday at 4 p.m. at East.
ORIENTEERING
Snyder skis to win
With fresh snow challenging competitors, Gary Snyder was the only racer to finish the long course Wednesday in a skiing orienteering race at Far North Bicentennial Park.
Snyder found all 15 control in just more than two hours.
Anchorage Orienteering Club
Wednesday, Far North Bicentennial Parl
Short Course -- Men : 1) Regan Sarwas, 37:42; 2) Bill Johnson, 56:00. Women : 1) Joyce Goodell, 1:18. Team: 1) Art Harmon, Niko Pennino, Mark Eggener, 59:00; 2) Leslie Tose, Dwight Iverson, Courtney Brown, 1:20; 2) Tim Wiepking and Barbara Brown, 1:28.
Medium Course -- 1) Lindsey Flagstad (9 controls), Jessie Donahue (9 controls), Pete La France (9 controls), Leslie Kroloff and Jill Folette (5 controls).
Long Course -- 1) Gary Snyder, 2:04.
Anchorage Daily News