Homer Alaska - Sports

The Homer girls cross-country ski team finished just behind the Soldotna powerhouse led by the dynamic Mucha duo last weekend in Colony, while the boys finished near the middle of the pack, taking sixth out of nine.

A few of Homer's younger skiers were able to make good on some in-house competitive goals, beating out the Bursch sisters as top placers on Jan. 29.

"Marie Schmidt and Kaya Morelli came in first and second for Homer, followed by Maggie and Frannie, so that was a good upset in our normal team standings," said Assistant Coach Megan Spurkland.

"Our girls did great and came in a solid second, four minutes before Palmer. Palmer had a few of their girls out getting ready for Besh Cups but I still think we could beat them with that four minute margin," she said.

Spurkland said that the course in Colony was tough and dirty, with skiers starting out their runs in the middle of the course and only about 20 feet of snow between the finishing line and dirt at the end, with sugary snow that some skiers found difficult to wax for appropriately.

The Homer girls squad has continued to ski in a pack, with its top four placers routinely on one another's tails throughout both days of competition.

On the boys' side of things Andre Lovett continues to dominate the top spot on the squad, but overall finishes have left homer on the shallow side of the middle of the pack.

Friday 3 km

Boys -- 9) Andre Lovett, 9:30:01; 20) Parker Sorensen, 9:54:07; 21) Kevin Rowe, 9:56:06; 25) Tux Seims, 9:59:04; 29) Dylan Critchett, 10:11:08; 39) Kyle Wentz, 10:34:01.

Girls – 6) Marie Schmidt, 10:40:07; 7) Kaya Morelli, 10:43:08; 8) Maggie Bursch, 10:44:07; 10) Frances Bursch, 10:59:01.

Saturday 6 km

Boys – 9) Andre Lovett, 18:15:06; 29) Kevin Rowe, 19:30:07; 31) Parker Sorensen, 19:33:07; 33) Tux Seims, 19:40:07.

Girls – 7) Maggie Bursch, 20:59.09; 10) Frances Bursch, 21:22:08; 14) Marie Schmidt, 21:52:02; 16) Denali Critchett, 22:22:09;19) Alaine Miller, 22:50:02; 21) Kaya Morelli, 23:09:02;

Team Results

Boys – 1) Kenai 1:08:11.46; 2) Soldotna 1:10:07.37; 3) Skyview 1:10:46.34; 4) Palmer 1:11:40.20; 5) Colony 1:15:47.35; 6) Homer 1:16:17.45; 7) Seward 1:11:40.20; 8) Wasilla 1:22:26.45; 9) Valdez 1:28:00:33.

Girls -- 1) Soldotna 1:22:18.35; 2) Homer 1:30:28.44; 3) Palmer 1:34:27.38; 4) Kenai 1:34:35.40; 5) Colony 1:40:49.36; 6) Valdez 1;43:29.43; 7) Skyview 1:44:03.24.