Homer Alaska - Sports

For the first time in more than a decade, Homer has taken a borough cross-country skiing title. Mariner boys skied for a total time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 12 seconds, 3 ½ minutes faster than second place SoHi at the Tsalteshi trails last Saturday at Skyview High School in Soldotna.

"Those guys did awesome. It's neat that they're being rewarded for the hard work," said Mariners Head Coach Jan Spurkland.

Spurkland said the boys' performance sets them up nicely for a run at the region title.

Andre Lovett crossed the finish line first in the boys' 10-kilometer freestyle varsity race. Parker Sorensen finished fourth; Brian Rowe, sixth; Kevin Rowe, 11th; Josh Vantrease,18th; Dan Adickes, 22nd; and Kyle Wentz, 24th. "There was a lot of blue and yellow there at the front of the pack," Spurkland said.

The girls team took third in the borough, two minutes behind Kenai and three ahead of Skyview.

Marie Schmidt was sixth in the 6-km race. Mady Gerard came in seventh, Alaine Miller, 12th; Emily Schmidt, 14th; Cassidy Soistman, 17th; and Katie Schmidt, 26th.

The regional championships tomorrow and Saturday is the last meet that the whole Mariner ski team will attend. Tsalteshi will be the site of 3- and 5-kilometer classic races and 7.5- and 10-km skate races that determine which six skiers will go to state.

See www.homernews.com/sports for full results.

Borough championships team standings:

Boys:

1)Homer 2:01:12 2)SoHi 2:04:49 3)Skyview 2:08:14 4)Kenai 2:09:37 Girls:

1)SoHi 1:30:47 2)Kenai 1:39:18 3)Homer 1:41:29 4)Skyview 1:44:49