The Homer Skiathon is a 4.6-kilometer skate race followed by a 100-meter run where skiers transition to their classic skis and the ski an additional 3K. The conditions at the Jan. 7 event at Lookout Mountain were perfect for both the racing and the run transition.
Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra and Homer’s Jody Goodrich won individual titles Saturday at the Homer Invitational at Lookout Mountain, while the Soldotna girls and Homer boys won the team titles.
Boonstra won at 29 minutes, 17.81 seconds, while Soldotna’s Ariana Cannava was second at 29:56.56 and Kenai’s Emily Moss was third at 32:02.97. Homer got a fourth from Eryn Fields (33:28.48) and fifth from Daisy Walker (35:39.60).
The SoHi girls won the team title at 2:14:14.11, while Homer was second at 2:26:45.78 and Kenai was third at 2:28:59.69.
Goodrich won the boys race at 24:13.38 and Homer won four of the top five spots. Also for the Mariners, Garrett Briscoe was second (24:26.01), Ethan Styvar was third (24:51.35) and Seamus McDonough was fifth at 26:22.25. Kenai’s Jack Laker was fourth at 25:03.96.
The Homer boys won with 1:39:52.99, while Soldotna was second at 1:50:07.50 and Kenai was third at 1:51:54.91.
Goodrich also competed at the Besh Cup races at Government Peak in the Matanuska-Susitna valleys Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, in the classic sprints for those Under 16 and over, Goodrich finished 50th.
Sunday, in the 7.5-kilometer interval freestyle start for those Under 16 and over, Goodrich was 44th in 22 minutes, 40 seconds. Derek Richardson of the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center won at 19:06.
Homer Invitational
Saturday at Lookout Mountain
BOYS
Team scores: 1. Homer, 1 hour, 39 minutes, 52.99 seconds; 2. Soldotna, 1:50:07.50; 3. Kenai, 1:51:54.91.
Individual skiathlon results (4K skate, 3K classic)
1. Jody Goodrich, Hom, 24:13.38; 2. Garrett Briscoe, Hom, 24:26.01; 3. Ethan Styvar, Hom, 24:51.35; 4. Jack Laker, Ken, 25:03.96; 5. Seamus McDonough, Hom, 26:22.25; 6. Nobel Cassidy, Sol, 26:36.36; 7. Andrew Cox, Sol, 26:41.41; 8. Chase Laker, Ken 27:52,80; 9. Ben Boersma, Ken, 27:57.88; 10. Johannes Bynagle, Hom, 28:15.20; 11. Benjamin Abel, Sol, 28:20.50; 12. Levi Mickelson, Sol, 28:29.23; 13. Michael Davidson, Sol, 28:36.41; 14. Carter Cannava, Sol, 29:13.61; 15. Jonathan Gordon, Sol, 30:45.10; 16. Owen Smith, Ken, 31:00.27; 17. Leif Jaworski, Hom, 31:15.63; 18. Lukas Renner, Hom, 33:51.44.
GIRLS
Team scores: 1. Soldotna, 2:14:14.11; 2. Homer, 2:26:45.78; 3. Kenai, 2:28:59.69.
Individual skiathlon results (4K skate, 3K classic)
1. Tania Boonstra, Sol, 29:17.81; 2. Ariana Cannava, Sol, 29:56.56; 3. Emily Moss, Ken, 32:02.97; 4. Eryn Fields, Hom, 33:28.48; 5. Daisy Walker, Hom, 35:59.60; 6. Sienna Hardyman, Hom, 35:55.35; 7. Madison McDonald, Ken, 36:49.98; 8. Leanne Gordon, Sol, 36:50.32; 9. Avery Cuifo, Sol, 38:09.42; 10. Mya Taylor, Ken, 38:30.08; 11. Lynnea Hack, Ken, 41:36.66; 12. Xinlan Tanner, Ken, 41:41.46; 13. Beatrix McDonough, Hom, 41:42.35; 14. Audrey McDonald, Ken, 42:52.28; 15. Leah Dunn, Hom, 43:50.97.
Jody Goodrich, takes off next to Kenai’s top skier, Jack Laker, at the Homer Invitational at Lookout Mountain, in Homer, Alaska. Jan. 7, 2023. (Photo courtesy Jonah Meershan)
