The Homer High School cross country ski teams got off to a strong start this past weekend during the Homer Invitational Classic Race on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the Lookout Mountain Recreation Area. The Homer boys’ varsity team took first place overall, with the Homer girls coming in second.
Homer, Soldotna, Kenai, Seward and Grace Christian teams competed in the 7.7-kilometer mass-start classic Nordic ski race. Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra took first place in the girls’ race, and SoHi beat out Homer by 15 seconds to win first overall.
“I’m very proud of our girls,” Homer head coach Jessie Goodrich said Tuesday, adding that Saturday’s meet was the closest that the Homer girls have come to beating SoHi since she started coaching.
The Homer Invitational was the first race of the season — and a tough race for a few reasons, Goodrich said.
“It was pretty cold out, and this was a two-lap race — that’s particularly tough for the kids because they’re coming into the finish and then going back out again,” she said. “I’m proud of my team, and of all the kids. They really saw it through.”
Homer will travel to the Government Peak Recreation Area in the Valley this weekend for a meet hosted by Colony High School, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10.
Homer Invitational Classic Race Results
Lookout Mountain Recreation Area, Homer
Team Scores
Girls
1. Soldotna, 137.22; 2. Homer, 137.94; 3. Kenai, 142.81; 4. Grace, 150.43; 5. Seward.
Boys
1. Homer, 106.76; 2. Soldotna, 107.34; 3. Kenai, 116.62; 4. Grace, 122.04.
Girls Varsity
1. Tania Boonstra, Sol, 27:29; 2. Kathryn Cox, Sol, 29:56; 3. Isla Crouse, Ken, 30:36; 4. Myra Kalafut, Hom, 33:50; 5. Freya Bartlett, Hom, 33:51; 6. Indigo Leslie, Sew, 34:26; 7. Etta Bynagle, Hom, 34:39; 8. Teresa Fallon, Ken, 36:05; 9. Ruby Davis, Ken, 36:30; 10. Adelaide Bell, Grace, 36:40; 11. Hannah Klima, Hom, 36:54; 12. Sydney Mondeel, Grace, 37:29; 13. Avery Reger, Grace, 37:59; 14. Cate Merriner, Grace, 39:15; 15. Hazel Tulip, Grace, 39:37; 16. Emily Taylor, Ken, 40:10; 17. Breckin Sulley, Sol, 40:16; 18. Shelby Huffer, Sol, 40:21; 19. Kailey Crouse, Ken, 41:24; 20. Abigail Bishop, Ken, 44:33; 21. Sophia Tews, Ken, 47:17; 22. Olivia Tews, Ken, DNF.
Boys Varsity
1. Michael Davidson, Sol, 24:48; 2. Johannes Bynagle, Hom, 24:57; 3. Fletcher Darr, Ken, 25:12; 4. Ollie Dahl, Sol, 25:24; 5. Charlie Rustand, Hom, 26:37; 6. Tait Ostrom, Hom, 26:44; 7. Parker Richards, Sol, 27:07; 8. Easton Rodes, Grace, 27:48; 9. Levi Strong, Ken, 28:04; 10. Daniel Christ, Hom, 29:36; 11. Grant Eldridge, Grace, 29:57; 12. Jacob Ries, Sol, 30:29; 13. Tracker Keller, Sol, 31:02; 14. Luke Karpik, 31:31; 15. Andrew Zingone, Grace, 31:59; 16. Caleb Able, Sol, 32:05; 17. Brock Ala, Ken, 32:15; 18. Eli Pancoast, Ken, 32:18; 19. Rubis Gervais, Hom, 32:42; 20. Logan Cartwright, Ken, 33:18; 21. Cooper Martin, Grace, 33:40; 22. Noah Pancoast, Ken, 34:36; 23. Leif Laker, Ken, 34:45; Aaron Fletcher, Sol, 35:54.
Soldotna High School’s Tania Boonstra leads the pack at the start of the girls varsity classic cross country ski race on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at the Lookout Mountain Recreation Area in Homer, Alaska. Photo courtesy Jessie Goodrich
