Kenai Central’s Emily Moss and Colony’s Jayden Rice lead the Kenai Pursuit at Tsalteshi Trails after Friday’s first day of racing.

The two-day event concludes today with a skate race of about 6 kilometers at Tsalteshi. The event will be done in a pursuit format, meaning skiers go out according to the times they were behind the leader in Friday’s race. The boys race starts at 10:30 a.m., while the girls start at 11:15 a.m.

Moss finished the 7-kilometer classic race Friday in 25 minutes, 10 seconds, to earn the right to take off first from the line today. Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra finished second at 25:22, meaning she will take off 12 seconds behind Moss. Colony’s Kaija Backus finished at 26:05.

Also in the top 10 from the Kenai Peninsula were Soldotna’s Leanne Gordon in eighth at 27:52, Soldotna’s Avery Cuifo in ninth at 28:05 and Homer’s Eryn Field in 10th at 28:14.

The boys race will see a parade of Colony skiers start first. Colony’s Jayden Rice won Friday’s 7K classic in 21:34. Also for the Knights, Clayton Steer was second at 21:36, Weston Sensabaugh was third at 22:00 and Coby Marvin was fourth at 22:07.

From the peninsula, Soldotna’s Andrew Cox was fifth at 22:19, Kenai’s Jack Laker was sixth at 22:29, Homer’s Garrett Briscoe was seventh at 22:35, Soldotna’s Levi Mickelson was eighth at 22:52 and Soldotna’s Jonathan Gordon was 10th at 23:01.

Kenai Pursuit

Friday at Tsalteshi Trails

GIRLS

7-kilometer classic results — 1. Emily Moss, Ken, 25 minutes, 10 seconds; 2. Tania Boonstra, Sol, 25:22; 3. Kaija Backus, Col, 26:05; 4. Lucy Shea, Col, 26:27; 5. Anna Bell, Col, 27:04; 6. Stella Rose, Col, 27:18; 7. Josie Peace, Pal, 27:45; 8. Leanne Gordon, Sol, 27:52; 9. Avery Cuifo, Sol, 28:05; 10. Eryn Field, Hom, 28:14; 11. Sophia Kristich, Col, 28:16; 12. Madison McDonald, Ken, 28:18; 13. Daisy Walker, Hom, 28:26; 14. Breeze Buchanan, Col, 28:47; 15. Lynnea Hack, Ken, 28:49; 16. Alexis Schultz, Col, 29:03; 17. Xinlan Tanner, Ken, 29:05; 18. Katie Van Buskirk, Sew, 30:01; 19. Natalie Zahrt, Pal, 30:13; 20. Mya Taylor, Ken, 30:28; 21. Sienna Hardyman, Hom, 30:54; 22. Audrey McDonald, Ken, 30:59; 23. Beatrix McDonough, Hom, 32:49; 24. Aly Guernsey, Sew, 32:57; 25. Ava Moore-Smyth, Pal, 33:13.

26. Abby Ward, Pal, 33:51; 27. Leah Dunn, Hom, 34:34; 28. McKenna Black, Hom, 36:16.

BOYS

7-kilometer classic results — 1. Jayden Rice, Col, 21:34; 2. Clayton Steer, Col, 21:36; 3. Weston Sensabaugh, Col, 22:00; 4. Coby Marvin, Col, 22:07; 5. Andrew Cox, Sol, 22:19; 6. Jack Laker, Ken, 22:29; 7. Garrett Briscoe, Hom, 22:35; 8. Levi Mickelson, Sol, 22:52; 9. Jack Klayum, Col, 22:54; 10. Jonathan Gordon, Sol, 23:01; 11. Jody Goodrich, hom, 23:05; 12. Ethan Styvar, Hom, 23:14; 13. Michael Davidson, Sol, 23:27; 14. Ben Boersma, Ken, 23:44; 15. Remi Cap, Pal, 23:46; 16. London Lee, Pal, 23:54; 17. Alex Adams, Pal, 23:55; 18. Chase Laker, Ken, 24:00; 19. Benjamin Abel, Sol, 24:01; 20. Johannes Bynagle, Hom, 24:02; 21. Zane Tews, Ken, 24:22; 22. Teigan Copp, Pal, 24:23; 23. Nobel Cassidy, Sol, 24:28; 24. Carter Cannava, Sol, 24:32; 25. Trevor Guernsey, Sew, 24:46.

26. Leif Jaworski, Hom, 24:58; 27. Brayden Licht, Pal, 25:00; 28. Logan Cartwright, Ken, 25:29; 29. Owen Smith, Ken, 25:35; 30. Carson Deans, Pal, 26:24; 31. Robert Carson, Ken, 28:09; 32. Authur Merrit, Pal, 28:17; 33. Oliver Trobaugh, Sew, 29:51; 34. Lukas Renner, Hom, 32:18.

Kenai Central’s Emily Moss rounds a corner at the Kenai Pursuit on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)