Soldotna’s Andrew Cox competes at the Kenai Pursuit on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Andrew Cox competes at the Kenai Pursuit on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Moss, Colony’s Rice lead Kenai Pursuit

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)

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)

More in Sports

Senior Mason Bock exclaims after winning the state title during the ASAA Division I state championships in Anchorage, Alaska on Dec. 20, 2025. Bock beat No. 2 seed Isaiah Schultz of Colony High School in the final, securing his victory in the 135-pound title as the No. 4 seed. Bock said standing on the podium was the best moment of his life, telling the Clarion that since he had lost to Schultz once earlier in the season, he was “focused and determined to have a different outcome” during the final match. Photo courtesy of Andie Bock/Andie’s Alaskan Adventures Photography
SoHi girls 3-peat at state wrestling championships

The boys team placed second and saw five wrestlers win state titles in the Division I tournament.

Seward’s Atlin Ryan wrestles against a Mountain City Christian Academy athlete during the regional Kachemak Conference Wrestling Championships on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Homer girls wrestling team named regional champions

Kenai boys, girls both placed third overall in the Kachemak Conference Wrestling Championships on Saturday.

The Soldotna High School wrestling team is pictured after the Northern Lights regional conference in Wasilla, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. SoHi sent 33 boys and 11 girls to regionals. 22 boys and nine girls will compete in the state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center this weekend. Photo courtesy of Soldotna High School Athletics
SoHi wrestling wins regional title; 31 wrestlers advance to state

22 boys and nine girls will compete in the state tournament this weekend.

Homer and Soldotna hockey players battle for the puck during the Carlin Cup home varsity game on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at the Kevin Bell Arena in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
SoHi hockey claims 3rd Carlin Cup victory

The Soldotna varsity hockey team defeated Homer 9-1 Saturday at Kevin Bell Arena.

Sophie Tapley is photographed with her parents, Josh and Whitney Tapley, during Sophie’s signing ceremony at Kenai Central High School on Nov. 26, 2025. Tapley committed to playing volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage during the 2026-2027 school year. Photo courtesy of Jesse Settlemyer, Kenai Central Athletics
Kenai Central’s Sophie Tapley signs with UAA volleyball

Tapley will trade her Kardinals jersey for a Seawolf one during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Photo courtesy Pete Dickinson
The SoHi junior varsity and varsity wrestling teams compete in the Battle for the Bird at Soldotna High School on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The Kenai Peninsula Athletics Sapphire dance team performed the halftime show.
SoHi, Nikiski wrestling teams compete for Thanksgiving dinner

The Stars and Bulldogs faced off during the Battle for the Bird duals last Wednesday.

Runners of all ages gather for a photo in the Homer High School Commons after the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Due to icy outdoor conditions, the official run was moved to the high school halls. Photo courtesy Matthew Smith
55 turn out for Homer Turkey Trot

Each Thanksgiving morning, the Kachemak Bay Running Club and the City of… Continue reading

The varsity wrestling team is pictured after the Robin Hervey individual tournament in Kodiak on Nov. 22, 2025. Photo courtesy of Pete Dickinson
Sports briefs: Soldotna hockey, wrestling teams secure wins at weekend tournaments

SoHi hockey won the End of the Road tournament in Homer and the wrestling team gained 20 individual wins.

The Kenai Central High School varsity volleyball team is named the 2025 3A Volleyball State Championship Tournament, held Nov. 13-15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The Kardinals defeated the Nikiski Bulldogs 3-2 in a "rematch" championship game on Saturday, Nov. 15, securing their third state title in the last four years. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Volleyball Booster Club
Kenai Central takes home 3rd volleyball state title

The Kards defeated Nikiski in a rematch championship game on Saturday during the state tournament in Anchorage.

Soldotna High School wrestlers won six individual championships during the Lancer Smith Memorial wrestling tournament in Wasilla Nov. 14-15. Photo courtesy of SoHi Stars Wrestling on Facebook
SoHi wrestling sweeps Lancer Smith tourney, eyes state title

SoHi girls and boys took first and second place as teams, respectively.

Soldotna’s Gracelyn Altobelli attacks against Nikiski’s Addison Perkins on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sports briefs: Soldotna volleyball claims third Northern Lights Region III title

The SoHi Stars will compete at the state tournament this weekend.

The Homer Mariners varsity football team celebrates their victory after the Division III state championships game on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Wasilla, Alaska. Photo provided by Justin Zank
Homer, Kenai football receive Division III All-State awards

Players on the Homer High School and Kenai Central High School varsity… Continue reading