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)

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