Soldotna’s Cox, Delker take Kenai Klassic

Soldotna’s Quinn Cox and Katie Delker swept the individual titles Saturday at the Kenai Klassic at the Kenai Nordic Trails.

The boys team title went to Kenai, while the girls title went to the Stars.

Cox finished the 6.3-kilometer classic race in 19 minutes, 46 seconds, for the victory. He was followed by Kenai skiers Tyler Hippchen at 20:01, Jack Laker at 20:34 and Greg Fallon at 21:02.

Kenai head coach Brad Nyquist said Cox is a strong skier who has given his top boys a chance to make some goals.

Nyquist said Hippchen, a junior, has done a good job leading freshmen Laker and Fallon this season.

“They all work as hard as I ask them to,” Nyquist said.

Delker finished the girls race in 24:21, while Erika Arthur was second at 24:25 and Jayna Boonstra was third at 25:08.

Nyquist said the course called for a lot of double-poling and said the maturity and strength of Delker and Arthur carried the day.

The Kenai boys also got a seventh from Ben Boersma in taking the title, while Dylan Hogue was fifth, Andrew Cox sixth, Nathan Pitka eighth, Foster Boze ninth and Trenton Boots 10th for the Stars.

Seamus McDonough paced Homer in 11th, while Cody Bryden was 12th for Seward.

The SoHi girls also had Jordan Strausbaugh in fifth and Sonora Martin in 10th.

Homer had Ireland Styvar in fourth and Zoe Stonorov in seventh, while Leah Fallon was sixth for Kenai, Gabriella Tews was eighth and Emily Moss was ninth.

Nyquist said junior varsity skiers Zane Pellegrom and Lynnea Hack popped good races, while the new skiers also performed well.

He said the day set up perfect for classic skiing.

“This was a beautiful classic day,” Nyquist said. “There was good kick and good glide, as long as you stayed in the tracks. There was enough snow that we could have decent tracks.”

The coach also said the team continues to appreciate every practice and race it can get.

“It’s really good for the kids to be exercising and out in fresh air,” he said. “When they are wearing masks, they can at least get close enough to talk to each other and be social.”

Kenai Klassic

at Kenai Nordic Trails

6.3-kilometer classic

BOYS

Team times: 1. Kenai, 1:24:43; 2. Soldotna, 1:27:43; 3. Seward, 1:45:09.

1. Quinn Cox, Sol, 19:46; 2. Tyler Hippchen, Ken, 20:01; 3. Jack Laker, Ken, 20:34; 4. Greg Fallon, Ken, 21:02; 5. Dylan Hogue, Sol, 22:13; 6. Andrew Cox, Sol, 22:43; 7. Ben Boersma, Ken, 22:56; 8. Nathan Pitka, Sol, 23:01; 9. Foster Boze, Sol, 23:20; 10. Trenton Boots, Sol, 23:27; 11. Seamus McDonough, Hom, 24:07; 12. Cody Bryden, Sew, 24:12; 13. Carter Cannava, Sol, 24:23; 14. Nathan Haakenson, Ken, 25:37; 15. Trevor Guernsey, Sew, 26:02; 16. Aloshia Cross, Sew, 27:02; 17. Paxton Hill, Sew, 27:53.

GIRLS

Team times: 1. Soldotna, 1:42:27; 2. Kenai, 1:46:22; 3. Homer, 1:50:22.

1. Katie Delker, Sol, 24:21; 2. Erika Arthur, Sol, 24:25; 3. Jayna Boonstra, Ken, 25:08; 4. Ireland Styvar, Hom, 25:32; 5. Jordan Strausbaugh, Sol, 25:41; 6. Leah Fallon, Ken, 26:13; 7. Zoe Stonorov, Hom, 26:38; 8. Gabriella Tews, Ken, 27:27; 9. Emily Moss, Ken, 27:34; 10. Sonora Martin, Sol, 28:00; 11. Eryn Field, Hom, 28:00; 12. Summer Foster, Ken, 29:50; 13. Kara Super, Hom, 30:12; 14. Betsy Moffet, Ken, 30:23; 15. Frida Renner, Hom, 32:01; 16. Ashley Dahlman, Sol, 33:10.