Sports

Members of the Kenai Central High School cheerleading team (back row, left to right): Kaitlyn Taylor, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Cali Holmes and Genesis Trevino; (front row, left to right): Makenzie Harden, Ella Romero and Brooklyn Reed stand for a photo at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo courtesy Brianna Force)

Hard work and good attitudes pay off

Kenai Central Cheerleading performs at Citrus Bowl in Florida

Members of the Kenai Central High School cheerleading team (back row, left to right): Kaitlyn Taylor, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Cali Holmes and Genesis Trevino; (front row, left to right): Makenzie Harden, Ella Romero and Brooklyn Reed stand for a photo at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. (Photo courtesy Brianna Force)
Jon Iannaccone waves an American flag while wearing a medal after completing the World Triathlon Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo courtesy Jon Iannaccone)
Jon Iannaccone waves an American flag while wearing a medal after completing the World Triathlon Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo courtesy Jon Iannaccone)

Preparation pays off for Kenai triathlete in World Championship

Jon Iannaccone delivers strong performance in the Middle East contest

Jon Iannaccone waves an American flag while wearing a medal after completing the World Triathlon Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo courtesy Jon Iannaccone)
Jon Iannaccone waves an American flag while wearing a medal after completing the World Triathlon Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 26, 2022. (Photo courtesy Jon Iannaccone)
Nikiski’s Niles Broussard throws Kenai’s Delen Byrd during a dual meet on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai topples Nikiski at dual meet

The meet also served as the Kenai team’s senior night

Nikiski’s Niles Broussard throws Kenai’s Delen Byrd during a dual meet on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Dain Douthit, Silas Thibodeau, Roman Dunham, Cody Good and Jackson Anding participate in a practice League of Legends match on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula esports teams ready for state championships

Players contend with changing games, increased pressure, rival rematches

From left, Dain Douthit, Silas Thibodeau, Roman Dunham, Cody Good and Jackson Anding participate in a practice League of Legends match on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Skiers from Kenai, Seward and Soldotna start the girls race during the Turkey Trot on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.

Kenai boys, SoHi girls clock top finishes at Turkey Trot ski meet

Kenai boys took the top four finishes of the night

Skiers from Kenai, Seward and Soldotna start the girls race during the Turkey Trot on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.
The Homer hockey team celebrates the Division II state championship Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the Curtis Mendard Sports Complex in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
The Homer hockey team celebrates the Division II state championship Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the Curtis Mendard Sports Complex in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)
Abriella Werner leaps as she approaches the end of the diving board, Derrick Jones watches during a dive practice on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

From springboard to diving board

SoHi junior takes gymnastic experience to pool and breaks 17-year dive record

Abriella Werner leaps as she approaches the end of the diving board, Derrick Jones watches during a dive practice on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kevin Bell Arena ice rink nears completion on Sept. 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Hockey Association announced Wednesday that the arena was closed indefinitely due to insufficient insurance coverage. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)

Homer hockey arena closed due to insufficient insurance

The board of directors discovered that their liability insurance policy is inactive

The Kevin Bell Arena ice rink nears completion on Sept. 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Hockey Association announced Wednesday that the arena was closed indefinitely due to insufficient insurance coverage. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
Members of Kenai Central High School Esports gather around coach Shane Lopez before their League of Legends match Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of Kenai Central High School Esports gather around coach Shane Lopez before their League of Legends match Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Lance Mackey sits with his lead dogs Larry, right, and Maple after crossing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 18, 2009, in Nome, Alaska, to win his third Iditarod in a row. Mackey, a four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race winner and one of mushing’s most colorful and accomplished champions who also suffered from health and drug issues, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, his father and kennel announced on Facebook. He was 52. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

Cancer claims 4-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey

Officials with the world’s most famous sled dog race said Iditarod Nation was in mourning

Lance Mackey sits with his lead dogs Larry, right, and Maple after crossing the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 18, 2009, in Nome, Alaska, to win his third Iditarod in a row. Mackey, a four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race winner and one of mushing’s most colorful and accomplished champions who also suffered from health and drug issues, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, his father and kennel announced on Facebook. He was 52. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)
Chugiak High School’s Cameron Peterson (right) leads the girls varsity pack at the 2022 Ted McKenney XC Running Invitational at Tsalteshi Trails at Skyview Middle School on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

McKenney Invite welcomes over 25 schools

Kenai’s Boonstra, Homer’s McDonough lead area runners

Chugiak High School’s Cameron Peterson (right) leads the girls varsity pack at the 2022 Ted McKenney XC Running Invitational at Tsalteshi Trails at Skyview Middle School on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sam Eason, left, and Josh Delie celebrate their medals at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. The pair won gold for unified bocce at the competition. (Photo courtesy of Sam Eason)
Sam Eason, left, and Josh Delie celebrate their medals at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. The pair won gold for unified bocce at the competition. (Photo courtesy of Sam Eason)

Local athletes shine at Special Olympics

Darryl Magen and Josh Delie brought home gold and silver medals

Sam Eason, left, and Josh Delie celebrate their medals at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. The pair won gold for unified bocce at the competition. (Photo courtesy of Sam Eason)
Sam Eason, left, and Josh Delie celebrate their medals at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. The pair won gold for unified bocce at the competition. (Photo courtesy of Sam Eason)
A fisherman catches a salmon in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon before the tide washed in on June 25, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Reeling ‘Em In: River closures means best fishing is by the sea

It’s time now to take and look at the fishing report for the week of June 14, 2022

A fisherman catches a salmon in the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon before the tide washed in on June 25, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Darryl Magen, center, and Josh Delie, far right, start their journey from the Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, June 3, 2022 to this year’s Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Olympic send-off

Darryl Magen and Josh Delie were met with cheers and words of encouragement from family, friends and city officials

Darryl Magen, center, and Josh Delie, far right, start their journey from the Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, June 3, 2022 to this year’s Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Racers take off from the start line at the Kasilof River Special Use Area for Cook Inletkeeper’s annual Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride on Monday, May 30, 2022. To celebrate National Bike Month, the conservation organization hosted a 10-mile run, 10-mile fat bike ride, and 3-mile run, with all proceeds going toward Cook Inletkeeper’s mission — to ensure healthy salmon in the Cook Inlet watershed. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Watershed moment

Cook Inletkeeper held its annual Mouth to Mouth Wild Run and Ride on Monday on the shores of Cook Inlet

Racers take off from the start line at the Kasilof River Special Use Area for Cook Inletkeeper’s annual Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride on Monday, May 30, 2022. To celebrate National Bike Month, the conservation organization hosted a 10-mile run, 10-mile fat bike ride, and 3-mile run, with all proceeds going toward Cook Inletkeeper’s mission — to ensure healthy salmon in the Cook Inlet watershed. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Heather Renner and Tasha Reynolds run and fat bike to the finish line on the Kenai Beach during the 2019 Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. (Photo courtesy Kaitlin Vadla)

Mouth to Mouth bike race and run returns Monday

The race starts at the mouth of the Kasilof River and ends at the mouth of Kenai River

Heather Renner and Tasha Reynolds run and fat bike to the finish line on the Kenai Beach during the 2019 Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. (Photo courtesy Kaitlin Vadla)
Clarion file

Tsalteshi to pilot Backyard Ultra race

Competitors must consecutively run a loop of 4.167 miles in less than one hour

Clarion file
Iditarod winner Brent Sass poses for photos with lead dogs Morello, left, and Slater in the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, Tuesday March 15, 2022. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Brent Sass wins his 1st Iditarod

Sass mushed down Front Street and across the finish line just before 6 a.m.

Iditarod winner Brent Sass poses for photos with lead dogs Morello, left, and Slater in the finish chute of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, Tuesday March 15, 2022. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Veteran musher Aaron Burmeister rides on a mostly bare-ice stretch of trail during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, as he reaches Unalakleet, Alaska on Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Mushers close in on finish

Brent Sass keeps up Iditarod lead but is wary about Seavey

  • Mar 14, 2022
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • NewsSports
Veteran musher Aaron Burmeister rides on a mostly bare-ice stretch of trail during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, as he reaches Unalakleet, Alaska on Sunday, March 13, 2022. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Four-time winner Jeff King takes his sled dog team through a snowstorm in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 4, 2022, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Teams prep for Iditarod after Saturday’s ceremonial start

Mushers took a leisurely jaunt through Alaska’s largest city, waving at fans that lined downtown streets.

Four-time winner Jeff King takes his sled dog team through a snowstorm in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 4, 2022, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)