Alexandria Nordic skiers get in final race ahead of CLC championship as they compete in Little Falls

LITTLE FALLS — The Alexandria Nordic ski teams went on the road to Little Falls on Thursday in their final tune up before the Central Lakes Conference championship meet.

“The team does enjoy traveling to the unique environment within the military base when we get the chance,” Alexandria head coach Jeremy Rapp said. “The JV racers participated in a 5K freestyle race, while the varsity racers competed in the format that will be used for sections and state. Varsity skiers either participated in the pursuit, which entails a 5K classic and then later in the day a 5K freestyle, or the partner sprint relay. All teams from our section were at the race today, which gave everyone a look to see where everyone is at before the section race that will be held in a couple weeks.”

Contributed photo by Sara Englund

The Alexandria girls finished fifth in the team scores, while the boys were sixth. Little Falls won the boys’ team portion of the race, just in front of Brainerd. The Brainerd girls took the title ahead of Sartell-St. Cloud Cathedral in second.

Jaelyn Miller led the Alexandria girls with the top finish for either team on the day. She was fifth in the pursuit race with a total time of 39:52. Bobbi Nichols (22nd, 43:28), Kasey Soderholm (24th, 43:31), Dulce Bakker (27th, 43:48), Mackenzie Jurchenko (32nd, 44:11), Lauren Englund (33rd, 44:30), Teresa Bitzan (34th, 44:30) and Amelia Lucken (38th, 45:10) also skied the pursuit race.

Lauren Hubuer and Amanda Bergerson teamed up in the sprint relay to finish fifth in a time of 17:33.

1/4: Alexandria's Ryker Bosek skis during the pursuit race at Little Falls on Jan. 27, 2022. Bosek was the Cardinals' top finisher in the race with a time of 36:23 over the course of the sprint and classic races that spanned 10 kilometers.

2/4: Alexandria's Amanda Bergerson comes down a hill during her race at Little Falls on Jan. 27, 2022.

3/4: Alexandria's Luke Walsh skies during the pursuit race at Camp Ripley near Little Falls on Jan. 27, 2022.

4/4: Contributed photo by Sara Englund

Ryker Bosek led the Alexandria boys in the pursuit with a time of 36:23 that left him in 21st place. Spenser Chinn was 25th (37:50), and Max Chinn was 31st (38:58) to round out the Cardinals’ top-three finishers.

Matthew Johnson (50th, 42:57), Luke Walsh (51st, 43:04), and Erick Bergerson (52nd, 43:57) also skied the pursuit race, while Cyler Coauette and Owen Gilbertson finished eighth in 18:00 during the sprint relay.

The Cardinals will head to Willmar on Feb. 1 to ski in the CLC championship with races starting at 11 a.m. at the Eagle Creek Golf Course.

Boys results

Team scores: 1-Little Falls 381, 2-Brainerd 376, 3-Bemidji 370, 4-Moorhead 343, 5-Fergus Falls 325, 6-Alexandria 304, 7-St. John’s Prep 28, 8-TrekNorth 244

Individual winner: Ethan Yorek (Little Falls) 31:19

Girls results

Team scores: 1-Brainerd 386, 2-Sartell/Cathedral 374, 3-Moorhead 369, 4-Bemidji 362, 5-Alexandria 339, 6-Little Falls 335, 7-Detroit Lakes 298, 8-Fergus Falls 259, 9-TrekNorth 191

Individual winner: 1-Liliana Schaeffer (Brainerd) 36:42