Nordic Skiing: Alexandria’s Jaelyn Miller makes state again

For the third time, Alexandria’s Jaelyn Miller has qualified for the MSHSL State Nordic Skiing meet. This time around, she did so by placing third (36:04) in the girls varsity race Section 8A meet on Wednesday at Maplelag Resort near Callaway.

With her third place finish, Miller is now set to compete in the Class State Meet, which runs on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Thursday, Feb. 16, at Giant’s Ridge in Biwabik.

Miller placed 37th in last season’s state meet.

Miller’s top-three finish helped the Alexandria girls place fourth as a team (343 points). Brainerd won the meet with 384 points, and Annelise Baird (Brainerd) won the individual race with a time of 34:51.

Mackenzie Jurchenko placed 18th with a time of 37:40, while Kasey Soderholm placed 20th (38:00), Bobbi Nichols placed 21st (38:04), Lauren Huber placed 31st (39:59), while Teresa Bitzan and Madeline Hochhalter placed seventh in the sprint relay.

Ryker Bosek led the boys race with a time of 34:56 and placed 22nd, while Cyler Coauette placed 25th (35:17), and Max Chinn placed 26th (35:19). Rounding out the boys results, Sullivan Rooney placed 31st (36:07), Spenser Chinn placed 32nd (36:08), and Erick Bergerson and Luke Walsh placed sixth in the sprint relay.

Etan Yorke of Little Falls won the boys race with a time of 29:43.

The Alexandria boys placed seventh as a team, with a score of 314. Little Falls won the boys section title with a score of 388.

This section meet was the last meet in high school for the Alexandria seniors.

“We are proud of the races both teams fielded throughout the two days of competition. We would also like to give a big shoutout to our seniors - Ryker Bosek, Spenser Chinn, Lauren Huber, Teresa Bitzan, Amanda Bergerson, Amelia Lucken, Mattie Scholten, Emma Hochhalter, Berg Swanson, and Gabe Hoven,” Alexandria co-head coaches Jackie Stifter and Jeremy Rapp said.

1/5: Alexandria's Ryker Bosek skies around a corner during the Section 8A meet on Feb. 8, 2023, at Maplelag Resort. Bosek placed 22nd at the meet and the boys team placed seventh.

2/5: Alexandria's Kasey Soderholm skies at the Section 8A meet at Maplelag Resort on Feb. 8, 2023. Soderholm placed 20th in the meet and helped Alexandria placed fourth as a team.

3/5: Alexandria's Cyler Couatte rounds a turn at the Section 8A Meet at Maplelag Resort on Feb. 8, 2023. Couautte placed 25th at the meet.

4/5: Alexandria's Mackenzie Jurchenko navigates her way through the course at Maplelag Resort on Feb. 8, 2023, at the Section 8A Meet, which she placed 18th at.

5/5: Alexandria's Max Chinn smiles while competing in the Section 8A meet on Feb. 8, 2023, at Maplelag Resort. Chinn placed 26th at the meet.

SECTION 8A MEET TEAM RESULTS -

BOYS - 1. Little Falls, 388; 2. Brainerd, 384; 3. Bemidji, 355; 4. Fergus Falls, 348; 5. Moorhead, 347; 6. Sartell/Cathedral, 336; 7. Alexandria, 314; 8. Wadena-Deer Creek, 259; 9. St. John’s Prep, 259; 10. TrekNorth, 253; 11. Willmar, 248; 12. Detroit Lakes, 36

GIRLS - 1. Brainerd, 384; 2. Sartell, 365; 3. Moorhead, 354; 4. Alexandria, 343; 5. Bemidji, 339; 6. Fergus Falls, 332; 7. Detroit Lakes, 331; 8. Little Falls, 312; 9. Willmar, 250; 10. TrekNorth, 205; 11. Wadena-Deer Creek, 168; 12. St. John’s Prep, 102