By Gavin Kentch
Thomas O’Harra and Rosie Frankowski claimed victories in Sunday morning’s Tour of Anchorage 50km skate. It is at least the third time in the last eight years that Frankowski and O’Harra, longtime friends, have both taken wins in the flagship Alaska “spring” marathon (it was not very vernal today).
In the women’s race, Frankowski finished roughly 50 seconds ahead of Hailey Swirbul; both women have retired from APU within the past two seasons. Third place today went to Annika Landis, of the Enjoy Winter Factory Team.
The men’s podium saw O’Harra pull away from his pursuers, following a late-race pause for on-course moose that held up the race for nearly two minutes, to win by roughly 90 seconds. Matt Seline, 19 years old, in his first career race over 20km, took to the marathon distance quite ably, finishing second. Hunter Wonders was third. O’Harra and Wonders ski for APU; Seline skis for University of Alaska Anchorage.
This is just a flash recap. Check back later tonight, or, realistically, probably tomorrow, for more narrative and athlete quotes. I have to go drive across town now to start the 25km classic with my mother. #wholesome
You’re reading this on Nordic Insights, one man’s labor of love project dedicated to publicizing American nordic skiing. Last season’s GoFundMe is literally the only reason why I turned a profit in year one of Nordic Insights, and in turn the only reason why there is a year two of Nordic Insights for you to be reading now: I was okay with working for very little money to get this love letter to American cross-country skiing off the ground, but I didn’t want to lose money for the privilege of doing so. If you would like to support what remains a brutally shoestring operation, this season’s GoFundMe may be found here. Thank you for your consideration, and, especially, for reading.
