Ninilchik scramble puts spotlight
on decline of area’s razor clams

The Ninilchik Chamber of Commerce ran its first Clam Scramble Mud and Natural Obstacle course run Saturday.

The chamber wants to create an annual solstice event in a central location on the Kenai Peninsula for the whole family. Proceeds from the race go to Ninilchik Emergency Services.

The race, about three miles, went through two rivers, along the sandy and rocky beach line, over natural obstacles, through historical Ninilchik Village, across a bridge, up 120 stairs, and ended at Ninilchik View State Campground.

Mike Crawford was the men’s winner in 23 minutes, 2 seconds; while Riana Boonstra, Alex Bergholtz and Addison Gibson tied for the women’s win at 25:08.

The chamber also did the event to bring awareness to the plight of the razor clam. The past five years have seen a substantial decline in harvestable razor clams, sufficient enough for the state to close the beaches from Kenai to Homer to preserve the resource.

Clam Scramble 2015 • Saturday in Ninilchik

MEN

6 to 12 — 1. Spencer Dahlman, 40 minutes, 22 seconds; 2. Landen Showalter, 43:55; 3. Hunter Kyncy, 44:40; 4. Ethan Baker, 44:40; 5. Keegan Baker, 44:41; 6. Tristen Reece, 53:22.

13 to 29 — 1. Morgan Jones, 24:21; 2. Silas Firth, 27:51; 3. Caleb Appelhanz, 28:28; 4. Jason Schollenberg, 29:00; 5. Levi Sutton, 29:01; 6. Nick Finley, 29:11; 7. Savaii Heaven, 34:44; 8. Hunter Reese, 35:08; 9. Jacob Daniels, 35:11; 10. Beau Caster, 43:10; 11. Robert McGinnis, 46:47; 12. Nate Snyder, 1:01:11.

30 to 55 — 1. Mike Crawford, 23:02 (overall men’s winner); 2. David Bear, 32:14; 3. Mike Tazzo, 33:03; 4. Aaron Gutzwiler, 33:27; 5. Matt Link, 34:18; 6. Michael Oliver, 37:10; 7. Loren Reese, 53:26.

56 and up — 1. Cecil Anowlic, 42:01; 2. John Baker, 45:17; 3. Bradley Beck, 45:16; 4. Tony Oliver, 48:17; 5. John Lindeman, 52:22.

WOMEN

6 to 12 — 1. Tania Boonstra, 38:09; 2. Jayna Boonstra, 40:18; 3. Ashley Dahlman, 40:18; 4. Riley Reese, 51:08.

13 to 29 — 1 (tie). Riana Boonstra, Alex Bergholtz, Addison Gibson, 25:08 (overall women’s winner); 4. Ithaca Bergholtz, 25:55; 5. Bree Mucha, 26:13; 6. Lea Schmidtbauer, 29:31; 7. Mackenzie Lindeman, 30:00; 8. Natalee Finley, Krista Sutton, 36:38; 10. Jennifer Swick, 43:07; 11. Bronwyn Saito, 43:14; 12. Morgan Johnson, 1:02:32; 13. Lexie Carlson, 1:02:34.

30 to 55 — 1. Jess Gutzwiler, 33:27; 2. Jen Gilbertson, 33:41; 3. Sarah Bollwitt, 33:55; 4. Tishe Link, 34:18; 5. Whitney Schollenberg, 35:30; 6. Laura Young, 36:11; 7. Sheila Best, 36:35; 8. Christine Bergholtz, 36:54; 9. Lanie Hughes, 38:17; 10. Jen Showalter, 43:56; 11. Felicia Baker, 44:39; 12. Gretchen Kraus, 48:17; 13. Lindsey Reese, 53:25; 14. Robin Dahlman, 1:00:37; 15. Celeste Kyncy, 1:43:00.

56 and up — 1. Delores Lindeman, 42:35.

Overall team winner — Team Bergholtz (Christine Bergholtz, Alex Bergholtz, Ithaca Bergholtz, Lea Schmidtbauer), 1:56:48.

Kenai Peninsula runners compete
in Mayor’s Marathon

Tyler Dinnan of Kenai and Stacey Buckelew of Homer were the top Kenai Peninsula finishers at the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage on Saturday.

Buckelew finished the marathon in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds to take fourth place. Colleen Bolling led the women, finishing the  at 3:13:47. Dinnan ran 2:54:38 to take 10th place. Paul Rottich won at 2:32:39. Mark Blanning of Kenai took 11th in the marathon with a 3:01:13, while Soldotna’s Derek Gibson was 13th in 3:04:53.

Mayor’s Marathon

Saturday in Anchorage • Peninsula residents

MEN

Marathon — 10. Tyler Dinnan, Kenai, 2 hours, 54 minutes, 38 seconds; 11. Mark Blanning, Kenai, 3:01:13; 13. Derek Gibson, Soldotna, 3:04:53; 68. Jeffrey McDonald, Kenai, 3:38:29; 93. Bill Taylor, Kenai, 3:49:18; 100. Thomas McDonough, Homer, 3:51:33; 243. Kevin Lauver, Sterling, 4:35:59; 280. Nikos Parae, Homer, 4:48:31; 286. David Kress, Soldotna, 4:49:21; 324. M. Scott Moon, Kenai, 5:04:43.

Half marathon — 20. Michael Moerlein, Kasilof, 1:26:37; 122. Dan Lindberg, Homer, 1:49:39; 248. Roy Stuckey, Soldotna, 2:04:32; 379. Craig Doser, Soldotna, 2:21:58.

WOMEN

Marathon — 4. Stacey Buckelew, Homer, 3:21:40; 31. Heather Moon, Kenai, 3:48:07; 34. Emilie Otis, Homer, 3:52:57; 69. Heather Renner, Homer, 4:16:40; 76. Gina Valdes, Seward, 4:21:01; 94. Susan Craig, Soldotna, 4:28:43; 112. Sue Mauger, Homer, 4:34:17; 113. Amy Baxter, Soldotna, 4:34:26; 197. Kate Lomac-MacNair, Homer, 5:16:22; 208. Kristin Morrow, Kenai, 5:20:32; 213. Alyssa Vanek, Soldotna, 5:22:07; 320. Kilann Tanape, Homer, 6:53:34.

Half marathon — 139. Joell Slade, Homer, 2:00:46; 150. Kelly Sefton, Seward, 2:02:00; 186. Amanda Gamble, Seward, 2:04:53; 313. Andrea Peterson, Homer, 2:14:21; 341. Angelica Sulley, Soldotna, 2:16:27; 350. Katrina Cannava, Soldotna, 2:16:45; 384. June Stuckey, Soldotna, 2:19:43; 410. Hope Derkevorkian, Kenai, 2:21:39; 438. Lisa Chambers, Soldotna, 2:24:09; 531. Tara Riemer, Seward, 2:31:15; 586. Carol Doser, Soldotna, 2:35:49; 635. Sherry Perry, Seward, 2:41:25; 688. Peggy Leonard, Ninilchik, 2:47:23; 729. Rinna Carson, Soldotna, 2:51:08; 760. Maren Bennett, Homer, 2:54:49; 826. Lori Evans, Homer, 3:03:56; 983. Kaarin Johnson, Kenai, 3:43:23; 984. Elizabeth Young, Kenai, 3:43:23.

Spit Run set for Saturday; proceeds
benefit youth running programs

The Kachemak Bay Running Club is hosting the annual Spit Run that begins at Homer High School and finishes at Land’s End. The race is Saturday.

Register online at www.kachemakbayrunningclub.org by midnight today. Day of race registration, whichhas an additional $5 fee, can be done beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Walkers start at 9 a.m.; runners at 10 a.m. Bib pickup is at 8 a.m. on race day. 

The Homer Spit Run is a USA Track and Field certified 10-kilometer race. Proceeds support local youth running programs. Fees are $5 for ages 10 and under ($10 race day) and $20 for ages 11 and older ($25 race day).

There will be a no-host party at the finish, a free shuttle back to the start and free gear shuttle.

Pedro Ochoa, a 2014 Homer High School graduate who was on the school’s cross country and track team, ran to first place in last year’s Spit Run. Ochoa finished in a time of 0:36:18.13.

Claiming first place for the women was Molly Mitchell, then a Homer High junior who also ran on the school’s cross country and track team. Mitchell crossed the finish line in 0:40:51.14.

For more information about this year’s race, call Bill Steyer at 399-1078.