The Alaska J3 (Midget in AWG parlance) skiers took five of six available medals and led a strong Alaska showing on the sprint course.  Thomas O'hara of Anchorage won the the Gold Ulu (his second gold in tow days) in the 500m.  Alaska teamates Jake Bassett took the Bronze Ulu and Michael Wise finished fifth.

Thomas O'Hara said this was his first time competing outside of Alaska.  "The Arctic Winter Games are really fun.  Its nice to meet people from other countries.  Its a great experience."

Alaska's Midget Women owned the podium in their 500m Sprint.  Lydia Blanchet won the Gold Ulu while teamates Janey Hoefler took the Silver, and Sarrisa Lammers captured the Bronze.

Cross country sprints make for an exciting day of racing and this short 500m course and fast, icy conditions added to the speed.  The 500m course had a tricky 180 corner about 150m into the course, but our athletes negotiated this fast, tricky corner smoothly.

Junior Skier Jasmine Clock of Soldotna said the Wapiti Nordic Ski Trails, "Are nice and (while it has tricky corners and is icy, its) not as scary as Homer."  Kimberley Del Frate of Palmer added, "We saw a deer out on the trail - that was cool."

See photos below

For complete Event Results see the Arctic Winter Games Host Society web site

Douglass Watts crosses the finish line after a 750m Sprint Heat.

Lukas Michael leads into the Finish Line in a Sprint heat.

Starting line up in a Sprint Heat in the Juvenile Mens' 750m Sprint.
Bib# 44 is Team Alaska's Jan "Kuba" Grezda.

Kuba pushes off at the start

Bib #78 Mikayla Hamlin of Fairbanks races down the home stretch in
the 750m Sprint

Alaska's Eliza Rorabaugh holds off an opponent in the sprint to the finish

Stefan Hadjukovich races to the finish in the 750m Sprint