Sixty-six cross-country skiers including nine from the Wood River Valley finished Saturday's 25th annual Payette Lakes Ski Marathon at Little Ski Hill near McCall.
Of the nine Wood River skiers, six made the podium in their age classes and one, John Seiller, won the men's 15-kilometer freestyle race and the 30-39 age class with a finishing time of 47 minutes and 30 seconds.
The fastest woman in the 15k skate race was 40-49 queen Tricia Swartling of Ketchum, third overall of 28 finishers at the shorter distance with a time of 51:54.
Second overall last year, Boise's Matt Grover moved up to the victory in the 30k freestyle event Saturday. The top three were Grover 1.26:58, Daryl Hegerle of Boise 1.27:00 and Isack Babcock of McCall 1.28:45.
Ketchum's Wilhelm Northrop (1.32:56) finished sixth at 30k. The women's winner on the long course was Julie Welte of McCall, 17th of 38 finishers in 1.48:50, with Ketchum's Kristen Albright third in 1.52:01.
Wood River Valley class winners were Seiller, Swartling and Andy Andrews at 15k. Silver medals in classes went to Katharine Sheldon, Kristen Albright and Carol Rank.
Top results and locals:
30k freestyle: 1—Matt Grover (Boise) 1.26:58. 6—Wilhelm Northrop 1.32:56 (5th 30-39). 9—Whitney Albright 1.35:29 (7th 30-39). 11—Jon Holmquist 1.40:02 (3rd 50-59). 22—Kristen Albright 1.52:01 (2nd 30-39, 3rd woman). 25—Carol Rank 1.56:56 (2nd 40-49, 4th woman).
15k freestyle: 1—John Seiller 47:30 (1st 30-39). 3—Tricia Swartling 51:54 (1st 40-49, 1st woman). 5—Andy Andrews 53:15 (1st 60-69). 7—Katharine Sheldon 55:51 (2nd 40-49).
