Nordic skier Kendall Kramer is the ASHOF Athlete of the Week for January 6.
Kramer, a Fairbanks native, representing the University of Alaska Fairbanks, skied to her first U.S. National Championship in the 20-kilometer mass-start classic race at Kincaid Park on Sunday. Kramer skied the entire race with Erica Laven (a Swede with the University of Utah) before double-poling away from her by 2.4 seconds.
Kramer also placed a close second at the 10K freestyle three days earlier.
Kramer had never received Athlete of the Week honors before getting the award Nov. 26 after placing second at the NCAA Division II cross country running championships. Now she’s been honored twice in 2 1/2 months.
Also receiving consideration:
- David Carle — The Anchorage hockey coaching mastermind led team USA to its first back-to-back titles in the World Junior Championships with a 4-3 overtime victory over Finland on Sunday in Ottawa, Ontario.
- Hasaan Herrington — The UAA men’s basketball player from Anchorage scored 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting to go with six rebounds and a key steal in the final minute to help the Seawolves beat Western Washington 71-67 for its fifth straight win.
- Luke Jager — The Anchorage Nordic skier won three medals at the U.S. National Championships in his hometown. He placed second in the classic sprint (1st American), third in the 20K classic (2nd American) and fourth in the 10K freestyle (3rd American).
- Jack Leveque — The youngest of 77 contestants at just 15 years old, the Alaska Winter Stars skier won the Under 20 division of the 10-kilometer classic at the U.S. National Championships on Sunday. Leveque thus qualified for the World Junior Championships Feb. 3-9 in Italy and the U18 Scando Trip in Norway Feb. 15-23.
- Nyawuow Majiok —The Mountain City Christian Academy girls basketball player hit the game-winning shot with 4.2 seconds left to provide the Lions with a 53-51 victory over Barrow in the title game of the MCCA Invitational.
- Emily Robinson — Just 17 years old, the musher from Nenana won the Knik 200 for the second straight year, topping Iditarod champion Ryan Redington and other top mushers. Robinson will go for her 4th straight Junior Iditarod title next month.
The Alaska Athlete of the Week is selected by a panel each Monday.
