The journey that took Holly Brooks from ski coach to two-time Olympic skier rivals any storybook. Brooks became an elite athlete relatively late in life, coming from nowhere to make the 2010 Winter Olympics cross-country ski team at age 27 and becoming a key figure in the rise of the U.S. women’s ski team on the international stage.
Search Results for: Holly Brooks
Holly Brooks
While coaching full-time at the Alaska Pacific University nordic program, Holly surprised many by qualifying to ski at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She then focused on competitive skiing and returned to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Competing on the World Cup, Holly posted several top-10 individual finishes and was a member of the U.S. women’s relay team that won… Read more »
Lefever, Hooe, Brooks and AWG headline Hall’s Class of 2018
Anchorage’s Dolly Lefever didn’t set out to climb all of the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, but that’s exactly what she did. Lefever made mountaineering magic in 1993 when she reached the top of Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko to become the first American woman and third woman ever to conquer the famed Seven… Read more »
Alaska runners crush it nationwide
From California to Utah to North Carolina, Alaskans ran up a storm over the weekend. Reigning Mount Marathon Race champion Hannah LaFleur of Seward won the Catalina Half Marathon and placed fourth overall in 1 hour, 37 minutes and 11 seconds. LaFleur received a strong challenge from Californian Evelyne Ruiz (1:37:27) and broke the existing… Read more »
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Thanks for taking the time to write! By sharing your stories and knowledge you help preserve Alaska’s rich sports history and help significant people, moments and events get the recognition they deserve. Public Recommendations are always welcome and can be submitted here. This is a compilation of submissions received since 2006. They have generally NOT… Read more »
Ostrander is the pick: Mt Marathon women’s Top 10 predictions
– By Matias Saari; Alaska Sports Blog Contributor 1. Allie Ostrander, age 22 (PR 49:19, 2017 champion) If she decides to race, it’s hard to imagine Allie O getting beat. The Soldotna native and current Boise State University standout won the junior girls’ race six times, is the defending women’s champion and boasts the 2nd… Read more »
Will Norris remain king? Mt Marathon men’s Top 10 predictions
– By Matias Saari, Alaska Sports Blog Contributor Picking the top-10 for the men’s race at Mount Marathon is a crapshoot as perhaps 20 guys are capable of achieving that result. Standing out from the crowd are the course record holder, a couple of pros sponsored by Salomon, the “Gang of Four” mountain fanatics, a 40-something… Read more »
Lower 48 stars to challenge Alaskans at Crow Pass Crossing
Zach Miller from Colorado became the first elite runner to sign up for the Crow Pass Crossing shortly after registration opened on May 1. His buddies Tim Tollefson and David Laney — both have finished on the podium at the prestigious Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc 100-miler — then followed suit. No elite trail runner… Read more »
Winners for Inaugural Youth Awards Announced
The talent pool is deep for Alaska high school sports stars, but the cream of the crop always rises to the top. Three teens in particular have been recognized by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame for displaying winning characteristics in competition and demonstrating championship character in life. Dimond basketball star Alissa Pili, Service cross-country Skimeister… Read more »
Hall of Fame announces winners for 2018 Directors Awards
Winter sports stars and pioneers and a hardcourt success story highlight the Class of 2018 Directors Awards winners. The Directors Awards recipients will be honored at the annual Alaska Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony and reception April 24 at the Anchorage Museum. The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame will be adding Youth Directors’ Awards… Read more »