By Jeremiah Bartz

Frontiersman

PALMER —  For about two-thirds of the 4A girls’ championship race Saturday afternoon, things went pretty much as expected.

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Three-time defending state champion Leah Francis, of Juneau-Douglas, seemed well on her way to the four-peat, and Wasilla’s freshman phenom Jenna Ford was right on her heels.

But somewhere during the third lap, everything changed.

West Valley’s Courtney Kisner worked her way past Ford during the second mile, and eventually overtook Francis for first.

And by the time the first set of runners sprinted off the Michael Janecek Running Trails and on to the finish chute, it was Kisner leading the pack.

The West Valley runner used that late push to win an individual state championship and led the Wolf pack to the 4A girls team title during the 2009 ASAA/First National Bank State Championships at Palmer High School.

Kisner finished first, logging at time of 18 minutes and 58 seconds.

But the unexpected didn’t stop with Kisner’s win.

Skyview’s Ivy O’Guinn finished second, just two seconds behind Kisner. Bartlett’s Susan Bick was third, Soldonta’s Bree Mucha was fourth and West Valley’s Marisa Rorabaugh was fifth.

“It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Wasilla head coach Gary Howell said of the complete change in front-runners during the final mile of the race. “It was very weird to stand at the (Machetanz Field) track and see the order of the girls coming in.”

Ford, who won the Region III Championships in dominant fashion last week, finished sixth in the race, behind region rivals O’Guinn and Mucha.

“To see Jenna drop to sixth, and get beat by Ivy, who she beat in regions, was very weird,” Howell said.

After the race, Ford said there were points in the race where she didn’t feel her best.

“I just didn’t feel well at all,” Ford said.

During the Palmer Invitational, on the same Michael Janecek Trails, early in the year, Ford finished second to only Francis. Many predicted that Francis and Ford would be back in the top two spots on Saturday.

That was the case until a surge by the likes of Kisner and O’Guinn. Howell said experience played a big role in the finish.

“First through fifth, those are seasoned runners,” Howell said. “When you get to state, experience has a lot more value.”

And while Ford has enjoyed tremendous success, Howell still warned of the pressures put on young runners.

“I thought about it way too much. The nerves got to me,” Ford said. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”

While Ford dropped from just second to fifth during the final lap, Francis fell all the way to a 21st-place finish.

The Juneau-Douglas senior, who has been battling sickness and missed the Region V Championships last week due to illness, collapsed after her finish, and needed medical attention.

West Valley and South Anchorage grabbed the top two spots in the team standings, but Colony finished strong to earn third overall.

Freshman Audrey Michaelson finished 14th to lead a group of three Knights in the top-25. Michaelson capped off her first year of prep running with a time of 19:42.

“She really stepped up,” Colony head coach Mark Strabel said. “All the kids ran really strong, a lot faster than we did at the Palmer Invite.”

Sydney Stewart used a time of 19:50 to place 19th. Hutchins was 23rd at 19:55.

“All of them had good races,” Strabel said. “It was very, very fast today.”

Strabel also noted the work of freshman Mackenzie Thompson, who finished 45th at 20:49. Thompson was on Colony’s junior varsity team last weekend.

Wasilla finished fifth in the girls field, despite not being at full strength.

Morgan Dampier recorded a personal best time of 19:46 to finish 16th for WHS.

“She ran a great race,” Howell said. “We’ve been waiting for that race all season. She PR’d at state. What a time to do it.”

Senior Brooke Nelson also set a personal mark, with a time of 20:28.

“Overall, I’m very pleased with how the girls ran,” Howell said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

ASAA/First National Bank State Cross Country Running Championships

Saturday, Palmer High School

4A girls team standings:

1. West Valley 63, 2. South Anchorage 74, 3. Colony 128, 4. Kodiak 128, 5. Wasilla 137, 6. West Anchorage 154, 7. Service 169, 8. Juenau-Douglas 191, 9. Chugiak 196, 10. Lathrop 203, 11. Soldotna 214.

4A girls individual results:

1. C. Kisner, WV 18:58.4; 2. I. O’Guinn, Sky 19:00.1; 3. S. Bick, Bart 19:08.6, 4. B. Mucha, Sol 19:12.5; 5. M. Rorabaugh, WV 19:13.0; 6. J. Ford, Was 19:13.4; 7. M. Edic, Lath 19:15.4; 8. C. Ivanoff, Kod 19:16.7; 9. A. Hennessy, Dim 19:18.2; 10. H. Boyer, WV 19:20.4; 11. E. Minge, SA 19:26.8; 12. M. Vania, SA 19:36.0; 13. J. Northey, Ser 19:37.0; 14. A. Michaelson, Col 19:42.6; 15. K. Vanoshek, SA 19:42.9; 16. M. Dampier, Was 19:46.2; 17. S. Kirk, SA 19:47.8; 18. J. Bethea, Kod 19:48.9; 19. S. Stewart, Col 19:50.8; 20. M. Smith, Sol 19:51.4; 21. L. Francis, Jun 19:53.4; 22. A. Liotta, West 19:54.0; 23. A. Hutchins, Col 19:55.0; 24. S. Ng, Kod 19:58.1; 25. K. McPheters, Chu 19:58.4; 26. R. Roelle, West 20:00.2; 27. A. Smith, Kod 20:04.9; 28. E. Rorabaugh, WB 20:05.3; 29. A. Ord, Jun 20:07.0; 30. J. Wright, NP 20:08.4; 31. M. Callahan, WB 20:13.5; 32. J. Whiteman, West 20:19.7; 33. A. McPeters, Chu 20:25.0; 34. T. Ostrander, Ken 20:27.5; 35. B. Nelson, Was 20:28.7; 36. J. Yeaton, SA 20:30.6; 37. D. Gerik, West 20:31.4; 38. T. Mahlen, SA 20:32.9; 39. K. Muller-Stubb, Ser 20:33.3; 40. S. Browning, Jun 20:34.1; 41. R. Miner, Ser 20:39.5; 42. K. Sulvers, SA 20:41.6; 43. K. Lange, Chug 20:45.3; 44. S. Stone, Lat 20:46.7; 45. M. Thompson, Col 20:49.2; 46. T. Stewart, Col 20:49.9; 47. H. Hutchinson, Sky 20:50.4; 48. C. Schmitz, NP 20:50.9; 49. A. Kelly, Was 20:52.4; 50. K. Fitzgerald, Lat 20:52.8; 51. A. Okeson, Ser 20:54.5; 52. S. Smith, Ser 20:56.0; 53. H. Xavier, Ser 20:56.8; 54. L. Laughlin, Col 21:01.2; 55. C. Schleich, Was 21:06.6; 56. M. Skan, Jun 21:07.7; 57. S. Greaves, Ket 21:08.8; 58. J. Hamlin, Lat 21:11.3; 59. A. Samaniego, Chu 21:19.1; 60. C. Hearing, West 21:19.4; 61. K. Clump, Was 21:26.1; 62. J. Phillips, WV 21:26.1; 63. C. Johnson, West 21:26.9; 64. J. Roth, Chug 21:27.2; 65. M. Halloran, Ser 21:27.4; 66. K. Lundberg, Chug 21:28.1; 67. S. Wieping-Brown, West 21:34.6; 68. M. Merkes, Sol 21:39.1; 69. A. Jahn, Col 21:39.7; 70. A. Delo Santos, Kod 21:52.2; 71. L. Burger-Pothier, Jun 21:56.2; 72. A. Ottoson-McKean- Jun 21:59.2; 73. E. Whisenhant, WV 22:00.0; 74. T. Ruckhaus, Lat 22:09.9; 75. K. Skjold, Sol 22:10.2; 76. J. Jensen, Sol 21:11.4; 77. S. Wyatt, Sol 22:13.3; 78. S. Ernest, Kod 22:19.6; 79. M. Barnett, Kod 22:21; 80. A. Brisco, Jun 22:23.8; 81. J. Clock, Sol 22:27.2; 82. N. Famham, Lat 22:31.9; 83. R. Fore, Chu 22:39.3; 84. M. Stevens, Lat 23:05.6.

Girls 1-2-3A team scores:

1. Grace Christian 36, 2. Sitka 96, 3. Seward 107, 4. Monroe 119, 5. Skagway 124, 6. Dillingham 150, 8. Anchorage Christian 178, 9. Kotzebue 196.

Girls 1-2-3A individual results (top-50):

1, Wilson, Kailey, Kenny Lake, 18:56.1. 2, Boyles, Monae, Grace, 19:48.8. 3, Barnwell, Allison, Seward, 20:07.3. 4, Applegate, Mariah, Grace, 20:15.4. 5, Bennett, Lizzy, Monroe, 20:19.8. 6, Davis, BethAnne, Grace, 20:22.3. 7, Stong, Katie, Port Lions, 20:35.1. 8, Paustian, Kari, Sitka, 20:44.2. 9, Jensen, Amanda, Skagway, 20:56.8. 10, Atherton, Kristina, Seward, 21:01.6. 11, Fifield, Macala, Monroe, 21:05.2. 12, Brady, Bailey, Sitka, 21:06.9. 13, Nickerson, Amber, Craig, 21:21.0. 14, Hunter, Jaclyn, Scammon Bay, 21:31.5. 15, Lisac, Jorden, Dillingham H, 21:31.9. 16, Esbenshade, Tina, Yakutat, 21:40.2. 17, Winkle, Betsy, Grace, 21:41.8. 18, Scott, Missy, Su-Valley, 21:42.9. 19, Price, Blair, Grace, 21:47.9. 20, Trujillo, Claire, Grace, 21:49.7. 21, Surdyk, Kaitlyn, Skagway, 21:55.9. 22, Leaverton, Rori, Skagway, 21:59.4. 23, MacIntytre, Jennifer, Sitka, 22:00.0. 24, Anderson, Leisha, ACS, 22:06.4. 25, McGill, Amanda, Dillingham H, 22:10.3. 26, Shade, Jillian, Dillingham H, 22:12.1. 27, Olson, Annie Kate, Nome Beltz H, 22:17.9. 28, Murtiff, Mickey, Eielson, 22:18.2. 29, Trujillo, Anna, Grace, 22:18.5. 30, Larson, Tristen, Valdez, 22:21.8. 31, Buchanan, Jenna, Galena Jr/Sr, 22:23.2. 32, Tomaganuk, Marissa, Hooper Bay, 22:24.7. 33, Herbig, Emily, Skagway, 22:25.0. 34, Pellumbi, Eniana, Bethel High, 22:25.3. 35, Lemieux, Jolene, Haines, 22:27.4. 36, Miller, Katie, Valdez, 22:36.0. 37, Anderson, Margaret, Chevak, 22:36.7. 38, Hamberger, Jessica, Cordova, 22:39.5. 39, Hickerson, Winona, Kotzebue, 22:43.1. 40, Sefton, Kelly, Seward, 22:43.7. 41, Merioles, Emily, Valdez, 22:45.3. 42, Dyer, Laura, Seward, 22:48.2. 43, Wheeler, Justyne, Yakutat, 22:48.6. 44, Gladsjo, Amy, Wrangell, 22:52.3. 45, Helkenn, Jessica, Delta, 22:54.7. 46, Baker, Rachel, ACS, 22:55.1. 47, Stevenson, Bailey, Su-Valley, 22:56.3. 48, Lake, Chelsea, Chevak, 22:57.9. 49, Winkler, Anitra, Cantwell, 22:58.3. 50, Stokes, Delainey, Monroe, 22:59.3. 51, Ilughey, Alaire, Sitka, 23:03.6. 52, Carlos, Whitney, Togiak, 23:05.7. 53, Schreder, Megan, Monroe, 23:14.3. 54, Webb, Justine, Sitka, 23:15.7. 55, Ionashku, Tanya, Delta, 23:23.0. 56, Castle, Melissa, Craig, 23:24.4. 57, Rooney, Mykayla, Wrangell, 23:24.9. 58, Beans-Polk, Chelsea, Bethel High, 23:27.0. 59, Williams, Cassi, Klawock, 23:27.2. 60, Boskofsky, Raissa, Port Lions, 23:27.8. 61, Magpantay, JB, Unalaska Hig, 23:28.4. 62, Medinger, Kathryn, Sitka, 23:31.5. 63, Corsetti, Sierra, IDEA, 23:36.2. 64, Rassmussen-Rehkopf, Sara, Sitka, 23:40.4. 65, Jaconette, Olivia, ACS, 23:45.0. 66, Barlow, Kara, Craig, 23:50.5. 67, Uttercyuk, Carla, Scammon Bay, 23:51.3. 68, Doty, Mariah, Kenny Lake, 23:51.6. 69, Joseph, Cassandra, Tanana, 23:52.1. 70, Reed, Julie, Kiana, 23:55.7. 71, Vanderbunt, Britney, Eielson, 23:56.7. 72, Nelson, Darilyn, Kotzebue, 23:57.4. 73, Gore, Windy, Cantwell, 23:58.7. 74, Green, Crystal, Delta, 23:59.4. 75, Wortman, Paisley, Craig, 24:04.2. 76, Horner, Rochelle, Nome Beltz H, 24:18.4. 77, Gallahorn, Heather, Kotzebue, 24:18.7. 78, Simmonds, Flora, Barrow High, 24:20.3. 79, Lind, Maren, Dillingham H, 24:23.5. 80, Owen, Alex, Craig, 24:29.0. 81, Thompson, Krystal, ACS, 24:29.7. 82, Prociw, April, Barrow High, 24:35.4. 83, Berry, Tess, Seward, 24:38.3. 84, Boyd, Taylor, Eielson, 24:45.0. 85, Jackson, Ruth, Noorvik, 24:48.9. 86, Ferguson, Elizabeth, Kotzebue, 24:58.2. 87, Tozier, Caitlin, Nome Beltz H, 24:59.2. 88, Polk, Kira, Bethel High, 25:02.6. 89, Halverson, Josie, Monroe, 25:05.3. 90, Herbert, Maggie, Seward, 25:05.6. 91, Michels, Morgan, Su-Valley, 25:13.0. 92, Erlich, Jamie, Kotzebue, 25:14.8. 93, Zweifel, Catie, Seward, 25:20.6. 94, Norris, Alyssa, Monroe, 25:22.6. 95, Pitka, Lorena, Galena Jr/Sr, 25:34.4. 96, Willis, Sabrina, ACS, 25:51.2. 97, Commack, Robin, Selawik, 25:51.9. 98, Koonooka, Marina, Gambell, 26:06.6. 99, Schreder, Nicole, Monroe, 26:12.3. 100, Whiting, Denali, Kotzebue, 26:45.1. 101, Godsby, Emily, ACS, 26:53.2. 102, Nelson, Brittany, Dillingham H, 27:03.4. 103, Cosca, Billie, Nome Beltz H, 27:24.1. 104, Sheldon, Marie, Galena Jr/Sr, 27:34.0. 105, Gregg, Darla, Galena Jr/Sr, 27:34.4. 106, Thibodeauz, Brianna, ACS, 28:27.0. 107, Henricksen, Kayla, Skagway, 28:48.6. 108, Gregg, Katherine, Galena Jr/Sr, 30:05.0. 109, Van Diest, Tisha, Galena Jr/Sr, 31:14.4. 110, Betterton, Victoria, Galena Jr/Sr, 37:09.1.