A LEAGUE OF HER OWN: Wasilla runner doesn’t let an eligibility issue slow her down

WASILLA — Allison VanPelt is the region’s top runner in the girls’ class. But VanPelt won’t be competing for a title during the Region III Championships Saturday afternoon.

VanPelt, a member of the Wasilla Warriors cross-country running program, will be in the junior varsity race, where she’s been throughout her junior season. VanPelt, a student at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School, spent her first two years of high school running cross-country and track at Houston High. Following her sophomore year, VanPelt decided to compete at Wasilla High School, where her older brother Eliasson, also ran.

But with the move to the Wasilla High running programs came a price. VanPelt is not eligible to run at the varsity level in 2017, due to the Alaska Schools Activities Association’s rules involving student-athletes transferring to schools within a particular school district. VanPelt has been only able to compete in the junior varsity and open races.

But that has now slowed her down.

VanPelt currently has the fastest time of any runner in Region III’s girls’ class, a mark of 18 minutes and 44 seconds, which is also the third-best time in the state this year. Wasilla head coach Leslie Varys praised VanPelt’s work, and drive, despite not being able to compete at the varsity level.

“I think it speaks volumes not only of her character, but what a competitor she is,” Varys said earlier this week. “It shows how much she really loves running.”

VanPelt, who finished fourth in the girls’ 123A race at the state meet as a sophomore with the Hawks, said the daily commute was the primary reason for making the move to Wasilla.

“Pretty much,” VanPelt said. “It’s harder for us to drive all the way out to Houston from Wasilla all season.”

VanPelt said, for the most part, she’s fine with spending her junior season on the junior varsity circuit.

“It's kind of hard knowing I can’t do state or regions,” VanPelt said. “But that’s OK.”

VanPelt, Varys and Wasilla assistant coach Jessica Pahkala have spent the season focusing on times, and overall improvement.

“I’m really happy with my times,” VanPelt said. “I’ve been working really hard all season.”

VanPelt notched a personal record time of 18:44 during a dual with Palmer Sept. 16 at Palmer High. She has won each race she’s entered this season, a perfect 6-0 on the year. Based on her times, she would have finished first in two of the five varsity meets Wasilla was a part of this season and would have never finished lower than fifth.

VanPelt has spent her season running in a league of her own in the junior varsity class. She has run each of the races by at least 36 seconds. Two minutes and 44 seconds separated VanPelt and the runner-up during the Colony Invitational at the beginning of the year. Earlier this month at the Region III Preview race at the Government Peak Recreation Area, VanPelt finished 3 minutes, 50 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Overall, only Juneau-Douglas sophomore Sadie Tuckwood and West Valley sophomore Kendall Kramer have posted faster times that VanPelt in Alaska girls’ cross-country running this season.

VanPelt first hit the cross-country trails in elementary school at Knik-Goose Bay. There was a need for runners. VanPelt decided to give a try and finished third in her first race.

Now she’s hooked. She’s hoping her work in high school leads her to an opportunity to run at the college level. Right now her dream school is Oregon State, she said. Last fall during a trip to Oregon, VanPelt had a chance to visit the Corvallis campus. She also hopes to study physical therapy.

Varys said the work this year will certainly help VanPelt in the future.

“I think it’s going to take her to the next level of running,” Varys said.

Varys lauded VanPelt as not just an athlete, but person.

“She’s such an amazing person too. She’s just really a lot of fun to be around,” Varys said.

VanPelt will be eligible to run at the varsity level during the track and field season. She said she trains throughout the year. During the summer, one of her teachers at Career Tech, Tim Lundt, designed personal workouts for VanPelt. She’ll continue running throughout the winter to prepare for track. VanPelt said she expects to focus on the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter races this year.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.