Beauty and the beast: Participants run alongside massive animals at scenic farm

Aug. 7, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Attorney General Talis Colberg are used to dealing with a lot of bull in state politics - a skill that served them well on Sunday.

&#8220We decided we could either run with the bull in Juneau or run with the bulls in Palmer,” Palin said after completing a unique 5-kilometer run at the Alaska Musk Ox farm.

Both Palin and Colberg were among 94 participants in the fifth annual Running with the Bulls 5-K, a fund-raising event for the nonprofit farm located just north of town.

While runners didn't actually get in the same pens as the 1,000-pound animals - with the bulls in rut, to do so would have meant near-certain disaster for the state's political system - athletes did get close enough to prove they'd spent the day on the farm.

&#8220My cleats are clogged with musk ox dung,” Palin commented after placing third in her age division with a time of 27 minutes, 31.22 seconds.

Both Palin and Colberg are avid runners - &#8220It's my sanity,” Palin said - though the state's top attorney said he was slightly worried about his job security after clocking a time of 25:14.87.

&#8220It's a test of whether she likes me or not,” Colberg said.

While the political types were laughing it up in the middle of the pack, a crew of teenagers were all business.

Led by Palmer High senior Jake Parisien, 17, the top three spots in both the men's and women's divisions were taken by high-schoolers.

Parisien, a senior who placed second in state two years ago before spending a year in North Dakota, said the race was a good way to get into the competitive mode with the regular high school cross country season set to begin in a week.

&#8220I'm hoping to win state this year,” Parisien said.

Parisien sent an early message to any Valley runner hoping to challenge him this season with a time of 16 minutes, 58.76 seconds, besting Wasilla's Baruch Chamberlain, 17, by nearly a minute, and dusting Palmer teammate Kevin Smith, also 17, by more than a minute and a half.

Parisien jumped out to an early lead in Sunday's race, which was held in vacant musk ox fields as the animals watched from adjacent pens. Aside from having to consistently dodge large piles of droppings, Parisien said he felt pretty comfortable from the get-go.

&#8220I always want to get in the lead pretty fast,” he said. &#8220So the first couple laps I went really hard.”

In the women's race, West Anchorage High sophomore Danielle Gerik, 15, finished in 22:24.32 to beat Eagle River High junior Kristen King, 16, by seven seconds. Palmer senior Jacquie Carnahan-Lutz, 17, finished third with a time of 23:02.96.

Gerik's win was a bit unexpected, as she said she traveled to the event with her family simply as a fun way to spend the day.

&#8220I come every year,” she said.

But while she's made the trip to the scenic Palmer farm in the past, Gerik has never been a contender. In fact, last year she walked the course.

&#8220I had no idea I'd win,” she said. &#8220I didn't run all summer.”

While Gerik's win may have been a surprise, the case wasn't the same for the winners of the one-mile children's event. Shocking no one, 8-year-old Valley twins Tracen and Dawson Knopp blew away the field as they have in most 5-K races this year. Finishing in 7:02:10, Tracen Knopp ran away from his brother midway through the race to win by 49 seconds. The next closest finisher, fellow 8-year-old Ricky Brossow, was almost four minutes back in third place.

Dawson Knopp said the chance to run near the musk oxen was his favorite part of the race.

&#8220They kinda charged at the fence sometimes,” he said.

Brother Tracen said he enjoyed the course because it was a nice change of pace from typical 5-K events, which are normally held on city streets.

&#8220I liked the hills,” Tracen said.

Both runners and walkers participated, with entrants hailing from the Valley, Anchorage, New York, Missouri and even Japan.

Garian Wenchley, who used to live in the Valley and now teaches in Japan, said she decided to take part as a way to get some exercise and visit with friends Stevie Jill, Jane Desnoyero and Michael Martinelli, who all teach in Wasilla.

&#8220What a great way to spend the day,” Wenchley said.

Desnoyero, who is a Spanish language teacher at Wasilla High, said she couldn't pass up the chance to participate in a traditional Spanish custom - albeit one being held in Alaska.

&#8220We just couldn't pass up the chance to run with the bulls,” she said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com

5th Annual Running with the Bulls 5-K and Kid's 1-mile

Sunday, Palmer Musk Ox Farm

Girls 12&U 5000 Meter Run:

1. Colberg, Eva, , 27:12.17; 2. Quamme, Sarah, , 37:39.32.

Women 13-15 5000 Meter Run:

1. Gerik, Danielle, 22:24.31; 2. Stramp, Robin, 24:20.82; 3. Sutherland, Julianna, , 24:25.63; 4. Ripley, Emily, 24:31.31; 5. Hoffman, Rachel, 24:38.69; 6. Lutz Carnahan, Lizzie, 25:37.99; 7. Clump, Keri, 25:46.66; 8. Schleich, Cori, , 26:07.76; 9. Jahn, Abby, 26:23.13; 10. DelFrate, Kimberly, 26:23.36; 11. Thein, Shauna, 26:33.20; 12. Lundt, Morgan, ,26:37.49; 13. Schleich, Valerie, 26:42.77; 14. Parker, Katherine, 27:14.26; 15. DelFrate, Amanda, , 27:42.35.

Women 16-19 5000 Meter Run:

1. King, Kristen, 22:31.24; 2. Lutz Carnahan, Jacquie, 23:02.96; 3. Gross, Jessica, 24:23.83.

Women 20-29 5000 Meter Run:

1. Jensen, Maja, 26:23.91; 2. Taylor, Gina, 26:29.43; 3. Haggblom, Maureen, 29:37.56; 4. Barra, Amy, 32:18.16; 5. Reem, Crystal, 37:17.04.

Women 30-39 5000 Meter Run:

1. Slisz, Rachael, 24:23.37; 2. Millard, Renee, 26:33.76; 3. Koecher, Kami, 27:24.13; 4. Lockwood, Maria,m 29:50.64; 5. Hogge, Heather, 30:10.02; 6. Hammons, Dawn, 30:30.46; 7. Garrettson, Denise, 36:44.76; 8. Rogers, Jamie, 37:42.39; 9. Kent, Anna, 41:45.35; 10. Jill, Stevie, 52:16.76; 11. Wrenchey, Gariann, 52:17.92.

Women 40-49 5000 Meter Run:

1. Ripley, Elizabeth, 24:22.04; 2. Kindred, B C, 27:20.85; 3. Palin, Sarah, 27:31.22; 4. Breeding, Becky, 32:30.09; 5. Rigoni, Janet, 35:52.96; 6. Clark, Tracy, 37:05.58; 7. Auton, Katrina, 42:39.99; 8. Gerik, Rebecca, 44:19.35.

Women 50-59 5000 Meter Run:

1. Barra, Jill, , 32:17.58; 2. O'Connell, Gayle, 35:02.45; 3. Jennings, P J, 44:22.46; 4. Witzel, Phyllis, 44:44.31; 5. Acena, Trula, 44:45.47; 6. Nash, Bev, 44:45.80; 7. Desnoyero, Jane, 55:29.71.

Women 60-69 5000 Meter Run:

1. Bowker, Sandra, , 44:20.80.

Boys 12&U 5000 Meter Run:

1. Burley, Logan, , 24:23.65.

Men 13-15 5000 Meter Run:

1. Knopp, Schyler, 19:50.25; 2. LaFrance, Piers, 20:01.38; 3. Ripley, Noah, 23:50.79; 4. Phelly, Kevin, 26:57.10; 5. Moser, Mike, 34:05.94.

Men 16-19 5000 Meter Run:

1. Perisien, Jake, 16:58.76; 2. Chamberlain, Baruch, 17:49.99; 3. Smith, Kevin, 18:40.45; 4. Ashland, Christopher, 20:47.85; 5. Lapekas, Anthony, 21:29.32; 6. Barra, Kelsey, 21:50.81; 7. Kindred, Travis, 22:40.92; 8. Budnik, John, 34:05.57.

Men 20-29 5000 Meter Run:

1. Mazany, David, 19:24.50; 2. Barra, Jay, 29:36.47.

Men 40-49 5000 Meter Run:

1. Haugan, Tim, 19:19.17; 2. Knopp, David, 19:56.62; 3. Fonseca, Joe, 24:17.40; 4. Colberg, Talis, 25:15.87; 5. Thorn, Craig, 25:27.87; 6. Taylor, E W, 26:34.43; 7. Schleich, Karl, 26:50.23; 8. Barker, Richard, 27:34.85; 9. Haggblom, Darrin, 30:05.79.

Men 50-59 5000 Meter Run:

1. Downey, Ron, 21:01.22; 2. Downey, Tom, 22:44.10; 3. Barra, Bub, 24:45.44; 4. Weiss, Jeff, , 27:35.48; 5. O'Connell, John, , 29:43.62; 6. Witzel, Don, 44:44.68; 7. Martinelli, Michael, 55:30.06.

Men 60-69 5000 Meter Run:

1. Bowker, Robert, 24:28.58.

Girls 13&U 1600 Meter Run:

3. Grimes, Amanda, , 8:37.90; 4. Hammons, Kierra, , 10:12.60; 5. Hammons,

Keanna, , 10:58.90; 6. Garrettson, Jordyn, , 10:59.20.

Boys 13&U 1600 Meter Run:

1. Knopp, Tracen, , 7:02.10; 2. Knopp, Dawson, , 7:51.70; 7. Brossow, Ricky, ,

11:37.00; 8. Whitney, Matuline, , 13:20.80; 9. Durand, Aidan, , 16:38.50.