Colony girls, Wasilla boys win Seward Invite

SEWARD — Throughout the 2014 season, the Colony Knights girls cross-country running team has had a pair of underclassmen battling in the front of the pack.

Freshman Jill Bowker and sophomore Alex Mathis have posted consecutive finishes in every race this season. Bowker has had the edge, finishing just ahead of Mathis in the first four major meets of the year. But Friday, Mathis was the first Colony runner to cross the finish line.

Mathis, the 2013 4A runner-up as a freshman, powered her way through horrid trail conditions to post a time of 19 minutes and 50 seconds, and finish third in the Seward Invitational in Seward. Bowker was just behind Mathis, placing fourth with a time of 19:54.

Mathis and Bowker helped Colony win the girls team title. Wasilla finished first in the boys team standings.

Mathis and Bowker have each finished in the top 4 in every race this year. Colony head coach Rhonda Knopp said the runners have developed a friendly rivalry and camaraderie.

“They really do work well together during practice,” Knopp said. “They’re just about the same speed. They’re great training partners. It’s a really good deal.”

Bowker has already notched a pair of runner-up finishes at the Bartlett Invitational and Colony Invite. She’s also placed third at the Tsalteshi Invitational and Palmer Invite. Friday marked the third time Mathis placed third this season, adding to third-place finishes at Bartlett and Colony.

The Knights placed four in the top 20. Elisabeth Bowker (21:12) was 17th and Cathelyne Powers (21:16) finished 19th.

Colony placed first in the team standings with 66 total points. Kenai was the runner-up with 72. Homer (79) edged fourth-place Soldotna (81 points). Soldotna finished second at the Palmer Invitational last week.

“We know there are a couple of teams out there,” Knopp said. “We know we’ve got to do well. We know Kenai and Soldotna have great teams period.”

The Wasilla boys, fresh off their first win at the Palmer Invitational since 1986, also won a team title. Quincy Fuller was the first Warrior across the finish line, posting a time of 17:44. Sam Loyer posted a time of 17:52 to place 11th and edge teammate Colton Pulver, who finished 12th with a mark of 17:53.

Justin Gentz (15th, 17:59), Lane Reed (16th, 18:02) and Karl Greathouse (19th, 18:07) all finished in the top 20 for Wasilla. Wasilla’s top 5 was separated by only 23 seconds.

Juneau and Kenai finished second and third respectively in the team standings. Colony, missing two varsity runners due to illness, was fourth. Full team scores for both classes were not available.

Tracen Knopp led the Knights with a third-place finish in the boys’ race. Knopp clocked a time of 17:35, finishing just behind runner-up Jordan Theisen (17:34) of Kenai.

Kenai swept the individual titles. Jonah Theisen (17:22) won the boys race, while Allie Ostrander (17:46) finished first in the girls’ race.

Wasilla’s Riley Burroughs and Palmer’s Ruby Woodings also placed in the top 10 of the girls race. Burroughs was seventh with a time of 20:23. Woodings finished ninth at 20:39.

Knopp said times were slower across the board, thanks to heavy rain and poor conditions on the trial.

“We told our kids, don’t worry about time. You can’t compare times. Go by place and do your best,” Knopp said. “By the varsity races, the trail was really demolished.”

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

Seward Invitational

Friday, Seward

Girls individual results:

1. A. Ostrander, Ken 17:46; 2. B. Gerlach, Glen 19:07; 3. O. Hutchings, Sol 19:32; 4. A. Mathis, Col 19:50; 5. J. Bowker, Col 19:54; 6. M. Pitzman, Hom 20:16; 7. R. Burroughs, Was 20:23; 8. R. Boonstra, Ken 20:32; 9. R. Woodings, Pal 20:39; 10. M. Mitchell, Hom 20:41; 11. C. Applegate, Gra 20:48; 12. R. Lindquist, Sew 20:49; 13. D. Nelson, Sol 20:52; 14. B. Wedin, Sew 20:55; 15. A. Gibson, Ken 21:00; 16. D. McCormick, Sol 21:04; 17. E. Bowker, Col 21:12; 18. A. Waclawski, Hom 21:16; 19. C. Powers, Col 21:16; 20. T. O’Hara, ACS 21:29.

Other Valley finishers:

26. C. Geraghty, Col 21:52; 38. R. McLellan, Was 22:40; 39. J. Kopsack, Col 22:44; 42. R. Berrigan, Pal 23:10; 44. J. Burroughs, Was 23:13; 47. E. Wright, Pal 23:27; 49. A. Qualls, Pal 23:39; 53. G. Minnick, Was 23:52; 57. E. Bingham, Pal 24:00; 58. L. Pepperd, Was 24:03; 61. A. Pell. Was 24:25; 64. E. Wright, Pal 24:50; 66. K. Munday, Was 25:17.

Boys individual results (top 20):

1. Jon. Theisen, Ken 17:22; 2. Jor. Theisen, Ken 17:34; 3. T. Knopp, Col 17:35; 4. M. Todd, ACS 17:41; 5. H. Kratz, Sew 17:41; 6. M. Marshall, Sew 17:43; 7. Q. Fuller, Ken 17:44; 8. R. Moser, Jun 17:46; 9. J. Elliott, Jun 17:48; 10. D. Peterson-Thompson, Col 17:49; 11. S. Loyer, Was 17:52; 12. C. Pulver, Was 17:53; 13. T. Cooper, Ken 17:54; 14. T. Daniel, Col 17:57; 15. J. Gentz, Was 17:59; 16. L. Reed, Was 18:02; 17. R. Healy, Jun 18:03; 18. B. Holst, Jun 18:06; 19. K. Greathouse, Was 18:07; 20. T. Frtizel, Gra 18:18.

Other Valley finishers:

23. H. Foster, Pal 18:26; 30. R. Kavalok, Pal 18:42; 31. I. Bell, Was 18:44; 40. C. Jensen, Pal 19:28; 42. R. Haan, Col 19:31; 50. J. Burton, Pal 20:08; 53. J. Klina, Pal 20:14; 54. J. Taylor, Col 20:14; 62. L. Natwick, Pal 20:49; 66. B. Swalling, Pal 20:57.