Colony runner wins Region III title

PALMER -- Peter Doner's lead was sometimes slight and sometimes significant, but in the end permanent.

Doner, a Colony High School senior, held off a late charge by Kenai runner Trevor Baldwin on the final stretch of the Michael Janecek Running Trails at Palmer High School to win his second consecutive Region III individual title.

Through each of the three laps on the course, Doner's lead over Baldwin varied. The Kenai senior was within an arm's length of Doner at points, and seconds behind at others.

"I could hear him with me, I could hear him drop back," Doner said.

Near the end of the third and final lap and at the beginning of the home stretch, Doner committed a cross-country no-no, and took a slight look back at his foe.

"I saw him in the corner of my eye," Doner said.

Baldwin's push put a little fear into Doner, but the Knight runner found strength as he looked to the scoreboard on the final stretch. Doner said looking toward the scoreboard and toward the finish line has always given him a boost mentally.

"It's been a long time since I've been passed on the straightaway," Doner said.

Doner finished the course in 16 minutes and 38.94 seconds, just more than a second better than Baldwin.

"He surprised me," Doner said. "He's really improved from his junior to senior year. He was tough today. That was a gutsy race on his part, a huge improvement over his last time here."

With just a second separating the runners in the final standings, Doner said his effort on the course's hills could have given him the edge.

"Where the race was decided was on that last hill. That's where I got the boost of confidence," Doner said. "I felt great going over the top of the hill, I've got some kick in me."

Doner said running the hills efficiently is the key to success on the Palmer High course and the sight of your success on the hills can be demoralizing to the other runners.

A pair of runners very familiar with the Janecek Trails followed Doner and Baldwin down the finish chute. Palmer senior Rory Egelus placed third in the event, while freshman Jake Parisien placed fourth. The duo Moose runners helped the Palmer boys capture second place in the team standings.

Soldotna's Ari Goldstein claimed her second Region III title with ease. The heavily-favored runner finished more than 30 seconds ahead of fellow Star Katie Franzmann.

Wasilla junior Suzanna Caldwell posted the top finish among Valley girls' in the event. Caldwell crossed the finish line at the 20:48 mark, less than a second ahead of Palmer freshman Mattie Cox. Caldwell had the slight edge on Cox for the second time in as many races. Last week, Caldwell finished just one second ahead of Cox to win the Mat-Su Borough title at Colony High School.

Kodiak swept the team titles, winning the girls' crown by 22 points and the boys' trophy by nine points. The Bears posted three top-10 finishes in the boys' standings and a pair of top-10 finishes in the girls' standings.

Palmer High also hosted the Region III-1-2-3A finals on Saturday.

Paced by Casey Martinez's first-place finish, Grace Christian won the small-school girls' team title. Anchorage Christian School placed four runners in the top-10 to win the small-school boys' team title.

More than 200 runners competed at the championships despite less than ideal running conditions. Athletes and spectators were plagued by cold winds and light sleet during the races.

Region III Cross Country

Championships

At Janecek Trail, Palmer High

Girls 5-K, 4A

Team — 1) Kodiak 51; 2) Kenai 73; 3) Soldotna 77; 4) Homer 92; 5) Palmer 109; 6) Skyview 160; 7) Colony 177; 8) Wasilla 184.

Individual — 1) Goldstein, Ari, Sol, 18:31.51; 2) Franzmann, Katie, Sol, 19:03.63; 3) Gauna, Val, Kod, 20:29.70; 4) Baldwin, Lauren, Kenai, 20:36.43; 5) Mach, Melanie, Hom, 20:45.54; 6) Caldwell, Suszanna, W, 20:48.80; 7) Cox, Mattie, P, 20:49.15; 8) Hagen-Lillevik, Synneva, Kenai, 20:49.53; 9) Reuter, Jenna, Kod, 20:50.46; 10) Bird, Elena, Kenai, 20:51.38; 11) Fields, Naphtali, Kod, 20:51.77; 12) Barker, Ariel, Sky, 20:56.54; 13) Stevens, Cailey, Kod, 21:11.63; 14) McCarten, Rachel, Sol, 21:14.70; 15) Reed, Abby, Kod, 21:15.63; 16) Rowley, Alee, Kenai, 21:16.21; 17) Halpin, Tia, Hom, 21:19.90; 18) Arsenault, Katie, Hom, 21:35.13; 19) Fitzgerald, Kate, P, 21:36.55; 20) Doner, Johanna, C, 21:38.27; 21) Seneff, Julie, Hom, 21:49.74; 22) Johnson, Brianne, Kod, 21:51.51; 23) Merkes, Kendra, Sky, 21:56.97; 24) Hutchison, Michaela, Sky, 21:59.12; 25) Ivanoff, Ivy, Kod, 22:01.61;

26) Odegard, Jessica, P, 22:06.17; 27) Purruggannon, Leana, Sol, 22:06.98; 28) Lincecum, Danielle, P, 22:09.32; 29) Lutz, Jacquie, P, 22:14.49; 30) LaFrance, Kathleen, P, 22:22.59; 31) Munro, Thorey, Hom, 22:22.92; 32) Skvorc, Erin, C, 22:25.31; 33) Osland, Brittany, Sol, 22:26.45; 34) Pankoski, Katy, Sol, 22:34.92; 35) Oberg, Michelle, Kenai, 22:45.57; 36) Arsenault, Sara, Hom, 22:46.23; 37) Boll, Amanda, Sol, 22:51.32; 38) Hermons, Lindsay, W, 23:01.77; 39) Peters, Monica, Hom, 23:07.52; 40) Babcock, Ali-K, C, 23:27.44; 41) Ferry, G, P, 23:27.88; 42) Wierzbicki, Ewa, C, 23:55.38; 43) Dougherty, Emily, C, 24:07.71; 44) Johnson, Kaitlin, W, 24:22.33; 45) Sena, Kaylee, C, 24:28.59; 46) Duque, Nicole, W, 24:34.01; 47) Hawthorne, Caitlin, C, 24:36.58; 48) Anderson, Sasha, Sky, 24:55.04; 49) Summer, Jessica, Kenai, 25:04.22; 50) Greer, Tawny, W, 25:06.78;

51) Perkins, Lizzy, W, 25:21.73; 52) Crozier, Amanda, W, 25:24.97; 53) Miller, Jamie, Sky, 26:12.67; 54) Stauffacher, Anina, Kenai, 26:49.08.

Boys 5-K, 4A

Team — 1) Kodiak 64; 2) Palmer 73; 3) Kenai 79; 4) Colony 83; 5) Soldotna 94; 6) Skyview 139; 7) Wasilla 167; 8) Homer 175.

Individual — 1) Doner, Peter, C, 16:38.94; 2) Baldwin, Trevor, Kenai, 16:40.59; 3) Egelus, Rory, P, 16:42.91; 4) Parisien, Jacob, P, 17:03.70; 5) Lybrand, Patrick, Sol, 17:18.00; 6) Fried, Lucas, Kod, 17:30.21; 7) Gauna, Steven, Kod, 17:30.56; 8) Sundberg, Jared, Kod, 17:35.50; 9) Gauthier, Elliott, Sky, 17:37.22; 10) Hutchison, Eli, Sky, 17:40.69; 11) Sutton, Levi, Kenai, 17:41.52; 12) Cook, Joe, C, 17:42.35; 13) McGlasson, Jed, Kenai, 17:45.97; 14) Navarro, Rob, Sol, 17:50.44; 15) Watcher, Steven, W, 17:51.01; 16) McGlasson, John, Kenai, 17:54.69; 17) Spangler, Allan, C, 17:58.70; 18) Hundley, John, P, 18:00.61; 19) Chase, Brian, Sol, 18:02.83; 20) Lewis, Ryan, P, 18:05.15; 21) Pena, Cory, Kod, 18:07.39; 22) Hienrichs, Caleb, Kod, 18:07.81; 23) Chase, Caleb, Sol, 18:12.28; 24) Putney, Mark, Kod, 18:13.31; 25) Thomas, Trevor, W, 18:15.33;

26) Van Gorder, Ryan, C, 18:18.39; 27) Zagars, Antone, C, 18:28.94; 28) Harrington, Ryan, P, 18:33.45; 29) Dougherty, Joe, C, 18:38.06; 30) Haas, Tyler, Hom, 18:39.27; 31) Odom, Chris, W, 18:43.41; 32) McArthur, Colin, Hom, 18:44.24; 33) Towhy, Shawn, Sol, 18:49.35; 34) Cosio, Beto, Hom, 18:53.82; 35) Craddick, Ethan, P, 18:55.17; 36) Romig, Erick, Sky, 18:56.66; 37) Larson, Kris, Kenai, 19:00.48; 38) King, Noah, Sky, 19:00.93; 39) Hoanin, Garret, Hom, 19:01.33; 40) Spence-Chorman, Nate, Hom, 19:01.67; 41) Chapman, Tyler, P, 19:09.77; 42) Amen, Chris, Kenai, 19:20.98; 43) Jones, Morgan, Hom, 19:29.56; 44) Waissenberg, Anton, Sol, 19:31.93; 45) Equivelly, Aubrey, W, 19:38.51; 46) Nyholm, Matthew, Sky, 19:46.06; 47) Thorton, Tyler, Sky, 19:47.04; 48) Semmens, Trent, Kenai, 19:48.69; 49) Dunbar, Miles, Kod, 19:53.55; 50) Leach, Dale, Sky, 19:56.06; 51) Johannes, Ian, W, 20:07.06; 52) Glaves, Ruben, Sol, 20:46.49; 53) Hunner, Joe, W, 20:53.90.

Girls 5-K, 1-2-3A

Team — 1) Grace Christian 36; 2) Seward 47; 3) Anchorage Christian School 73; 4) Valdez 84; 5) Houston 104.

Individual — 1) Martinez, Casey, G, 19:42.59; 2) Foldager, Rubye, Sew, 19:50.46; 3) Foldager, Denali, Sew, 19:58.98; 4) Martinez, Sarah, G, 20:18.17; 5) Embick, Maggie, V, 20:20.47; 6) Fishetti, Nychele, ACS, 20:28.86; 7) Dengel, Camy, V, 21:03.75; 8) Davis, Katrina, G, 21:15.47; 9) Clock, Anna, Sew, 21:39.48; 10) Rooper, Laura, N, 21:47.66; 11) Hitchcock, Whitney, N, 22:01.83; 12) Glaser, Sarah, Sew, 22:08.53; 13) Weber, Bethany, G, 22:12.38; 14) Savage, Ashleigh, G, 22:14.79; 15) LeBoeuf, Bridget, ACS, 22:26.66; 16) Dover, Makenzie, ACS, 22:27.19; 17) VanKirk, Alycia, Hou, 22:27.87; 18) Nielsen, Jill, V, 22:33.19; 19) Buckwalter, Ashley, Hou, 22:47.14; 20) Lewis, Madi, ACS, 22:50.12; 21) Peck, Rikki, G, 22:58.31; 22) Bishop, Ashley, Hou, 22:59.75; 23) Deland, Holly, G, 23:00.03; 24) Villard, Aimee, ACS, 23:09.51; 25) Monnier, Alicia, Sew, 23:12.44;

26) Miller, Jenny, V, 23:20.67; 27) Warner, Mariah, Hou, 23:49.00; 28) Hetrick, Teal, Sew, 24:07.15; 29) Young, Jessi, Hou, 24:15.23; 30) Smyth, Mariah, Hou, 24:28.33; 31) Jentzen, Brylie, ACS, 24:40.52; 32) Johnson, Melissa, Sew, 24:56.77; 33) Whitecavage, Katie, ACS, 25:29.65; 34) Sorum, Elise, V, 25:31.28; 35) McKay, Jessie, V, 26:02.84; 36) Warner, Anne, Hou, 27:03.53; 37) Walker, Kelly, V, 28:07.55; 38) Ware, Frieda, N, 29:41.90.

Boys 5-K, 1-2-3A

Team — 1) Anchorage Christian School 41; 2) Valdez 51; 3) Seward 52; 4) Grace Christian 69; 5) Nikiski 152.

Individual — 1) Adams, Matt, Sew, 16:19.16; 2) Ellis, Auston, V, 17:04.00; 3) Arias, Carlos, ACS, 17:12.30; 4) Blair, Matthew, Sew, 17:17.39; 5) Stewart, Ian, V, 17:48.79; 6) Kuchin, Adam, V, 17:52.30; 7) Troxel, Hollis, ACS, 17:56.70; 8) Linnell, Daniel, G, 17:57.31; 9) Moe, Jesse, ACS, 17:59.16; 10) McGregor, Grant, ACS, 18:06.87; 11) Moore, Walter, Sew, 18:14.62; 12) Shelley, Zach, ACS, 18:16.09; 13) Gugel, Sam, G, 18:17.18; 14) Bardarson, Leif, Sew, 18:18.08; 15) Edwards, Drew, G, 18:25.25; 16) Tervooren, Danny, G, 18:30.58; 17) Hickel, Justin, G, 18:31.01; 18) Koserek, Zach, V, 18:33.10; 19) Masog, Jacob, ACS, 18:33.42; 20) Tapangco, Jordan, V, 18:43.01; 21) Gionet, Tim, G, 18:46.77; 22) Apperson, David, Sew, 18:50.12; 23) Arias, Gerardo, ACS, 18:56.17; 24) Buchanan, Nate, Sew, 19:00.30; 25) Dixon, Kipp, Sew, 19:05.95;

26) Whitaker, Nick, N, 19:07.10; 27) Merioles, Josh, V, 19:10.77; 28) Walls, Peter, G, 19:12.46; 29) Heston, Spencer, V, 19:26.03; 30) Morin, Paul, N, 19:43.81; 31) Bologna, Justin, Hou, 19:46.21; 32) Narlock, Jeremy, N, 20:08.43; 33) Wicker, Mike, N, 20:20.50; 34) Penhale, Lance, N, 20:49.89.