Colony sophomore runs to girls title at Palmer High’s George Plumley Invitational

As Morgan Ainsworth and the front of the pack entered the third lap, she was in about fifth place. But then the Colony sophomore standout started to make her move.

Ainsworth worked her way to lead and notched the biggest win of her prep cross-country running career.

Ainsworth finished first in the girls varsity race during the George Plumley Invitational Saturday on the Michael Janecek Trails at Palmer High School.

Ainsworth used a time of 19 minutes, 41 seconds to earn her first individual title during her prep running career. She was the best in a field of 180 runners, and was nearly three seconds faster than runner up Tania Boonstra, of Soldotna.

Palmer High senior Fischer Adams earned a runner-up finish in the varsity boys race. He clocked a time of 16:22, just four seconds behind Grace Christian junior Robbie Annett, the boys champ, who is undefeated this year. Annett and Adams were more than 30 seconds ahead of the next runner.

Ainsworth helped Colony finish third in the girls team standings of the George Plumley Invite, arguably the biggest prep cross-country event in Alaska during the regular season. The Knights finished with 105 total points in the team standings.

Colony junior Ella Hopkins was seventh, with a mark of 20:02.

Freshman Hailee Giacobbe led Wasilla with a 16th-place finish and time of 20:40. Freshman Karley Tichenor led Palmer with a time of 22:12 in the girls race. Senior Mya Campbell was at 22:17 to lead the Redington girls.

Colony senior Tobias Buchanan also posted a top 10 finish, and led the Knights boys at seventh with a time of 17:08. Freshman Blaze Rubeo was 27th to lead Wasilla with a mark of 17:50.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.