Dozens of runners set personal records during Su Valley Invite

WASILLA — On a fast day at Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High School, a Colony freshman used a personal best time to help the Knights land as the runner-up in the team standings.

Freshman Gavin Block clocked a mark of 16 minutes and 53 seconds to finish third and the varsity boys’ race and lead Colony to a second-place finish in the team standings of the Susitna Valley Invitational last week near Talkeetna.

Block was among the top 33 finishers in the race that posted either a personal best or season best in the race. The top 8 runners in the field, and nine of the top 10 all finished with a personal record on the 5-kilometer course.

Wasilla’s McKinley Larson (sixth place with a time of 17:36), Daniel Waitman (eighth, 17:52) and Eli VanPelt (10th, 17:52), and Palmer’s Connor Owens (seventh, 17:38) also used a personal record to post a top 10 finish.

Houston’s Jens Knutson used a season-best time of 17:52 to finish ninth.

Colony finished second with 67 total points, just ahead of third-place Wasilla’s 69. Palmer finished fourth with 90 points.

Neither of the three squads was running at full strength, as Valley teams prepare for the Region III Championships, slated for Saturday in Soldotna.

Houston’s Allison VanPelt was the top Valley runner in the girls’ varsity race, using a time of 19:59 to place fifth in the race. It marked the second time this season that VanPelt eclipsed the 20-minute mark.

Palmer freshman Sophia Nowers also clocked a personal best, finishing sixth with a time of 20:23. Nina Kalytiak (13th, 21:19) and Rosemary Toro (14th, 21:23) also finished in the top 15 for the Moose. Geneva Higley placed 11th with a time of 21:08 for Colony.

Brynn Steiner led Wasilla with a personal best time of 21:39. Tommi Crist also set a personal best, leading Redington with a mark of 23:11. Colony finished third in the team standings with 83 points, and was followed by fourth-place Palmer’s 89. Wasilla was fifth.

For results, see frontiersman.com/sports.

Girls team scores:

1. Grace Christian 23; 2. Seward 66; 3. Colony 83; 4. Palmer 89; 5. Wasilla 109; 6. Barrow 184.

Boys team scores:

1. Grace Christian 42; 2. Colony 67; 3. Wasilla 69; 4. Palmer 90; 5. Seward 92; 6. Houston 169; 7. Barrow 208.

Girls individual results:

1. B. Gerlach, Glen 18:20; 2. R. Lindquist, Sew 19:20; 3. G. Gannon, Gra 19:44; 4. M. Jackson, Gra 19:55; 5. A. VanPelt, 19:59; 6. S. Nowers, Pal 20:23; 7. G. Demientieff, Gra 20:25; 8. M. Morgan, Gra 20:30; 9. G. Annett, Gra 20:32; 10. L. Ellis, Gra 21:07; 11. G. Higley, Col 21:08; 12. E. Moore, Sew 21:10; 13. N. Kalytiak, Pal 21:19; 14. R. Toro, Pal 21:23; 15. A. Matter, Gra 21:26.

Other Valley finishers:

16. A. Mayer, Col 21:37; 17. B. Steiner, Was 21:39; 22. A. Kopsack, Col 21:11; 23. C. Vasquez, Was 22:15; 27. A. Miles, Col 22:35; 29. J. Burroughs, Was 22:46; 31. L. Sessom, Col 22:59; 32. I Block, Col 23:06; 33. T. Crist, Red 23:11; 36. C. Bales, Was 23:29; 37. K. Lopez, Was 23:31; 40. T. French, Col 23:47; 41. L. Scott, Pal 23:51; 42. J. Mueller, Col 23:56; 45. S. Miller, Col 24:25; 48. C. Dunleavy, Was 24:34; 49. T. Shepler, Pal 24:36; 50. A. Butler, Was 24:39; 51. B. Drourbaugh, Was 24:42; 52. K. Sliwa, Col 24:47; 54. G. Weiss, Pal 25:04; 56. M. Miller, Col 25:28; 58. J. Colver, Col 26:23; 62. C> Mastny, Col 27:27; 65. T. Malone, Col 27:58; 66. G. Cowan, Col 28:07; 72. M. Miller, Col 30:02; 75. M. Rice, Col 30:40; 77. A. Gag, Was 33:02; 78. L. Minder, Col 34:30; 80. M Comer, Was 34:56; 83. V. Johnson, Pal 45:44.

Boys individual results (top 15):

1. H. Krantz, Sew 16:01; 2. T. Fritzel, Gra 16:23; 3. G. Block, Col 16:53; 4. G. Martin, Gra 17:06; 5. L. Fritzel, Gra 17:16; 6. M. Larson, Was 17:36; 7. C. Owens, Pal 17:38; 8. D. Waitman, Was 17:52; 9. J. Knutson, Hou 17:52; 10. E. VanPelt, Was 17:52; 11. J. Lautrup, Col 17:53; 12. A. Maclean, Pal 17:54; 13. Z. Petrosius, Sew 17:54; 14. J. Taylor, Col 17:55; 15. E. Isaacson, Gra 17:58.

Other Valley finishers:

17. T. Steiner, Was 18:08; 18. C. Rosenberg, Pal 18:09; 19. D. Torres, Col 18:13; 20. L Arthur, Col 18:14; 22. S. Krepel, SV 18:18; 24. L. Robertson, Pal 18:21; 28. C. Johnstone, Col 18:28; 29. S. Deering, Col 18:28; 30. A. Edwards, Col 18:29; 31. H. Steiner, Was 18:30; 32. A. Campbell, Was 18:31; 36. J. Davis, Pal 18:49; 37. D. Halfacre, Col 18:57; 38. A. Bell, Was 19:04; 40. B. Hill, Was 19:09; 42. E. Cowan, Col 19:11; 43. I. Smolden, Hou 19:16; 44. L. Miller, Pal 19:19; 48. A. Logsdon, Was 19:28; 49. N. Good, Col 19:32; 51. D. Cordero, Pal 19:35; 52. N. Kristich, Col 19:35; 54. N. McLain, Col 19:36; 55. A. Ferland, Col 19:38; 56. N. Iverson, Col 19:38; 58. C. Meier, Col 19:39; 62. Z. Campbell, Was 19:48; 63. H. Horwath, Was 19:48; 64. C. Holland, Pal 19:50; 70. W. Fraker, Was 20:01; 71. R. Haan, Col 20:03; 73. R. Kirn, Red 20:07; 75. A. Bashor, Was 20:15; 76. H. Mujca, Was 20:16; 77. A. Cadieux, Col 20:19; 79. A. Ravencroft, Was 20:19; 80. B. Grover, Col 20:19; 81. D. Dunn, Was 20:24; 84. W. Walls, Was 20:29; 86. M. Embree, Pal 20:31; 88. A. Torres, Col 20:40; 89. E. Copp, Pal 20:41; 90. S. Uhlenhake, Was 20:46; 93. N. Pougher, Col 20:52; 98. J. Villanueva, Pal 21:03; 99. N. Rosseau, Pal 21:07; 100. M. Clyde, Col 21:07; 102. C. Colver, Col 21:08; 103. K. Jackson, Was 21:09; 104. E. Kuzina, Col 21:09; 108. I. Wagle, Was 21:27; 110. C. Hopkins, Col 21:33; 111. L. Hopkins, Col 21:33; 113. N. Johnson, Col 22:03; 113. N. Johnson, Col 22:03; 114. B. Joseph, Col 22:05; 116. T. Stowell, Hou 22:19; 117. C. Michael, Pal 22:25; 118. M. Sprague, Was 22:32; 119. M. Moore, Pal 22:39; 123. M. Brotzman, Hou 22:57; 126. B. Thorpe, Red 23:09; 127. N. Wilkinson, Hou 23:32; 129. M. Robinson, Was 23:41; 131. N. Crombie, Col 23:48; 132. A. Lee, Was 23:57; 133. M. Nashold, Col 23:58; 135. K. Hasse, Was 24:13; 137. T. Russo, Col 24:16; 138. A. Hendrick, Hou 24:29; 139. J. Hokanson, Was 25:37; 141. Z. Howlett, Was 27:30; 144. E. Knapp, Hou 29:13; 145. J. Smolden, Hou 30:36.