Kenai freshman leads field; WHS girls, PHS boys settle for third

SOLDOTNA — Kenai Central’s Allie Ostrander maintained a steady pace from beginning to end.

The field kept falling farther behind.

Ostrander dominated the girls 5-kilometer race at the Skyview Invitational at Tsalteshi Trails behind Skyview High School on Saturday, finishing in 17 minutes, 53 seconds — nearly one minute ahead of runner-up Jenette Northey of Service.

“I didn’t want to sprint out too fast,” said Ostrander, who is 2-0 this season in varsity races. “I just wanted to keep the same pace all the way through.”

Teammates Hope Steffensen and Bailey Beeson placed eighth and 11th respectively, helping the Kardinals finish second behind West in the girls’ team standings.

The defending state champion Wasilla Warriors were forced to settle for third in the team standings after placing just one runner in the top 10. Mariah Burroughs finished ninth for WHS.

Service took the team crown on the boys’ side, where Kodiak’s Cole Christiansen was the individual winner with a time of 16:07.

Twenty-five teams competed.

But it was Ostrander, a 4-foot-11, 70-pound freshman, who turned all the heads.

The first-year varsity participant also won a race in Homer earlier this season and was never challenged Saturday. When she jogged down the final straightway toward the finish line, no other runner was in sight.

Ostrander, 14, said she likes the Tsalteshi course because it features a mix of rolling hills and flat stretches. The conditions also helped her time, she said, because the turf was dry. During the race in Homer, it was wet and muddy.

Kenai Central coach D’Anna Gibson said Ostrander’s time was about a minute faster than the previous best by a Kardinals female at the invite.

“It’s wonderful to have her on the team,” Gibson said. “She’s the complete package.”

Steffensen and Beeson were the top two central Kenai Peninsula finishers behind Ostrander on the girls side, giving Kenai Central 87 points. West ended with 78.

Soldotna’s Bree Mucha was the only other area female to finish in the Top 30, taking 12th in 19:37.

The boys five-kilometer was closer, with Christiansen defeating runner-up Max Romey of Service and third-place finisher Miles Knotek of Seward by 9 seconds. Romey edged Knotek by a chin for silver as both clocked times of 16:19.

Kenai Central’s Fox Michaud was the highest Peninsula finisher outside Knotek, taking 15th in 16:56. Micah Hilbish of Skyview also cracked the Top 20, earning 17th in 17:01.

Christiansen took the lead at about the midway point of the race and never looked back.

“I just woke up and felt good and was ready to win,” said Christiansen, who is familiar with the course because he raced on it at the 2010 region meet. “It’s a good course. I like that it’s got some flat stretches because it allows you to regain your momentum.”

The Kenai Central boys placed sixth in the team standings, while Skyview took 11th. Homer was 15th and Soldotna settled for 19th. The Kards were the lone area team to record an official score in the girls’ team standings. For Ostrander, the goal moving forward is simple.

“I just want to keep getting better and improve my times,” she said.

Burroughs was the first of three Warriors in the girls’ top 20. Peggy Mathis finished 13th and Jenna Ford was 18th. Hana Bohman led the Palmer girls with a 22nd-place finish.

The Palmer Moose, led by a pair of top-5 performers, placed third in the boys’ team standings. Mason Minturn used a time of 16:26 to notch a fourth-place finish. Osiensky was fifth a 16:33. Noah Ripley led the Wasilla boys with a 12th-place finish.

Skyview Invitational

Saturday, Soldotna

Girls team results:

1. West, 78; 2. Kenai, 87; 3. Wasilla, 98; 4. Grace, 108; 5. South, 112; 6. Dimond, 137; 7. East, 180; 8. Eagle River, 198; 9. Kodiak, 202; 10. Service, 207; 11. Chugiak, 252.

Girls individual results:

1. Allie Ostrander, Ken, 17:53; 2. Jenette Northey, Ser, 18:46; 3. Lydia Blanchett, Wes, 19:08; 4. Sarah Freistone, Dim, 19:11; 5. Rachel Roelle, Wes, 19:14; 6. Samantha Hartke, Chu, 19:15; 7. Grace Graham, Eas, 19:16; 8. Hope Steffensen, Ken, 19:18; 9. Mariah Burroughs, Was, 19:18; 10. Stephanie Kirk, Sou, 19:31.

Other Valley finishers:

13. Peggy Mathis, Was 19:39; 18. Jenna Ford, Was 19:49; 22. Hana Bohman, Pal 19:59; 29. Ellen Jorgenson, Pal 20:13; 30. Jessica Pahkala, Was 20:14; 44. Riley Burroughs, Was 20:47; 56. Heidi Hanna, Pal 21:13; 69. Alysha Devine, Was 21:52; 76. Mandi Wright, Was 22:19; 94. Deanna Cummings, Pal 24:45.

Boys team results:

1. Service, 72; 2. Kodiak, 103; 3. Palmer, 118; 4. Grace, 133; 5. Chugiak, 166; 6. Kenai, 225; 7. East, 272; 8. ACS, 273; 9. West, 274; 10. Wasilla, 288; 11. Skyview, 308; 12. Dimond, 337; 13. South, 342; 14. Eagle River, 368; 15. Homer, 425; 16. Valdez, 501; 17. Bartlett, 605; 18. Houston, 611; 19. Soldotna, 620; 20. Cordova, 656.

Boys individual results:

1. Cole Christiansen, Kod, 16:07; 2. Max Romey, Ser, 16:19; 3. Miles Knotek, Sew, 16:19; 4. Mason Minturn, Pal, 16:26; 5. Chris Osiensky, Pal, 16:33; 6. Levi Thomet, Kod, 16:41; 7. Jordan Fogle, Kod, 16:49; 8. Lucas Hepler, Ser, 16:49; 9. John Farr, Eas, 16:49; 10. Brandon King, Eag, 16:51.

Other Valley finishers:

12. Noah Ripley, Wasi 16:53; 29. Schyler Knopp, Pal 17:31; 33. Joe Day, Pal 17:36; 36. Brenden Lee, Was 17:38; 42. Clarence Ess, Pal 17:42; 49. Andrew Liebing, Pal 17:52; 51. Josh Pahkala, Was 17:55; 53. Kaden Weaver, Pal 17:56; 58. Keith Thompson, Was 18:03; 97. Connor Mattson, Was 18:44; 102. Kruz Kleewein, Hou 18:52; 103. Ryker Steiner, Was 18:53; 105. Blake Carricaburu, Was 18:57; 107. Jamison Richey, Hou 19:10; 108. Drew Drake, Hou 19:24; 121. Ahanu Kinney, Hou 20:02; 134. Josh Richter, Hou 22:07; 136. Zach Grace, Hou 23:31.