Local cross country runners go for top spots in regionchampionships

Sept. 22, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Gary Howell has not been able to sleep much this week.

There's a nervous anticipation that's filling the mind of the Wasilla High School cross country running coach. On Saturday Howell's Warriors join Palmer and Colony in the Region III Championships at Nikiski High School.

Howell's nervous, because he's optimistic. Two of his top runners, junior Jimmy Sliwa and freshman Katie Bialka, are among the best in the region. And the WHS girls' squad could be a contender for the region crown.

Howell is excited to see his runners in the position to earn top spots and the free tickets to the state meet that go with them. But as a fan, he's thrilled to see the level of competition in Region III this season.

&#8220It's definitely the toughest I've seen Region III in a long time,” said Howell, also a prep runner during his days at Colony High.

On the boys side there is Kodiak, arguably the top team in the state and a nationally ranked program. And then there's Colony, a team Howell said could certainly be a state champion on any other year.

Kodiak owns many of the top times in Region III competition this year. Favorite Trevor Dunbar owns three of the top four Region III times in the 5-kilometer this season, and is the lone runner to break the 16-minute mark, officially, hitting 15:58 at the Adidas Dimond Lynx Invitational. Teammate Cory Pena has logged four of the top seven times, and should be near the top. And so should Sliwa, Howell said.

&#8220High end, I think, Jimmy should finish third,” Howell said. &#8220We've talked about it. That's his target. Third place would be a great spot for Jimmy. I don't see him dropping more than fifth.”

Sliwa is the only runner with a top-10 time this season who does not wear the Bears' gold and blue jersey. He scored his best time, a 16:47, at the Dimond Invite, where he finished seventh in a top-heavy field. Sliwa hit 17:05 at the Skyview and Palmer Invites.

While Dunbar and Pena are favored to grab the top two spots, Howell thinks places three through about seven are completely up for grabs. Kodiak has its horses - Lucas Fried and Miles Dunbar also have top-10 times - and then there's Sliwa and Skyview's Erick Romig and Mike Moerlein.

&#8220But that doesn't say one of those studs from Colony doesn't step up,” Howell said.

Howell said the biggest difference between Kodiak in Colony, is the Knights don't have a Dunbar. Each of the seven runners who will factor into the scoring are solid, but right now, CHS doesn't have that one runner that will blow everyone away. But with only one senior, that magnificent seven is also young.

Nick Whitmore and Antone Zagars each hit a team-high 17:16 at Dimond. Zagars also has a 17:18 at Palmer. In the two-mile Mat-Su Borough Championships, Zagars finished just a second shy of Sliwa, and had to settle for second.

Like on the boys' side, there are a lot of spots up for grabs in the girls' class.

&#8220I wouldn't wager dollar one on second place,” Howell said.

Kodiak's Abby Reed broke the 20-minute mark at the Dimond Invite, finishing at 19:58. But Howell said the runner to look for is Skyview freshman Ivy O'Guinn. She has two of the top three times in the region.

If O'Guinn does in fact win, Howell said Reed, Colony senior Johanna Doner, freshman Heidi Doner and Wasilla freshman Katie Bialka will all battle for that second position.

&#8220Those are the four people who are ready to take that second spot,” Howell said. &#8220I think the only thing Katie does not have is years of racing experience.”

Bialka, who recently won her first individual title in the Borough Championships, has the sixth best Region III 5-K time this year, a 20:33 finish in the Dimond Invite.

Johanna Doner has two of the top-10 times - a 20:26 finish at Dimond and a 20:42 finish at Palmer. Heidi Doner scored a time of 20:32 at Dimond, the fifth-best in the region.

Wasilla is among four teams that will vie for the region title, locked in a pack with Colony, Kodiak and Skyview.

&#8220On any given meet, any one of those teams could go home with a region banner,” Howell said. &#8220On the flip side, any one of those teams could go home fourth.”

The top three teams and 15 individuals advance to the state meet, hosted by Skyview on Sept. 30.

Howell said the course at Nikiski High could also play a factor in which runners secure the top positions.

&#8220It's rigerous,” Howell said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.