Looking up

TALKEETNA — The Susitna Valley Rams have a lot to be excited about.

There’s been a sharp increase in participation, thanks to an influx of young talent. And with the addition of a small-schools state championship meet, the Rams have an opportunity to advance more athletes to the state track and field championships.

“The kids seem really positive this year,” Jane Buskirk, who coaches the team alongside her husband, Larry, said on Wednesday.

The Buskirks feel the Rams have what it takes in both the boys’ and girls’ classes for Su Valley to make an impact at the Region II Championships, slated for May 16-17 at Skyview High School.

The Su Valley girls finished second in regions last year, a feat the Rams hope to meet, if not improve on.

“We’ve got the core of that team back,” Jane Buskirk said.

Among the leaders on the girls’ squad is senior Kristjana Timmers, a 2007 state qualifier. Timmers won the high jump and finished second in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles at the 2007 region championships.

Timmers is also expected to help the Rams in the relay.

Also back is junior Caitlin Hunt, who finished second in the 200-meter, third in the high jump and fourth in the 100 at regions.

“She’s a multi-talented athlete,” Jane Buskirk said.

In the throwing events, the Rams have senior Melanie Benjamin and sophomore Ariel Moore. Both should help out in the sprints also, Jane Buskirk said.

Also on the team are three members new to the squad — sophomore Missy Scott, freshman Ashley Evans and freshman Marina Cron.

Jane Buskirk said Scott, a cross country runner at SVHS, could make an impact in her first year on the track and field squad.

“She had a tremendous cross country season,” Jane Buskirk said of Scott, who placed a team-high 21st at the state cross country meet in September. “She has lots of talent and is really going to help us out in the sprints, relays, all the way up to the distance. She doesn’t realize how good she can be.”

Evans also did well during the cross country season, placing seventh in regions, and will compete in the distance and relay events.

Jane Buskirk said Cron is showing strength in the short distance and throwing events.

The Rams are also excited about the boys’ squad.

“The boys are a real contender,” Larry Buskirk said.

Su Valley has a handful of veterans, but the bulk of the squad is made up by the freshman class.

“The real strength is the freshmen,” Jane Buskirk said.

Among the leaders on the boys’ squad are senior Matthew Krepel, senior Grant Hicks and sophomore Bill Kelly.

Kelly finished first in the triple jump at the region meet and advanced to the state championships.

Krepel placed in the 3,200 and a pair of relays at the region meet.

“He’s kind of our go-to man,” Jane Buskirk said.

Hicks could lead the Rams in the discus, and help out in the relays.

“He loves throwing the discus,” Jane Buskirk said. “He’s made huge improvements; looks really strong.”

Also on the squad is junior Jesse Kolback, sophomore Lee Blocczynski, sophomore Jens Timmers and Levi Smith, who is coming off an injury from the basketball season.

The Buskirks are really excited about the freshmen.

“They’re a real active group of guys,” Jane Buskirk said.

The Buskirks hope to see a significant number of Su Valley athletes compete in the new 1-2-3A state championships, an ASAA event that is new in 2008.

In the past, ASAA hosted just a single state championship meet for the sport and small schools such as Su Valley, competed with the large-schools programs.

“We’re excited about the new format,” Jane Buskirk said. “Any time you can recognize more kids, that’s a good thing. Splitting it into two recognizes more athletes.”

With the addition of the meet, Jane Buskirk said she wouldn’t call it easier for Su Valley kids to get to state.

“It just gives more kids an opportunity,” she said.

The Rams will compete in a meet hosted by Anchorage Christian and Grace Christian at the Dome at ChangePoint in Anchorage today and Saturday.

Later this month the Rams head to Soldotna for the Skyview Invitational and will be at the Palmer Relays in early My.

Su Valley will also host its own event on May 10. About a dozen small-schools programs are expected to attend.

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