NLC runner-up leads strong CHS girls squad

PALMER — Wasilla, which returns virtually everyone from its 2010 girls state championship team, is the team to beat in 2011. But the Colony Knights also return a talented group of athletes, and head coach Mark Strabel believes his squad should also be listed among the best teams in the state.

“I really think with our good group of girls, we can be top 3, if not top 2,” Strabel said on Monday. “It’d be great to beat Wasilla. But that’s one reason we race, to find out who is the fastest on that day.”

Leading Colony’s group of veterans is junior Audrey Michaelson, who finished the 2010 season as one of the top runners in Northern Lights Conference and the state.

Michaelson was the runner-up in the NLC championship, finishing 19 seconds behind champion Jaymi Bethea of Kodiak.

Michaelson’s time of 19 minutes and 34 seconds in the championship race on the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna was also about 20 seconds faster than third place.

Michaelson was also the top Valley runner in the state championship race, finishing fourth at Bartlett High with a time of 19:26.

Strabel is expecting Michaelson’s talents to continue to grow.

“She’s just gained a lot more confidence in herself and how good she really is,” Strabel said.

Michaelson capped her sophomore year by winning a state title in the 3,200-meter run. She upset Bethea en route to winning her first state championship.

“She’s starting to realize how much potential she has, how far she can go,” Strabel said.

Michaelson has the potential to contend for an individual region and state titles, but the Knights are far from being one-runner deep.

Junior MacKenzie Thompson also returns after finishing 11th in the region meet as a sophomore. Sophomores Tracie Haan and Bailey Meier are also back.

Meier was 37th at the region meet last year.

Freshman Jocelyn Kopsack should also contend for a varsity spot, Strabel said. Kopsack is a member of a well-known family of mountain runners in the Palmer area.

“She’s definitely tough,” Kopsack said. “She’s done pretty much every mountain race. She’s definitely tougher than anyone I’ve seen in a long time.”

On the boys’ side, there’s not as much experience, but there is potential, Strabel said.

“There’s a bunch of what ifs,” Strabel said.

Strabel does know senior Abe Meyerhofer is back to help lead the team. Meyerhofer was 24th in the region meet. Sophomore Brandon Schafer also returns.

“After that, there’s about 10-12 guys who could be in there,” Strabel said.

Stabel said he’s looking forward to seeing this team in an official race, and he’ll have that chance today when the Knights host the Twilight Race at Colony High School.

The boys’ race is slated to start at 6 p.m., and the girls’ race will follow at 6:30 p.m. Each of the four Valley 4A programs are slated to compete.

There is also a community race at 7 p.m.

** Editor’s note: This is the first part of a series of stories previewing the local high school cross-country running season. For more, see future editions of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.