Palmer freshman scores runner-up finish at Bartlett Invite

PALMER — Two weeks ago, Palmer High freshman Katey Houser enjoyed a breakthrough performance with a fifth-place finish during the Tsalteshi Invitational in Soldotna. The following week, Houser managed to improve on her performance.

Houser, in her third career high school race, finished as the varsity girls’ runner during the Bartlett Invitational State Preview Aug. 25 at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

“She’s been a huge addition to our team,” Palmer head coach Chris Osiensky said by phone earlier this week.

Houser clocked a time of 18 minutes, 54 seconds on the 5-kilometer course that is also home to the ASAA state championships. Her time is just a second off of a personal record of 18:53 she set during the team’s first race of the season in Bethel.

“I saw that she had a huge amount of potential knowing her background,” Osiensky said. “She had a huge aerobic base coming in.”

Houser was one of a pair of Valley runners to place in the top 4. Wasilla senior Allison VanPelt was fourth, with a mark of 19:06.

Houser helped Palmer finish sixth overall in the girls’ team standings. Sophomore Sophie Wright (24th), junior Lydia Ortiz (26th) and junior Sophia Nowers (36th) also finished in the top 40 for the Moose.

Sophomore Lydia Bushey led Colony with a 38th-place finish.

Colony junior Gavin Block led Valley runners in the varsity boys’ race with a 16th-place finish and time of 17:07. Junior Hunter Hayes led Wasilla with a 35th-place finish, and time of 17:33. Colony sophomore Lane Meier followed Hayes at 36th.

Amiqaq Maclean led Palmer with a time of 17:54.

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