Palmer freshman wins Colony Invite

PALMER — Last year, the Palmer Moose featured three freshmen among the top 5 runners on a girls’ squad that finished third in the region meet and advanced to state. Saturday, as the Moose started a new season, Palmer had another freshman emerge.

Freshman Sophie Wright debuted with a win in the girls’ varsity race during the Colony Invitational at Colony High School.

“Great first run,” Palmer head coach John Bishop said.

Wright clocked a time of 21 minutes and 7 seconds to win the 5-kilometer race and beat runner-up Charlee Demientieff of Grace Christian by 33 seconds. Bishop said Wright was on his radar as an eighth-grader, but he wasn’t sure which high school she planned to attend.

“She was a complete surprise,” Bishop said. “It’s a blessing for us. We’re really happy to get her here.”

Wright was also one of three Palmer underclassmen to finish in the top 4. Sophomores Lydia Ortiz (21:56) and Nina Kalytiak (22:10) finished third and fifth. Another sophomore Zoe Copp (22:50) placed 13th.

Yet another sophomore, Sophia Nowers, is also one of Palmer’s top runners, but was unable to race Saturday, Bishop said. Nowers is expected to be ready for the second race of the season, the Tstalteshi Invitational, Saturday in Soldotna.

“We’re really excited about what this year could bring,” Bishop said.

Bishop said his top 5 runners, when everyone is healthy, will all be underclassmen.

“It’s pretty amazing. I’ve never seen it in my 10 years of coaching,” Bishop said. “The potential of this team I haven’t seen at Palmer High before.”

Colony sophomore Gavin Block led all Valley runners with a third-place finish in the boys’ race. Block notched a time of 17:17. Wasilla sophomore Hunter Hayes led the Warriors, placing fifth at 17:33. Palmer senior Lev Robertson led the Moose boys with a time of 17:50 and a seventh-place finish.

Freshman Jazlynn Novelli led the Colony girls with a seventh-place finish and time of 22:13.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Colony Invitational

Saturday, Colony High School

Girls team results:

1. Grace Christian 24, 2. Colony 41, 3. Soldotna 67.

Boys team results:

1. Grace Christian 60, 2. Anchorage Christian 78, 3. Soldotna 83, 4. Wasilla 88 5. Kodiak 96, 6. Colony 101, 7. Palmer 156

Girls individual results:

1, Wright, Sophie, Palmer, 21:07.10. 2, Demientieff, Charlee, Grace Christ, 21:40.10. 3, Ortiz, Lydia, Palmer, 21:56.50. 4, Arthur, Kellie, Soldotna, 22:09.70. 5, Kalytiak, Nina, Palmer, 22:10.60. 6, Morgan, Maddy, Grace Christ, 22:13.50. 7, Novelli, Jazlynn, Colony, 22:13.90. 8, McLaughlin, Anna, Grace Christ, 22:14.50. 9, Bell, Nicole, Colony, 22:15.70. 10, Annett, Grace, Grace Christ, 22:20.20. 11, Glover, Carly, Kodiak, 22:38.60. 12, Widener, Kiah, Grace Christ, 22:42.60. 13, Copp, Zoe, Palmer, 22:50.70. 14, Kopsack, Alyson, Colony, 22:55.30. 15, Spaic, Sofija, Colony, 23:00.10. 16, Arthur, Erika, Soldotna, 23:01.30. 17, Smith, Claire, Colony, 23:08.30. 18, Mayer, Amanda, Colony, 23:22.20. 19, Sessom, Lily, Colony, 23:29.10. 20, Binder, Tessa, Grace Christ, 23:43.00. 21, Schaffer, Michaella, Grace Christ, 23:43.70. 22, Vasquez, Carissa, Wasilla, 23:55.70. 23, Parks, Mary Kate, Anchorage Ch, 24:11.70. 24, Steiner, Brynn, Wasilla, 24:13.20. 25, Christiansen, Chandra, Kodiak, 24:20.30. 26, Raisley, Ella, Kodiak, 24:43.60. 27, Thomas, Sophie, Soldotna, 26:55.30. 28, Foster, Mykenna, Soldotna, 27:22.50. 29, Daniher, Naomi, Kodiak, 27:42.70. 30, Downing, Eve, Soldotna, 27:51.20. 31, Bremond-Hilton, Tovia, Soldotna, 29:54.80.

Boys individual results:

1, Bennett, Blake, Anchorage Ch, 16:48.70. 2, Martin, Gabe, Grace Christ, 17:14.90. 3, Block, Gavin, Colony, 17:17.60. 4, Fritzel, Luke, Grace Christ, 17:27.30. 5, Hayes, Hunter, Wasilla, 17:33.20. 6, Merchant, Tristian, Anchorage Ch, 17:33.80. 7, Robertson, Lev, Palmer, 17:50.40. 8, Chilton, Lance, Soldotna, 17:56.80. 9, Jones, Erik, Grace Christ, 18:07.00. 10, Greathouse, Kaleb, Wasilla, 18:14.10. 11, Yturbe, Camrin, Kodiak, 18:18.70. 12, Taylor, Josh, Colony, 18:19.50. 13, Walters, Bradley, Soldotna, 18:22.10. 14, Ewrin, Landis, Colony, 18:33.30. 15, Smith, Kaleb, Anchorage Ch, 18:34.40. 16, Steiner, Taft, Wasilla, 18:35.00. 17, Nummer, Gabe, Kodiak, 18:36.30. 18, Pothast, John-Mark, Soldotna, 18:38.00. 19, Gruner, Braxton, Kodiak, 18:39.50. 20, Verg-in, Sean, Soldotna, 18:43.80. 21, Winegeart, Paul, Kodiak, 18:53.00. 22, Leach, Kevin, Grace Christ, 18:54.70. 23, Coverdell, Vincent, Grace Christ, 18:56.30. 24, Metcalf, Bechler, Soldotna, 18:58.30. 25, Davis, Joshua, Anchorage Ch, 18:59.40. 26, Maclean, Amiqaq, Palmer, 19:15.80. 27, Larson, McKinley, Wasilla, 19:16.50. 28, Seto, Youji, Kodiak, 19:23.10. 29, Birbilas, Riley, Kodiak, 19:30.40. 30, Logsdon, Alexander, Wasilla, 19:32.00. 31, Robinson, Tobias, Anchorage Ch, 19:55.60. 32, Bohlman, Matthew, Anchorage Ch, 20:01.60. 33, Ferland, Alexandre, Colony, 20:03.40. 34, Reynolds, Chance, Soldotna, 20:14.00. 35, Gionet, Levi, Grace Christ, 20:18.50. 36, Bashor, Andrew, Wasilla, 20:22.60. 37, Guim, Lain, Houston, 20:35.70. 38, Minnery, Duke, Grace Christ, 20:40.50. 39, Copp, Ethan, Palmer, 20:41.90. 40, Ramirez, Simeon, Colony, 20:43.10. 41, Bull, William, Colony, 20:43.80. 42, Bell, Avery, Wasilla, 21:35.70. 43, Hartman, Hayden, Palmer, 22:23.40. 44, Holland, Cade, Palmer, 23:00.30.