Palmer graduate an All-American

ANCHORAGE — As University of Alaska Anchorage freshman Jake Parisien prepared for his first Division II National Championships cross country race on Saturday, UAA head coach Michael Friess warned Parisien about setting too lofty of expectations.

But as it turned out, Parisien’s expectations were just high enough.

The former Palmer High School standout finished 15th in the Division II championships, earning him status as a 2008 Division II All-American.

“I was looking for top-15, I just wanted All-American for sure,” Parisien said on Monday. “I was feeling pretty confident. Coach Friess told me not to get (my) hopes up too big.”

Parisien finished the 10-kilometer course in Slippery Rock, Pa., with a time of 31 minutes and 43 seconds, despite not having what he’d call a great day.

“I didn’t feel like I usually felt. It was cold, not really my day,” Parisien said. “But I still had a great race. You can’t argue with getting All-American as a freshman.”

Parisien was the second UAA runner to cross the finish line, following sophomore Marko Cheseto, who finished seventh at 31:32.

As his freshman season progressed, Parisien said he thought he had a shot at becoming an All-American in his first year, but knew the competition at the national event would be fierce.

“At nationals it’s kind of intimidating,” Parisien said. “You’re with 180 guys and you don’t know what they’re like.”

Strategically, Parisien said he handled the championships race just as he had throughout the season. He started out fast, running in about the eighth position before settling back to about 15.

“The pace was going pretty fast,” said Parisien, who finished as the top freshman in the event. “But I was pretty confident I could hold on. I got my second wind with a mile to go.”

Parisien has come accustomed to running in a pack at a fast pace. The Palmer native has spent the season training with one of the top Division II programs in the nation. UAA was ranked sixth in the country heading into the national meet, and finished 11th in the team standings at nationals.

The team includes a trio of Kenyan runners who have helped UAA garner national status. Cheseto is also an All-American. There’s past All-American David Kiplagat, a senior, and freshman Alfred Kangogo.

“Those Kenyans train at such a fast pace,” Parisien said. “It’s definitely made me better.”

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