Palmer graduates ending their college careers at NCAA championships

Nov. 17, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - Fueled by family, faith and the desire to compete, Aaron and Drew Dickson have been running a course that started well before either first wore the University of Alaska Anchorage green and gold.

Since their days as young runners growing up in Palmer and through stellar careers during their time at Palmer High School the Dickson brothers have long enjoyed success on the cross-country running trails. Those uneven dirt paths have been a basis of a journey that has taken Aaron and Drew from the Michael Janacek Running Trails, that wind through the woods behind PHS, all the way to the University of West Florida - the site f the 2006 NCAA Division II Cross-country Running Championships.

&#8220It's definitely the best way you could end a season,” Aaron Dickson said last week.

But it's also a good end to their college careers. After establishing themselves as two of the top runners in the state as seniors at PHS, Aaron and Drew opted to make a run to UAA. Since joining the Seawolves, the Dickson brothers have helped the Alaska Anchorage men's team become one of the top squads in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and a nationally ranked

program.

Two weeks ago, Aaron finished 12th in the NCAA West Region Championships and Drew placed 42nd. Though Drew, UAA”s fourth runner, finished 30 spots behind his twin brother, his finish was a big reason why the Seawolves earned a third-place finish in the team standings and a trip to Florida.

&#8220It's always the fourth and fifth guys that are the key guys,” Aaron said.

UAA had three runners in the top 15 - Dickson, David Kiplagat (5th) and Brent Knight (15th) - but if Drew had not of finished that strong, UAA might have seen its season end a week earlier. Aaron said the team that finished one spot ahead of UAA only had one guy in the top 15.

&#8220In cross-country running there is very little room to go as an individual,” Aaron said.

If UAA would not have qualified as a team, Kipligat would have been the only Seawolf runner to qualify.

Aaron's 12th-place finish in the West Regional was a career high, a spot better than his 13th-place finish during his junior year. He said he would have liked to have finished in the top-10, but was happy with his time.

&#8220My time was a lot faster this year,” Aaron said. &#8220There's a lot more competition in our region.”

Aaron said he had to run at a much faster pace than he did last year just to keep up with the competition, but that led to a faster time overall.

Aaron finished below the 26-minute mark in all of the 8-kilometer races he ran during his senior year. He posted his slowest time during his highest finish. He was third in the Saint Martin's Open with a time of 25:59, early in the season. His best time - 24:57 - came with a 1th-place finish in the Williamette Invitational.

Aaron matched a career-high with a fifth-place finish at the GNAC Championships. A time of 25:12 earned him the top-five finish as a senior. He also finished fifth as a

junior.

Aaron earned all-conference honors for the second straight season as a senior.

Drew stayed in the 26-minute range throughout his senior year. He ran his fastest race, a finish of 26:02, at the GNAC Championships, and placed 23rd. He also finished 15th in the Saint Martin's Open as a senior.

As a junior, Drew won all-conference honors for the first time. He was 10th at the conference meet, and 24th at the West Regionals.

When Aaron and Drew each made the decision to run at the college level, there was no initial guarantee that they would run on the same team together.

&#8220I thought it would have been nice too, and it just kind of worked out that way,” Aaron said. &#8220I'm really glad it worked out that way.”

Aaron said the opportunity to represent his home state by going to UAA was a draw, and taking the next step with Drew was an added bonus. It gave Aaron and Drew, who make up two parts of triplet brothers, the chance to become even closer.

&#8220It's been a blessing for sure,” Aaron said. &#8220We both have the same faith. It's nice to be able to challenge each other, and help each other grow.”

Just as important as the influence of his brother and his family, is the his faith, Aaron said. His beliefs have been a key to his growth and success as an individual, and a runner.

Aaron said it's certainly not the case where he prays to God for a simple victory.

&#8220The Bible talks about preparing and being diligent,” Aaron said. &#8220Do the best that you can do.

&#8220Faith is a lifestyle, and a huge part of my everyday life.”

Aaron has spent each of the last eight summers working with kids at the Solid Rock Bible Camp in the Kenai Peninsula.

He hopes to combine his faith with teaching and running in the future.

Drew was married during the summer, and will graduate from UAA with a degree in psychology.

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