Palmer runners post top-5 finishes at state meet

ANCHORAGE — The Palmer Moose cross country running team placed two runners in the top five at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska state cross-country running championship meet at Bartlett High School on Saturday. Sophomore Fischer Adams finished third and senior Katey Houser finished fifth for the Moose.

“It’s been years of hard work and as impressive as they are out here on the athletic field and sort of as proud as I am for their athletic accomplishments, I’m even more impressed by the citizens that they are and the role models that they are, especially Katey for the younger runners,” said assistant head coach Chris Eversman.

Houser finished in a time of 19:49.3 just two seconds ahead of Colony freshman Ella Hopkins in sixth place. Houser was competing in just her second state cross-country running meet and has battled injuries throughout the year, but finished her cross-country career strong with the highest finish in recent history for a Valley runner.

“I’m like at peace but I’m also disappointed,” said Houser. “I’m happy that I did it with my bestie Mykennan [Rinella]. I was telling her the other day this is her first state and I’m really proud of her.”

Fellow Palmer senior Mykennan Rinella finished in 67th place at 23:09.7 as the only other Moose runner to qualify for the state meet. After winning the region title for both boys and girls, Colony placed three runners in the top 40, led by Hopkins. Shea Alaniva finished 22nd and Monica Bustillos finished 39th. Freshman Rachel Danz was 46th, Abby Novak finished 49th, Lucy Shea finished 55th and freshman Madison Roberts finished 60th.

In the Division II race, Redington Sophomore Mya Campbell finished 6th at 21:31.9 as the only Valley runner competing in the race.

Houser dealt with muscle cramping throughout the year and struggled to remain healthy enough to compete at a level she is accustomed to. Prior to winning the region title in Kodiak last week, Houser got a boost of confidence during a race at the Kincaid trails in Anchorage earlier this season.

“That race is my smartest race, I am so proud of that race. I went out really reserved, I had a steady like 6:20 pace the whole time and I just focused on my breathing. I couldn’t even hear anyone or see anyone I was just focused on my breathing and I ended up looking up at like mile two and seeing oh my gosh, I can get these girls and I started picking them off while focusing on my breathing and when I finished that race I wasn’t happy because I won, I was happy because I didn’t cramp up and so I think that was my biggest confidence boost the whole season,” said Houser.

Adams outlasted Kodiak senior Micah Fields at the finish line to secure the highest finish for a Palmer runner since Jake Parisien finished 2nd in 2005. Adams sprinted stride for stride with Fields and edged him out at the finish line.

“My dad told me this, it’s not necessarily about quickness or speed, it’s about that mental toughness. You have to realize everybody’s hurting that last little bit, everybodys’ in pain it’s just at that point who wants it more and who is willing to go put their body on the line and just all out to the finish,” said Adams. “It just feels good and like you said I’ve been working for this all year, started training early summer right after school and just put in that work so I can come out here and perform and be able to place top three so it’s nice to have that work pay off and be able to perform.”

Palmer sophomore Tobin Miller finished 21st at 17:24.8, Ryan Owens finished 44th, Ziven Witczak finished 65th and Oles Witczak finished 76th.

Adams was not the only Valley underclassman to finish in the top 10. Colony sophomore Tobias Buchanan finished 8th at 16:58.3, and Wasilla senior Brennan Lackey climbed five spots in the last kilometer to finish 10th at 16:59.7.

Colony junior Zac Cheyette also finished 16th at 17:11.9. Fellow Knight Caleb Hilty finished 53rd, Jayden Rice finished 56th, freshman Coby Marvin finished 62nd, Samuel Fry finished 63rd and Jace Makamson finished 68th. Wasilla’s Landon Hayes finished his career with a 24th place finish in a time of 17:30.3

For runners competing at the state meet at Bartlett, many finished the race covered head to toe in mud as the wet conditions and heavy use of the trails during six races on Saturday made for slick and soppy trails.

“It was kind of fun sometimes because just going down the hill you’re just kind of sliding down losing your footing but it definitely was annoying at spots,” said Adams.

Houser holds one of the fastest times ever run at Bartlett with an 18:50 during her freshman year on a differently configured course, and hopes to continue putting up fast times in a Palmer uniform later this winter and next spring.

“I know she holds herself to a very high standard but I also know that she’s a multi-sport athlete and this is not the last that we’re going to see her in a Palmer uniform,” said Eversman. “There’s a ski season coming up and a track season after that and I expect that she’s going to have really good performances at the championship meets in those too.”