Palmer's fun run

PALMER — En route to earning Lineman of the Year honors for this season’s state runner-up Palmer football team, tackle Everest Moore was rarely called upon to run more than a few yards at a time. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Moore’s primary asset on the football field was his bulk, not his wheels.

Not Saturday, when Moore rumbled down the track at Palmer High School, sprinting the third leg of one of the more unique events at the annual Palmer Relays, perhaps the wackiest track meet of the season.

“That was pretty much the first race I’ve run in my life,” Moore said after he teamed with three other speed-challenged members of the PHS track team for the “weight persons” 400-meter relay event.

Always a fan favorite, the weight relays call on teams to field four-person relay squads made up entirely of throwers (shot-putters and discus throwers), athletes who are typically built more for power than speed.

While the Palmer boys didn’t win the race, they didn’t finish last, either, an accomplishment that wasn’t lost on team member Shayne Sawyer.

“Not bad for a bunch of fatties,” Sawyer joked.

The weight relays were just one of several events that only show up once a year on the Alaska track and field calendar. Other oddities included a mixed shuttle hurdle race in which teams of two boys and two girls teamed up to run a course with hurdles set up in opposite directions in alternate lanes, and an open mile event that featured coaches rather than high school students competing against one another.

Wasilla coach Gary Howell competed in the mile at the urging of WHS senior Elle Fuller, who Howell said had been “begging” him to get out on the track for four years. Howell, who said he hadn’t run a timed mile in 17 years, did quite well, finishing the four-lap race in second place, breaking the five-minute mark in the process.

“That last time I was under five I was 17 years old, so not bad,” Howell said.

As the meet went on, teams from competing schools alternated between cheering on competitors and grabbing hot dogs and burgers grilled up around Machetanz Field. Howell said the tailgating-like atmosphere surrounding the Palmer Relays is what makes the event so much fun year after year.

“It’s nice to have that relaxed feeling,” Howell said.

Race announcer Mike Janecek said that’s the whole idea behind the relays, an event that began more than three decades ago in Anchorage, but have been hosted by Palmer for “at least the last 20 years.”

“We just want ‘em to have fun,” Janecek said.

While the event does try to focus on the fun side of track and field, team scores were kept, with meet titles up for grabs.

Keyed by a win in the 1600 meter sprint medley, the Colony girls tied West Anchorage for the girls title, while Mat-Su teams swept the boys’ top three spots, with Palmer winning the overall title, followed by Colony in second and Wasilla in third. The Houston Hawks boys team placed fifth.

The Susitna Valley girls placed eighth, the Su Valley boys were 11th, the Houston girls finished 10th.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com

Palmer Relays 2008

Friday-Saturday

Palmer High School

Girls

Team scores — 1. (tie) West and Colony, 87; 3. Wasilla, 79; 4. Eagle River, 51; 5. (tie) Service and Palmer, 42; 7. Lathrop, 35; 8. Susitna Valley, 20; 9. Heritage Christian, 4; 10. Houston, 1.

4x100 Meter Relay — 1, Eagle River, 54.45. 2, Wasilla (Fulton, Shelby Sr, Nickerson, Gladys

So, Oosting, Kahla Sr, Schleich, Cori Fr), 54.93. 3, Lathrop, 55.23. 4, West, 55.52. 5, Colony (Hodgson, Sierra So, Johansen, Siobhan So, Zola, Hannah So, Wilson, Megan So), 55.75. 6, Service.

4x100 Meter Relay Field Person

1, Palmer (Nuernberg, Monica So, Zimmer, Rashayne Jr, Ratcliff, Geneva Sr, Chambers, Erika Jr), 1:00.19. 2, Wasilla (Colgrove, Celeste Fr, Troisi, Jillian So, Gilpin, Jasmin Fr, Skinner, Chelsea Jr), 1:00.20. 3, Colony (Troxel, Katie Jr, Johansen, Gaynor So, Irwin, Shellina Fr, Forstner, Katie Jr), 1:00.80. 4, West, 1:09.01.

4x200 Meter Relay

1, Su Valley (Scott, Missy So, Timmers, Kristjana Sr, Cron, Marina Fr, Evans, Ashley Fr), 1:55.21. 2, Wasilla (Clump, Keri So, Fulton, Shelby Sr, Hoffman, Rachel Jr, Oosting, Kahla Sr), 1:57.19. 3, West, 1:57.64. 4, Eagle River, 1:58.54. 5, Palmer (Newell, Leilani Sr, Ducommun, Miranda Jr, Corbin, Tabitha Fr, Whitfield, Morgan So), 2:05.13. 6, Eagle River B, x2:08.32.

4x400 Meter Relay

1, Service, 4:30.35. 2, Wasilla (Clump, Keri So, Gross, Jessica Sr, Hoffman, Rachel Jr, Nelson, Kendra Sr), 4:32.85. 3, Colony (Wick, Maria So,

Bowker, Megan So, VanGorder, Ellen Jr, Bonn, Charity Fr), 4:36.10. 4, West, 4:39.96. 5, Lathrop, 4:49.60. 6, Palmer (Lundt, Morgan Fr, Lutz, Jacqueline Sr, Stachelrodt, Danielle So, Witz, Kelsey So), 5:08.30.

4x800 Meter Relay

1, Eagle River, 10:12.80. 2, Wasilla (Gross, Jessica Sr, Bialka, Katie So, Clump, Keri So, Nelson, Kendra Sr), 10:15.79. 3, Colony (Bowker, Megan So, Doner, Heidi So, Wick, Maria So, Stewart, Sydney So), 10:27.43. 4, Service, 10:28.37. 5, West, 10:54.73. 6, Service B,11:57.72.

800 Sprint Medley

1, Service, 2:03.83. 2, Lathrop, 2:04.87. 3, Colony (Hodgson, Sierra So, Wilson, Megan So, Bowker, Megan So, Zola, Hannah So), 2:07.34. 4, Wasilla (Fulton, Shelby Sr, Oosting, Kahla Sr, Schleich, Cori Fr, Nuss, Skyler So), 2:07.98. 5, Eagle River, 2:08.39. 5, West, 2:08.39. 7, Su Valley (Hunt, Caitlin Jr, Evans, Ashley Fr, Cron, Marina Fr, Timmers, Kristjana Sr), 2:12.58.

1600 Sprint Medley FROSH/SOPH

1, Colony (Bowker, Megan So, Zola, Hannah So, Wilson, Megan So, Doner, Heidi So), 4:44.90. 2, Wasilla (Schleich, Cori Fr, Nickerson, Gladys So, Conant, Makayla Fr, Bialka, Katie So), 4:52.70. 3, Lathrop, 4:58.48. 4, Eagle

River, 5:12.43. 5, Palmer (Marlow, Tiffany So, Thao, Kalie So, Whitfield, Morgan So, Stachelrodt, Danielle So), 5:19.63. 6, Service, 5:20.67.

High Jump Relay

1, Hunt, Caitlin, Su Valley, 4-10. 2, Johansen, Siobhan, Colony, 4-08. 2, Timmers, Kristjana, Su Valley, 4-08. 4, Evans, Ashley, Su Valley, 4-06. 4, Smith, Kassandra, West Anchora, 4-06. 4, Bennett, Ashley, West Anchora, 4-06.

Girls Long Jump Relay

1, Mcquire, MaggieRose, West, 15-05.75, 2, Corbin, Tabitha, Palmer, 14-04.50, 3, Wilson, Megan, Colony, 13-11.50, 4, Hanley, Taylor, West, 13-08.75, 5, Laird, Caitlin, Wasilla, 13-07, 5, Bennett, Ashley, West, 13-07.

Shot Put Relay

1, Tui, Crystal, West Anchora, 34-03.75. 2, Ratcliff, Geneva, Palmer, 33-03. 3, Mickens, Cierra, Eagle River, 32-05.25. 4, Irwin, Shellina, Colony, 30-03.50. 5, Dooley, Erin, West Anchora, 29-10.75. 6, LaMere, Erin, Palmer, 29-04.75.

Boys

Team scores — 1. Palmer, 119; 2. Colony, 98; 3. Wasilla, 54; 4. West, 51; 5. Houston, 37; 6. Service, 32; 7. Eagle River, 30; 8. Heritage Christian, 28; 9. Lathrop, 14; 10. Valdez, 4; 11. Susitna Valley, 2.

4x100 Meter Relay

1, Palmer (Anderson, Anthony Sr, Forkner, Christopher So, Konkler, Devin Sr, Scoresby, John So), 46.02. 2, West, 47.16. 3, Colony (Atwood, Todd Sr, Powell, Donte Jr, Darnell, Ethan So, Farris, Marshall So), 48.41. 4, Wasilla

(Musselman, Chance Jr, Newman, Colton Jr, Orr, Tim Jr, Owens, Taylor So), 48.50. 5, Eagle River, 48.82. 6, Service, 49.50.

4x100 Meter Relay Field Person

1, Wasilla (Russel, Beebo Sr, Orr, Tim Jr, Cliborn, Robert Jr, Lafe, Christopher Jr), 50.44. 2, Palmer (Ahrens, Coleman So, Mattingley, Landon Jr, Zoerb, David Jr, Mitchell, JD Jr), 51.70. 3, West, 51.84. 4, Eagle River, 53.20. 5, Colony (Pucci-McGraw, Ben So, Mastroyanis, Jon Jr, Lucas, Keane So, Farber, Trey Fr), 54.14. 6, Su Valley 54.80.

4x200 Meter Relay

1, Palmer (Konkler, Devin Sr, Forkner, Christopher So, Guzman, Tony Sr, Scoresby, John So), 1:35.10. 2, Colony (Jaronik, Matt So, Swan, Matt Jr, Murphy, Jaron Sr, Truax, Brad Sr), 1:36.10. 3, Lathrop, 1:38.02. 4, West, 1:39.09. 5, Wasilla (Edwards, Isiah So, Musselman, Chance Jr, Newman, Colton Jr, Owens, Taylor So), 1:41.41. 6, Service 1:43.31.

4x400 Meter Relay

1, Palmer (Cunningham, Ryan Sr, LeCheminant, Rick Sr, Smith, Kevin Sr, Parisien, Jake Sr), 3:41.99. 2, Heritage Christian, 3:46.02. 3, Houston (Styers, Dillon Sr, Dodds, Dustin Jr, Munoz, Daniel Jr, Putnam, Brogan Jr), 3:46.88. 4, Eagle River, 3:49.80. 5, Service, 3:52.89. 6, West, 3:54.02.

4x800 Meter Relay

1, Colony (Truax, Brad Sr, Gray, Doug Sr, Huggins, Cody Sr, Swan, Matt Jr), 8:21.12. 2, Palmer (Smith, Kevin Sr, LeCheminant, Rick Sr, Cunningham, Ryan Sr, DePriest, Thorton Sr), 8:29.87. 3, Heritage Christian, 8:31.53. 4, Eagle

River, 8:58.63. 5, Houston (Ashland, Chris Sr, Gardiner, Chris Sr, Putnam, Brogan Jr, Munoz, Daniel Jr), 9:03.53. 6, Service B, 9:07.58.

1600 Sprint Medley FROSH/SOPH

1, Colony (Wangberg, Blake So, Farris, Marshall So, Darnell, Ethan So, Williams, Gunner So), 3:57.57. 2, Wasilla (Marshall, A.J Fr, Taylor, Todd Fr, Weiliczkiewicz, Jacob So, Pine, Stephen So), 4:01.68. 3, Service, 4:09.70. 4, Eagle River, 4:10.85. 5, Su Valley (Timmers, Jens So, Stevenson, Mike Fr, Kolbeck, Jesse Jr, Nysewander-Kellard, Nick Fr), 4:13.82. 6, Houston (Reese, Aaron Fr, Elder, Garrett Fr, Herman, Scott So, Gocke, Andy Fr), 4:14.94.

Boys 1600 Sprint Medley

1, Colony (Gray, Dave Sr, Jaronik, Matt So, Murphy, Jaron Sr, Swan, Matt Jr), 3:43.05. 2, Palmer (Daly, John So, LeCheminant, Rick Sr, Konkler, Devin Sr, Smith, Kevin Sr), 3:44.07. 3, Lathrop, 4:03.38. 4, Eagle River, 4:08.33. 5, West, 4:10.23. 6, Eagle River B, 4:13.55.

Boys High Jump Relay

1, Jackson, Ben, Service, 6-04. 2, Zagers, Antone, Colony, 6-00. 2, Hoyer, Isaiah, West Anchora, 6-00. 4, Ramirez, Cameron, Heritage Chr, 5-04. 5, Hanks, Pete, Heritage Chr, 5-02. 5, Reese, Aaron, Houston, 5-02.

Boys Long Jump Relay

1, Jackson, Ben, Service, 19-09.75, 2 (tie), Thornock, Jesse, Colony, and Jaronik, Matt, Colony, 18-08.50, 4, Nysewander-Kellard, Nick, Su Valley, 17-08.50, 5, Freed, Andrew, Service, 17-06.75, 6, Daly, John, Palmer, 17-06.

Boys Discus Throw Relay

1, Russel, Beebo, Wasilla, 136-11. 2, Knowles, John, Wasilla, 129-11. 3, Morales, Israel, Houston, 124-07. 4, Keim, Oliver, West Anchora, 115-06. 5, Zoerb, David, Palmer, 109-08. 6, Mitchell, JD, Palmer, 109-06.

Mixed

4x100 Meter Relay (Special Olympics)

1, Service 58.79. 2, West 'B' x1:00.96. 3, Service 'B' x1:04.03. 4, Palmer 1:04.65. 5, West 1:06.03. 6, East Anchorage special olympic

1:07.77.

Distance Medley

1, Palmer (Lutz, Jacqueline Sr, Whitfield, Morgan So, Parisien, Jake Sr, DePriest, Thorton Sr), 12:17.06. 2, Colony (Doner, Heidi So, Stewart, Sydney So, Gray, Doug Sr, Huggins, Cody Sr), 12:22.70. 3, Service, 12:35.30. 4, Eagle River, 12:46.52. 5, Houston (Styers, Dillon Sr, Ashland, Chris Sr, Larrabee, Jessica Jr, Morris, Kassandra Jr), 13:07.82. 6, Lathrop, 13:08.59.

4x100 Meter Shuttle Hurdle

1, Lathrop, 1:14.42. 2, West, 1:14.43. 3, West B, 1:21.20. 4, Wasilla (Hoffman, Rachel Jr, Mackenzie, Kelly Jr, Newman, Colton Jr, Shortridge, Ian Jr), 1:21.79. 5, Houston (Dodds, Dustin Jr, Elder, Garrett Fr, Larrabee, Jessica Jr, Morris, Kassandra Jr), 1:27.68. 5, Palmer (Guzman, Tony Sr, Mastre, Jane Sr, Marlow, Tiffany So, Mattingley, Landon Jr), 1:27.68.