PHS senior caps career with top-5 finish

ANCHORAGE — When Mason Minturn joined the Palmer cross-country running team, he had no idea where the trail would take him.

Saturday, Minturn capped his high school career as one of the five best runners in Alaska’s 4A class. Minturn posted a time of 16:29 to finish fifth during the ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Championships at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

“Top 5 in state, that’s beautiful,” Minturn said after the race. “I’m ecstatic. I’m so pleased with my placing and my time.”

Minturn said when he joined the sport, he had no idea of his potential.

“I joined my sophomore year not knowing I could run. I just wanted to do something,” Minturn said.

Minturn emerged as his team’s top athlete as a junior. That’s when he said, something clicked.

As a senior, Minturn earned a handful of top 4 finishes. He was the runner-up during the Region III Championships last week.

“My junior year, that’s when I started feeling I could do something,” Minturn said.

Now, Minturn has aspirations to run at the college level.

West Valley junior Kuba Grzeda earned an individual state title, with his time of 16:01. Grzeda was three seconds faster than runner-up Max Romey of Service.

The top four runners in the race finished during a seven-second span. Juneau’s David Francis and Kodiak’s Cole Christiansen, the Region III champion, finished third and fourth respectively.

Minturn said he was able to run with that front pack into the third kilometer of the race.

“Then they got a little space and I’m running in no-man’s land,” Minturn said.

Minturn held an 11-second advantage over Kodiak’s Levi Thomet, who finished sixth.

Minturn, one of three Moose to finish in the top 30, also helped Palmer finish sixth in the team standings. Schyler Knopp placed 28th for Palmer, with a time of 17:25. Knopp was two seconds faster than teammate Andrew Liebing, who placed 29th.

Brandon Schafer led eighth-place Colony with a 30th-place finish. Schafter crossed the finish line just behind Liebing.

Abe Meyerhofer was 40th for the Knights.

Noah Ripley led the Wasilla Warriors with a 23rd-place finish.

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

ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Championships

Saturday, Bartlett High School

4A boys team standings:

1. Service 51; 2. West Valley 78; 3. Kodiak 97; 4. Juneau 126; 5. Lathrop 127; 6. Palmer 163; 7. Chugiak 177; 8. Colony 194; 9. West Anchorage 197; 10. South Anchorage 217; 11. Wasilla 222.

4A boys individual results (top 20):

1. K. Grzeda, WV 16:01; 2. M. Romey, Ser 16:04; 3. D. Francis, Jun 16:07; 4. C. Christiansen, Kod 16:08; 5. M. Minturn, Pal 16:29; 6. L. Thomet, Kod 16:40; 7. G. Schultz, Ser 16:41; 8. J. Miller, Jun 16:44; 9. L. Schlemme, Ser 16:44; 10. T. Nrovell, Jun 16:46; 11. I. Lammers, Chu 16:47; 12. E. Hoefler, WV 16:48; 13. D. McPheters, Chug 16:55; 14. M. Huffman, South 16:57; 15. F. Machaud, Ken 16:58; 16. M. Sayre, WV 16:58; 17. G. Szweda, Ser 16:58; 18. L. Helper, Ser 17:01; 19. K. Rankin, Lat 17:06; 20. K. Hanson, Lat 17:10.

Other Valley finishers:

23. N. Ripley, Was 17:18; 28. S. Knopp, Pal 17:25; 29. A. Liebing, Pal 17:27; 30. B. Schafer, Col 17:27; 38. B. Lee, Was 17:38; 40. A. Meyerhofer, Col 17:39; 42. J. Pahkala, Was 17:41; 48. D. Sinnett, Col 17:50; 57. E. Breyton, Col 17:57; 58. C. Smith, Pal 17:59.