Prep cross country: Colony boys first, Wasilla girls second at Seward Invite

Aug. 19, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Colony's Antone Zagars placed second overall to lead the Knights to victory Saturday at the 5-kilometer Seward Invitational. Wasilla's Jimmy Sliwa was third, while Colony's Mason Wick finished fourth.

In the girls race, Seward's one-two punch of Rubye and Denali Foldager helped the Seahawks squeak out a victory over Wasilla by the narrowest of margins.

&#8220If it had been a one point swing the other way it would have been a lot better,” Wasilla coach Gary Howell said.

Sisters Kendra (ninth) and Brooke Nelson (10th) led the Wasilla girls. The Knights' Heidi Doner finished fifth to lead all Valley finishers, while Maria Wick placed eighth for the Colony girls, which finished third overall.

Howell said he was pleased with how close his girls team made the meet against the defending 123A state champion Seward girls.

&#8220It's really tough to overcome a 1-2 finish,” he said.

The solid Mat-Su showing at the invitational was highlighted in the JV races, which saw the Colony boys sweep the top five positions and the Wasilla girls grab the top four spots.

&#8220I love to see that,” Howell said.

Colony coach Mark Doner agreed.

&#8220The team's showing depth that we haven't been showing in a long time,” Doner said.

Doner said the meet illustrated how strong Valley cross country teams will be this season, and said he's already excited for next week, when most teams in the state - including all five Mat-Su high school teams - will travel to the Kenai Peninsula for the Skyview Invitational.

&#8220It should be pretty fun,” he said.

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

Seward Invitational

Team Scores

Boys

1. Colony, 54; 2. Heritage Christian, 56; 3. Seward, 90; 4. Skyview 92; 5. Wasilla, 92; 6. Bethel, 160; 7. Soldotna, 190; 8. Kotzebue, 198; 9. Kenai Central, 246

Girls

1. Seward, 61; 2. Wasilla, 62; 3. Colony, 74; 4. Skyview 95; 5. Soldotna, 149; 6. Kotzebue, 179; 7. Bethel, 185.