Prep cross country: Houston to run with big schools

Aug. 17, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

HOUSTON - If success in cross country is a numbers race, this year's Houston Hawks are running uphill.

Not only are the Hawks small in numbers - six boys and six girls make up the entire program - but the team will be forced this season to run in the class 4A division as the school makes its transition from 3A.

Coach Pat Egelus has no illusions that this year's team will be able to challenge 4A heavyweights like Kodiak and Colony.

&#8220It's going to be tough moving into 4A,” Egelus said.

But while success in the sport can be measured by individual and team results, another barometer of a program's merit is in its athletes' ability to improve from year to year. In that regard, Egelus said he believes this year's team will be a success.

&#8220We're looking pretty good,” Egelus said. &#8220We're gonna be a little bit faster than last year.”

Houston's top boys returner is senior Chris Ashland, and the Hawks also got a big boost when hockey star Dillon Styers, a senior, also decided to come out for the team.

&#8220He's probably our best all around athlete,” Egelus said.

Egelus said junior Jessica Larabee will be looked at to lead the girls.

&#8220She came into the fall in really good shape,” Egelus said.

Many on Houston's team also participate in other sports at the school, which Egelus said he believes is one of the team's strengths because is means most of his kids have been staying active in the off season.

&#8220A lot of those kids have been doing camps all summer long,” he said.

Enthusiasm among the kids in the Houston program is one of its strengths, and Egelus said he's hoping to continue building on that attitude toward the future. The only way for a small 4A school like Houston to compete, he said, is if larger numbers of kids start going out for the program.

&#8220Numbers is a big problem,” he said. &#8220We've got to have kids out.”

Egelus also coaches the Houston Middle School team, and said he plans to have both his high school and middle school teams practice together. His hope, he said, is to begin a building process that could eventually turn the Hawks into a contender.

&#8220As we move to 4A, we've got to find ways to make our school more competitive,” he said.

Houston's season began earlier this week when the team traveled to Anchorage for a meet at Kincaid Park. This weekend, Houston will again travel to Anchorage for the Bartlett Relays, which begin at noon at Bartlett High.

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