Prep cross country preview: Rams small, but fast

TALKEETNA — Susitna Valley might not have the biggest cross country skiing team in the state, but it may have one of the fastest.

With just four varsity boys out for the team this season — and no girls — Su Valley isn’t likely to intimidate anyone with raw numbers. Once the race starts, however, it’s a good bet one or two yellow and blue-clad athletes will be near the front of the pack.

“It’s going to be a fun year,” Su Valley coach Karen Mannix said Monday.

Leading the way for the Rams will be Galen Johnston, a senior who finished 10th in the classic race at last year’s state championships and 14th overall. As the top returning skier in the Mat-Su Valley, Johnston should also be among the state’s best again this year.

“I won’t be surprised if he’s in the top ten,” Mannix said.

Mannix said Johnston, an avid mountaineer who at age 11 became the youngest person to ever summit Denali, was more active this summer with his cross country training.

“He actually trained year-round this year,” she said.

Mannix believes the training has paid off.

“He’s a lot stronger than he was last year.”

Johnston has also been working out with the Alaska Pacific University Ski Team, which is recognized as one of the top ski programs in the nation. Mannix’s daughter, Tazlina, also skis for APU and is currently the second-ranked female skier in the United States.

Like Taz Mannix did her senior year, Johnston has already begun classes at APU as part of the school’s early honors program. Once the high school season began, however, he started training with his teammates in Talkeetna.

Su Valley’s other three skiers are also veteran performers who Mannix is expecting big things of this season. In addition to Johnston, the team also includes juniors Ian Mannix and Elias Holt, as well as sophomore Tyler Figley, who finished 112th at state last season.

With the minimum amount of skiers needed to field a full squad, Mannix said her biggest concern is making sure the four skiers stay healthy.

“Nobody can get sick,” she said.

While Su Valley doesn’t have big numbers on its varsity team, Mannix said 17 middle school students are out this season and working out with the high school team.

“That’s the biggest middle school group we’ve had, so that kind of bodes well for the future,” she said.

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