Prep track preview

MAT-SU - The high school track and field season kicked off Saturday with the Wasilla Invite, giving Valley teams a chance to see how they measure up against each other. But more importantly it let the coaches know if their high expectations are valid.

For the most part, the coaches liked what they saw, leaving them optimistic about their team this season.

&#8220It is early in the season, but things look really good so far,” Houston coach Norm Bouchard said. &#8220I'm excited about what this season has in store for us.”

The rest of the Valley's coaches are excited also.

What is it that has them so excited? Who are the athletes that will be running out in front of the pack? What is the outlook for each of the Valley high school track teams?

Colony - Last season, both the boys and girls teams finished second at the Northern Lights Conference Championships. It's something they hope will change this year. But they only change they want to see is finishing in first place.

The boys will miss the presence of Justin Schwartzbauer, who won state titles in the 110 and 300-meter hurdle races last season. But the squad still has a lot of talent ready to make a run at dethroning the region champion Kenai Kardinals.

Leading the way is senior David Registe, who hopes to defend his state long jump championship. He will also provide a welcome addition to the relay teams this season after focusing on jumping events last year.

On the girls' squad, senior Hallie Huggins and teammate Ardrienna Everett makes up possibly the fastest duo in the state. Last season, they finished first and second at the Region III championships in the 100 meters. Huggins added a victory in the 200, and Everett was third in the 400.

&#8220They are our stars in the sprints,” Colony coach Pat Cunningham said. &#8220We expect a lot from them this season.”

The pair is also pretty good in the jumping events. They placed first and second in the triple jump, and Everett was runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet 11 1/2 inches.

Houston - Coach Norm Bouchard has high hopes for his boys team. His girls team is down in numbers this season, but full of energy.

&#8220We only have four girls right now,” Bouchard said. &#8220So we can't compete in a full slate of events. But our boys on the other hand might be the deepest team we've had in my career as coach.”

Saturday at the Wasilla Invitational track and field meet, the Houston boys managed to advance at least one runner in the finals in each event, facing a solid 10-team field.

Freshman Dustin Dodds showed he is a quick learner with a strong finish in the finals of the 300 hurdles.

&#8220That was the first time he has run all eight hurdles,” Bouchard said. &#8220Up until now he has only done two or three hurdles at a time. So his performance was encouraging.”

Another freshman getting noticed is Brook Putnam, who ran a 57-second 400-meters in his first varsity meet of the year.

Stephanie Stewart is expected to give the Hawks strong performances in the 400, hurdles and possibly the high jump this season.

Karl Thistle and Bradd Erickson are likely to have the biggest impact this season for Houston.

&#8220Their strength and athleticism should help them develop into good throwers for us,” Bouchard said. &#8220Their quickness across the ring should allow them to be throwing in the mid to high 40's by the end of the season, which should get them to state.

Palmer - The Moose had the opportunity to give most of their athletes as chance to compete during the weekend, as Palmer sent teams to both the Wasilla Invite and to a dual at Kodiak. It was a good opportunity for Palmer, a team that has a lot of good young kids, head coach Dale Ewart said.

In his early impression of his squad, Ewart said Palmer is a team comprised of a few solid and experience veterans, mixed with a talented pool of young athletes.

In the boys event, captain Jeremy Weber is expected to have a strong senior season. Ewart said the multi-sport athlete who is a standout on the Moose football and basketball squads, should compete for region titles in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

&#8220He's been around for a long time, and has been doing some really good things,” Ewart said.

Weber is also expected to score points for his squad in the sprint and relay events.

Junior Frank Marden is Palmer's top jumper. Ewart said it took Marden only one weekend to qualify for regions in four different events.

&#8220He did really well in the high jump, and has potential to do well in state,” Ewart said.

Marden will also be Palmer's top athlete in the long jump and triple jump.

Other Moose to look for are sprinters Devin Konkler and Ryan Harrington, long distance runner Jake Parisien and throwers Nate Svedin and Jake Heun.

Harrington started is career competing in the long distance races, but is evolving into a succesfull competitor at the shorter distances. Ewart said Harrington should do well in the 200,400 and 800, and could also find himself on Palmer's top relay teams.

&#8220He came back really strong, really quick,” Ewart said.

Captain Roseanna Lincecum is expected to lead the Palmer girls' squad.

&#8220She's one of our strongest athletes,” Ewart said. &#8220We look for her to do some good things.”

Lincecum will compete in the high jump and sprints.

Another sprinter to watch, Ewart said, is Jamie Brown.

Susitna Valley - Weather has hampered the start of the season so far for the Rams, as snow and ice still cover a portion of their track. Their jumping pits are still firmly frozen.

Friday during the preliminaries of the boys 110-meter high hurdles at the Wasilla Invitational their lone hurdler, sophomore Wily O'Hara, tumbled after hitting the second hurdle, breaking his collar bone and leaving the team with a hurdler on the roster.

Despite the tough start to the season, coaches Larry and Jane Buskirk still remain positive.

&#8220Willy going down was a real blow to the team,” Jane Buskirk said. &#8220He's one of those kids who really loves track and field, and the other kids fed off his enthusiasm.”

O'Hara is not packing it in, he plans to help the team in any way he can.

The Rams have a young squad this season, but expect to get a big contribution from senior Kayti Krepel in the mid-distance and distance races. They also feature a pair of emerging young runners in Kristjana Timmers and Megan Ostermick, who both compete in the hurdles and sprints.

Philip Moore and Galen Johnston provide the Ram boys with a set of bookends in the running events

&#8220Philip gives us a real boost in the sprints,” Larry Buskirk said. &#8220He is a returner with the experience necessary to have a good year. Johnston, who is better known for his ability on cross-country skis gives the Su Valley boys a legitimate threat in any race over 1,600 meters.

&#8220It's been a slow start to the season for us,” Jane Buskirk said. &#8220Spring is a little late in arriving for us, but the kids are having fun and haven't complained yet. It should be a good year.”

Wasilla - The Warriors track team is young but eager to make their mark on the Region III season this spring.

&#8220We look pretty good for being as young as we are as a team,” Warriors coach Kristila Gardner said. &#8220We may not have the big standout super star athletes but we do have a lot of good runners with big hearts and a willingness to work hard to improve.”

The success the Warriors had during the cross country running season in the fall didn't translate into depth for the team as many of those athletes are playing soccer this spring. But that doesn't deter Gardner's optimism.

&#8220We are going to do what we can with a lot of hard work and determination,” she explained. &#8220If everyone of the athletes on the team improves each week we'll be successful.”

Despite their youth the Warriors are not without some standout athletes.

Senior Suzanna Caldwell has been a force in distance running since she was a freshman. According to Gardner she is motivated for a breakthrough season, this being her senior year.

Basketball superstar Hillarie Putnam also is among the states top jumpers. After placing second in the long jump and third in the triple jump last season, Gardner has high hopes for her.

A surprise performer for the boys this season could Doug Knecht who impressed Gardner in his first meet of the season Saturday.

&#8220I was impressed,” she said. &#8220It's nice to find an someone like that when you don't expect it.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

froniersman.com.