Pudwill wins title

PALMER -- Some of the best things in life are just the unexpected.

Going into the 2002 cross-country season the idea of a state championship didn't cross Linnea Pudwill's mind.

"I just came out here to get in shape and help my team," Pudwill said. "I didn't even start thinking about the state championships until recently and I was just thinking of placing."

The Houston senior not only got in shape, she won a title. Pudwill was the first runner to cross the finish line in the girls 1A-2A-3A event of the Alaska Cross-Country State Championships Saturday at the Michael Janecek Trails. Pudwill finished with a time of 19:54, just ahead of Su Valley's Tazlina Mannix. Pudwill was the only runner in the race to break the 20-minute mark.

Pudwill looked like a seasoned veteran in the sport as she ran the course on Saturday. The fact of the matter is, Pudwill is in just her second season in cross-country running. She ran her sophomore year, but her season was cut short due to injury. Last year she gave volleyball a try.

Pudwill was among a group of four runners in the lead pack. Pudwill, Mannix Anchorage Christian's Nadine Fishchetti, Craig's Anjui Haydu and Bethel's Jaqueline Davies each vyed for the top spot and traded positions early in the race. Pudwill dropped back during the second lap, but pulled back into the lead during the last half of the final lap. Once Pudwill hit the track at Machetanz Field, she held a steady lead over Mannix and raced towards her first place finish.