Rams win title

TALKEETNA -- There was only one way the Susitna Valley girls' track and field squad could improve on its finish in the 2002 Region II meet -- finish first in 2003.

They did that.

The Rams tallied 153 points to claim the team title and improve on last year's second-place finish.

Heritage Christian finished second in the team standings with 104 points in the eight-team event.

Melissa Ostermick was named the meet's most outstanding female athlete. The Su Valley junior won the 3,200-meter, placed second in the 1,600 and fourth in the 800. Ostermick's time of 12 minutes and 43 seconds in the 3,200 was a personal best.

Deseree Besgrove finished first for Su Valley in the 800 with a time of 2:38. Besgrove's time was also a personal record.

Other individual winners for the Rams included Heidi Hartley in the shot put and Annie Rauchenstein in the long jump.

The Rams dominated the relays with wins in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter relays.

Besgrove, Rauchenstein, Krystal Moore, Kayti Krepel, Jen Thompson and Ayla Dolecki each were a part of a winning relay team.

Mike Rauchenstein was named the meet's male outstanding athlete. The first-year member of the Su Valley boys' track and field team won a pair of events. Rauchenstein won both the high jump and triple jump.