RUNNING STRONG: Valley athletes to vie for spots in state at Region III meet

WASILLA — With a boost of youth, the Wasilla boys’ and Palmer girls’ cross-country running squads will be in contention for a top 3 finish in the team standings and an automatic berth to the 4A state championships. But Colony head coach Rhonda Knopp hopes to see her veterans power of pair Colony squads to state when runners hit the Tsalteshi Trails for the Region III Championships Saturday in Soldotna.

“We have had a solid season and are hoping to take both a girls and boys team to state,” Knopp said earlier this week.

Each of the top three squads in the Region III team standings, in both the boys and girls classes, earn a trip to state. Any other runner in the top 15 of the individual results of the Region III races, will also compete in the ASAA/First National State Championships Oct. 1 at Bartlett in Anchorage.

Colony Knights

On the girls’ side, Colony boasts arguably the most veteran bunch of any squad, girls or boys, in the Valley.

“The veteran girls are ready to run,” Knopp said. “They know Kenai has a talented team and Palmer is running strong this year, but have confidence in their experience and training and known they are prepared physically and mentally to run well this weekend.”

Colony’s top 5 could include three seniors and two juniors. Of that group, three — junior Jill Bowker (fifth), senior Elisabeth Bowker (10th) and senior Cathelyne Powers (13th) — placed in the top 15 of the region meet last year.

On the boys’ side, senior Tracen Knopp, who placed fourth in regions last year, leads the Knights into the Region III meet.

“Tracen is feeling good and looking forward to running at regions,” said Rhonda Knopp, who doubles as both Tracen’s coach and mom.

Colony features other veterans such as senior Jeff Lautrup, but has a fast freshman of its own, Gavin Block, who broke the 17-minute mark for the first time this season last week at the Susitna Valley Invitational.

“The boys will have a tougher time. Kodiak and Wasilla are great competitors and will challenge us to be on top of our games. However, we’re looking for a great team performance,” Knopp said.

Wasilla Warriors

The Wasilla boys earned a pair of team titles during the regular season, scoring wins at the Colony and Seward invites. The Warriors even knocked off region power Kodiak at Colony, the first meeting of the regular season. While the Warriors were thrilled to get that victory, head coach Leslie Varys said Kodiak certainly can’t be overlooked. And Wasilla also has Colony to contend with.

“That’s the one that has me the most nervous about and the most excited about,” Varys said of the expected battle in the top tier of the boys’ team standings. “I think that it’s probably going to closer to us and Colony for second. (Kodiak head coach Marcus) Dunbar is always able to work his magic with the Kodiak boys.”

The Wasilla boys also sport the fastest freshman in Region III. Hunter Hayes has a trio of top 7 finishes and has placed no lower than 13th in the first five varsity high school races of his career. He set a personal record of 16:32 with his seventh-place finish at the Palmer Invitational early this month. The Warriors also have juniors Isaak Bell and Kaleb Greathouse among their varsity squad. Bell was 14th in regions as a sophomore.

Palmer Moose

Palmer head coach John Bishop has found a blend of experience and youth that is working for the Moose. Palmer has one of the Valley’s top runners, senior Ruby Woodings, who finished third at regions last year. Senior Rya Berrigan is another experienced veteran.

Earlier this month, Bishop said he expects big things from Woodings at regions, setting up what the Moose hope for, a top 5 finish for Woodings at the state meet.

Bishop has also raved about his freshmen, a group that includes Lydia Ortiz, Sophia Nowers and Nina Kalytiak.

“The freshmen have been doing awesome,” Bishop said.

Leading the Palmer boys is sophomore Leif Mumma, who currently has the sixth-fastest time in the region.

Houston Hawks

Sophomore Allison VanPelt leads Houston into the Region III-3A championships, running in a different class than Region III-4A, which includes Palmer, Wasilla and Colony.

VanPelt, who finished fourth in the Region III race last year, has posted four top-8 finishes this year, including a season-best second-place finish in the Palmer Invite. She posted a personal-best time of 19:50 that afternoon. After she posted that personal-record time, Houston head coach Bob Knutson said VanPelt continues to get better and better.

“I think the sky’s the limit,” Knutson said.

The Houston boys are led by senior Jens Knutson, who currently boasts the 14th best time in Region III-3A.

Schedule

The Region III Championships varsity races start at noon with the 3A girls, and are followed by the 4A girls at 12:30 p.m. The boys’ 3A race is slated for 1 p.m., with the boys’ 4A competition scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.