Running tradition

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Sports Editor

PALMER -- Mark Doner's favorite book about cross-country running, written by legendary running coach Dr. Joe Vigil, has a photo of five Adams State College runners finishing in the first five positions of the NCAA Division II national championships -- representing a perfect score in the race.

The photo on the cover, which Doner calls his favorite of cross-country running, captures the tradition of excellence in the small-school running program. Now Doner's top runner on his Colony High School squad and son, Peter, is a part of that tradition.

Peter, a two-time Mat-Su Borough champion, 2004 Region III champion and among the top runners in the state in the last two seasons, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Adams State College cross-country running squad.

Peter will be coached by another Adams State mentor building a legendary status of his own. Grizzly head coach Damon Martin recently won his 15th National Coach of the Year award, has led teams to 14 national titles, while guiding 445 All-Americans and 51 individual champions during their running careers.

Peter said the decision to sign with the Grizzlies and attend Adams State was made in a matter of days.

"It just clicked -- that's where I want to be," Peter said. "They called me one day; made the offer the next."

Peter, who considered a Division I school, Montana, early in the recruiting process, ultimately decided the Division II level was best suited for him and began to pinpoint Colorado-area schools Adams State, in Alamosa, and Western State, in Gunnison. Although he initially looked more closely at Western State, the benefits of Adams State and interest of the Adams State coaches prompted Peter to jump at the opportunity to run for the Grizzlies.

"Looking at their program, what their program has done in turning middle of the pack runners kind of like me into front of the pack national contenders, I saw that and was very convinced this was a program I could thrive in," Peter said.

During his senior campaign, Peter won a Mat-Su Borough Championship for the second straight season and took home the Region III title. He was one of the top two or three runners in the state throughout his final campaign at the prep level, but after fighting illness and nagging injuries, Peter finished a disappointing 12th on the unforgiving Skyview Trails in the 4A state championships.

During a talk with Peter following the state title race, Mark said he found his son even more dedicated to continue with the sport.

"If anything this makes me more excited to run in college," Peter told his father.

"As far as a place to go and explore what he can do with running, high altitude and a good coach, I am very excited (about Adams State)," Mark said.