Su Valley's depth earns running title

PALMER -- Susitna Valley High's girls cross-country running machine continued to steamroll its opposition Saturday, winning the Palmer Invitational Class 1-2-3A team race with what coach Jane Buskirk called the best performance of the season.

The Rams placed three runners in the top seven to turn back a bid by Seward High, whose Whitney Anderson won the individual title in 18 minutes, 42.07 seconds over the 5-K course. Su Valley's Taz Mannix was second in 20:15.12, with teammates Kayti Krepel in sixth and Melissa Ostermick in seventh.

Krystal Moore was 12th and Jen Thompson was 17th to complete Su Valley's scoring.

"Those are good numbers," coach Jane Buskirk said. "The whole team is bumping up. This is the nicest race I've seen."

The Rams totaled 39 points to Seward's 50, followed by Grace Christian, 61; Eielson, 162; Delta, 167; Ninilchik, 183; Houston, 187; Nikiski, 189; Bethel, 200; and Barrow, 212.

Although only the first five finishers count in the team score, Buskirk noted that her team's sixth- and seventh-place finishers came home ahead of many teams' fifth runner, thereby increasing the opponents' score.

"Our sixth and seventh runners bumped all kinds of kids," she said.

Freshman Hannah Hamler was 30th and Deseree Besgrove was 43rd for the Rams in the 80-runner field.

Buskirk credited the strong showing to her team's work ethic. The coach says they devour hard practice sessions and ask for more.

"I'm having to think up harder workouts," Buskirk said.

Team leader Mannix said Saturday's temperature was a little too warm for top performances, and she didn't feel her best during the race. But the senior had plenty of distance over third-place finisher Sarah Martinez, finishing 17 seconds ahead of the Grace Christian runner.

Then it was time to cheer her teammates.

"All the girls work pretty hard," Mannix said. "We have some new runners and they've really helped. It pushes everyone to be in the top five."

Mannix, who is double-enrolled at Su Valley and an early honors program at Alaska Pacific University, also tipped her hat to winner Anderson.

"I think she just moved here," Mannix said. "She's really fast."

In the boys 4A race, Colony High's Peter Doner ran a personal best of 16:23.71 at the Michael Janecek Trails but had to settle for fourth place.

"They dusted me that last little bit," he told his father and coach Mark Doner.

Dimond's Jeff Quickel took the lead early in the race and kept widening his margin, winning the individual race in 16:06.54. Chugiak's Jesse Cherry was second and Devin McDowell of Lathrop was third, six seconds ahead of Doner.

"I'm definitely happy with the time," Doner said as he caught his breath.

It was 36 seconds faster than his previous best, which came in last year's state meet when Doner finished 10th. Although it was Quickel's day on Saturday, the Knight runner is definitely in the mix for the state title on Sept. 27, having beaten Quickel at this year's Skyview Invitational.

He believes he can run even faster than his new PR.

"I like to think so," Doner said. "There's no reason to get slower."

Palmer Invitational

Team Results

Class 1-2-3A Girls

1. Susitna Valley, 39; 2. Seward, 50; 3. Grace Christian, 61; Eielson, 162; 5. Delta, 167; 6. Ninilchik, 183; Houston, 187; Nikiski, 189; 9. Bethel, 200; Barrow, 212.Class 1-2-3A Boys 1. Anchorage Christian, 76; 2. Valdez, 3. Grace Christian, 92; 4. Seward, 100; 5. Cook Inlet Academy, 183; 6. Susitna Valley, 187; 7. Eielson, 203; 8. Bethel, 209; 9. Delta, 218; 10. Chevak, 223; 11. Monroe, 283; 12. Kotzebue, 307; 13. Galena, 350; 14. Nikiski, 378; 15. Barrow, 405; 16. Ninilchik, 407.Class 4A Girls1. East, 50; 2. Service, 83; 3. West Valley, 99; 4. Dimond, 100; 5. Soldotna, 138; 6. Chugiak, 168; 7. West, 172; 8. Kenai, 231; 9. Palmer, 281; 10. Colony, 284; 11. Homer, 296; 12. Skyview, 312; 13. Kodiak, 322; 14. Lathrop, 324; 15. Bartlett, 334; 16. Wasilla, 459.Class 4A Boys1. Juneau-Douglas, 98; Dimond, 118; 3. Chugiak, 124; 4. East, 138; 5. West Valley, 170; 6. Kodiak, 206; 7. Lathrop, 209; 8. Service, 215; 9. Colony, 218; 10. West, 223; 11. Bartlett, 249; 12. Kenai, 254; 13. Soldotna, 315; 14. Palmer, 332; 15. Skyview, 368; 16. Homer, 387; 17. Wasilla, 473; 18. North Pole, 523.