That’s karma, Dimond High

Three years ago, there was a massive division in the Alaska prep cross country running community.

In a move that appeared to be out of spite, Dimond High School created the Lynx/Adidas Invitational in 2004, and scheduled the new meet for the same day as the Palmer Invitational, an event that has long been known as arguably the best of its kind in Alaska.

Upon the creation of the meet, several schools — including a few of the top programs in the state — broke commitments with Palmer High School to forgo the Palmer Invitational in favor of the meet hosted by Dimond.

And a controversy was created.

But now, just three years later, where is the Dimond High School cross country program?

Back competing in the Palmer Invitational.

Due to ongoing construction in Anchorage’s Kincaid Park — the site of the Lynx/Adidas Invitational — the municipality of Anchorage will not allow Dimond to host the event at Kincaid this year.

“It is with regret and a heavy heart that I inform you that our Invitational has been pushed into a 1-year hiatus. Even though we were issued permits for the facility the Municipality proceeded with construction and cannot honor the permit. For that reason we will have to wait until next year to continue this great tradition,” Dimond High School activities principal Kevin Theonnes said in an e-mail sent on Aug. 22.

I’ve always been a believer in karma — what comes around, goes around, both good and bad.

What we have here is a good case of karma.

And I can’t help but laugh.

In 2004, when Dimond High pilfered the spot on the prep running calendar the Palmer Invitational had occupied for decades, the school’s powers that be displayed an element of greed not normally seen in high school athletics. Organizers of the Lynx/Adidas Invite rallied the troops in South Anchorage into a big city calvary campaigning for the new invitational to be stepping stone to what they really wanted — the state championships at Kincaid Park.

But guess what folks?

Palmer’s got the state championships too!

So let’s mark that one down on the scoreboard.

Valley 2, Anchorage 0.

Not that we’re counting.

Actually I am counting.

And I am taking this opportunity to recognize the fact that Dimond High School is getting what it deserves — even if that punishment will only last for one year.

But Palmer High School, on the other hand, is taking the high road — as the school should.

Since the announcement of the cancellation of the Lynx/Adidas Meet, Palmer High School has decided to open the Palmer Invitational to any program that lost the opportunity to compete that weekend.

PHS started with a field of 22 teams. But 16 teams — including the Dimond Lynx — have joined since.

“Instead of continuing the battle, we’ll invite anyone,” Palmer activities director Jeff Thiede said on Friday.

Thiede said it was primarily the adults involved in the initial squabble, but it is their intention to help the kids.

Thiede said the field should hit 40 teams.

And now 40 teams will have another opportunity to see why the Palmer Invitational has lasted as long as it has.

Because it’s the top cross country running event in the state.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.