Valley athletes hit state track and field championships

May 25, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

MAT-SU - More than three dozen Mat-Su Valley athletes are trying to run, jump or throw their way into the record books today at the ASAA State Track and Field Championships at West Valley High School in Fairbanks this weekend.

The two-day event started today at 10 a.m., and continues Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Interior school.

The Colony and Palmer programs each have 16 representatives at the state championships, and the coaches at both schools are excited about the number of athletes competing in Fairbanks this weekend.

&#8220It's pretty good for the team we have,” said Colony coach Mark Doner, who, along with Jeff Nelles, spent the 2007 season mentoring a very young Colony squad.

The Knights are built primarily with freshmen and sophomores, but two of Colony's more experienced athletes - seniors Ardrienna Everett and Mike Zagars - are among three Knights who qualified in four different events.

Everett, the leader of the CHS girls' team, will compete in the long jump, triple jump, 300 hurdles and 1,600-meter relay this weekend.

&#8220She had some good performances,” Doner said of Everett's work in last week's Northern Lights Conference championships.

To qualify for the state meet, athletes must either win a region title or finish with one of the top-10 marks from all of the region meets around the state.

Everett won the 300 hurdles, finished second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump at the NLC meet.

Doner said he believes Everett wants to improve on her marks of the NLC meet, especially in the triple jump.

&#8220I don't think she performed at the level she wants to be at,” Doner said.

Zagars, among the top athletes on the boys team, qualified in the triple jump, 110-meter hurdles, 300 hurdles and 1600 relay.

Sophomore Allie Grazulis also qualified in three events, and will compete in the long jump, triple jump, 200 and 1600 relay.

Doner also praised the work of Zagars' younger brother Antone, who qualified in the 3200 and the high jump.

&#8220He's got to be the fastest jumper in the state,” Doner joked, noting how unusual it is to see an athlete excel in a distance event and the high jump. &#8220He runs with a distance runner's stride, and to see the springs on him is pretty interesting.”

Junior David Gray (300 hurdles and 1600 relay) and freshman Sierra Hodgson (high jump and long jump) also qualified in multiple events.

Palmer coach Dale Ewart said he and co-head coach Francine Lombard are both pretty excited to see 16 Palmer athletes in the state championships.

Among the leaders on the Moose squad are the boys' sprint relay teams.

&#8220They've got an excellent chance of doing well,” Ewart said.

Both the 400 and 800 relay teams finished second to a pair of strong Kodiak squads at the NLC meet.

Tremain Benton, Chris Forkner, John Daly, Devin Konkler, John Scoresby and Coleman Ahrens each qualified for Palmer in both the 400 and 800 relay.

Daly and Konkler also both qualified in the 200.

&#8220They both have a really good chance at making the finals in the 200,” Ewart said.

Senior Kevin Smith also qualified in a pair of events - the 800 and 3200 relay.

Senior Hillarie Putnam leads a group of five Wasilla athletes in the state championships.

Putnam will compete in four events - the long jump, high jump, triple jump and 100 hurdles.

Wasilla coach Kristila Gardner said Putnam has the best shot of earning the first state title of a stellar four-year career in the long jump. At the NLC meet, Putnam hit 17-feet, 1-inch, surpassing her own previous state best by a full foot.

&#8220That's been a goal for her career,” Gardner said of Putnam reaching the 17-foot mark. &#8220She had it in her.”

Putnam also has the state's second best mark this season in the triple jump.

In its final season competing in the 4A championships, Su Valley qualified three athletes. Bill Kelly will compete in the triple jump, while both Kristjana Timmers and Kevin Wise will participate in the high jump.

Next season the state championships are being split into the large and small-schools classes.

Junior Israel Morales is Houston's lone representative at the championships. Morales will throw in the discus event.

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