Valley athletes ready to meet goals at NLC Championships

WASILLA — Last season, en route to a landslide victory in the Northern Lights Conference Championships team standings, the Wasilla Warriors girls’ track and field team set the bar fairly high. Wasilla athletes scored points in every event and amassed double the points of runner-up Kenai Central.

As good as the Warriors were last season, Wasilla head coach Gary Howell believes his team is ready to do it all again this weekend during the NLC Championships at Skyview High School in Soldotna.

“Our girls are as strong as we’ve ever been,” Howell said Wednesday. “It’s definitely one of the strongest teams I’ve ever coached.”

Wasilla returned many of the stars from the 2010 NLC Championships. Junior Morgan Dampier (first in the 800 in 2010) and sophomore Dajenae Harris (first in 100 and long jump) are back to defend their titles. Senior Cori Schleich — who helped Harris, Dampier and graduated senior Gladys Nickerson win the 800 relay — is also back, as is sophomore Jenna Ford, the 2010 runner-up in the 3,200.

But new blood as also emerged.

Senior Brianne Bohn, a first-year Wasilla runner, is ranked No. 1 in the NLC in both the 100 and 300 hurdles. The Wasilla throwers are also stronger with junior Sariah Tuisaula and sophomore Alexis Imoe. Junior Alyssa Hutchins, another first-year Warrior on the track team, is expected to score points in multiple events.

In all, counting relays, Wasilla has the top time in 10 of 17 events during the regular season. Dampier has posted the NLC’s best time in the 200, 400 and 800, and the top mark in the long jump. Harris continues to be the top runner in the 100.

Colony senior Shellina Irwin also owns a pair of top spots, holding the No. 1 mark in both the shot put and discus. Irwin, the defending NLC and state champion in the shot put, has thrown a personal best 37 feet, 8 inches this year. Her mark of 119-10 in the discus is the best in the conference by more than 12 feet. She has also improved by more than 25 feet from her top throws at the NLC meet last year.

“She’s been real consistent,” Colony head coach Tom Lincoln said of Irwin recently. “We’ve been working with her, watching her grow.”

Colony sophomore Audrey Michaelson has emerged as a runner to contend with. Michaelson has seven victories during the regular season, and is currently ranked second in the 1,600 and 3,200 and third in the 800. Senior Abby Jahn is also a top-7 runner in those three events for the Knights.

Palmer senior Erin LaMere has been arguably Irwin’s stiffest competition in the shot put, hosting the NLC’s second spot with a throw of 35-3. Palmer’s Rachael Huffman is ranked fifth in the discus. Palmer currently has the top-seeded time in the 400 relay. Taylor Blake, Jamie VanHoomissen, Tress Whitfield and Sarah Houchen combined to run a 54.26 this season.

Palmer is also expected to compete for a top spot in the team standings in the boys class this weekend, but will need to knock off region power Kodiak to grab the crown.

“We know Kodiak is going to be strong, but we really haven’t seen Kodiak much,” Palmer head coach Tim Popowski said recently.

Senior Jim McCall has been a top athlete for the Moose, and is currently ranked No. 1 in the conference in the 100, 200 and long jump.

“He’s getting stronger every time he (races),” Popowksi said of McCall.

McCall is the defending NLC champ in all three of those events, and also helped the Palmer 400 relay team finish first last season.

Palmer was the runner-up to Kodiak in the 2010 team standings.

Junior Joe Day has also been strong for Palmer in the 800 and hurdles, and Mason Minturn has emerged as a leader in the distance races.

“Mason has become an animal for us,” Popowksi said.

The Wasilla boys are coming off a strong showing at the Lathrop Invitational last week. Howell said the Warrior boys have easily exceeded all of his expectations.

“They’ve really found confidence in themselves,” Howell said.

Howell attributed much of the success of the boys’ team to Randy Magner, a new coach on the Wasilla staff.

“When he came on board we had a lot of raw athletes and he’s refined them to be state competitive,” Howell said.

The Warriors have posted top-4 times in all four relay events.

Junior Devon Teeling has also contributed plenty of team points to the Warriors. Teeling is currently ranked first in the NLC in the shot put and second in the discus. Senior Anthony Bricker leads the Colony boys into the NLC meet. Bricker is ranked No. 1 in both hurdle events.

Region III-4A Leaders

Boys

100 meters — 1. J. McCall, Pal 11.47; 1. (tie) J. Suonvieri, Sky 11.47; 3. R. McFarlin, Kod 11.58; 4. A. White, Sky 11.59; 5. R. Kalke, Hom 11.64; 6. C. Buzby, Hou 11.72; 7. C. Foster, Col 11.74; 8. J. Corpuz, Kod 11.77.

200 — 1. J. McCall, Pal 23.09; 2. C. Schneider, Sol 23.53; 3. J. Suonvieri, Sky 23.60; 4. C. Foster, Col 23.64; 5. A. White, Sky 23.65; 6. R. McFarlin, Kod 23.75; 7. A. Bricker, Col 23.80; 8. G. Cubbedge, Kod 23.91.

400 — 1. C. Schneider, Sol 52.31; 2. R. McFarlin, Kod 52.60; 3. J. Fogle, Kod 52.73; 4. C. Nymyer, Kod 52.76; 5. J. Day, Pal 53.63; 6. M. Johnston, Was 53.72; 7. A. Agosti, Ken 53.75; 8. R. Reynolds, Sky 54.01.

800 — 1. J. Fogle, Kod 2:00.79; 2. J. Osowski, Kod 2:01.89; 3. J. Day, Pal 2:04.04; 4. M. Minturn, Pal 2:04.41; 5. N. Deer, Kod 2:06.30; 6. C. Williams, Sky 2:07.50; 7. D. Rozak, Sky 2:08.47.

1,600 — 1. J. Osowski, Kod 4:29.96; 2. N. Deer, Kod 4:32.16; 3. C. Christiansen, Kod 4:40.37; 4. J. Fogle, Kod 4:40.81; 5. M. Minturn, Pal 4:42.24; 6. C. Williams, Sky 4:46.40.

3,200 — 1. C. Christiansen, Kod 9:55.16; 2. N. Deer, Kod 9:59.90; 5. J. Osowski, Kod 10:20.88; 6. C. Osiensky, Pal 10:25.06; 7. C. Williams, Sky 10:29.53; 8. J. Pahkala, Was 10:30.60.

110 hurdles — 1. A. Bricker, Col 16.03; 2. N. Sterns, Kod 17.26; 3. C. Gardner, Pal 17.99; 4. T. Smylie, Pal 17.99; 5. J. Sandahl, Ken 18.11; 6. B. Sparks, Sky 18.15; 7. G. Elder, Hou 18.20.

300 hurdles — 1. A. Bricker, Col 41.48; 2. J. Day, Pal 42.00; 3. M. Wyatt, Hom 43.18; 4. N. Sterns, Kod 44.09; 5. C. Schneider, Sol 44.68; 6. C. Gardner, Pal 44.74.

400 relay — 1. Kodiak 46.12; 2. Palmer 46.13; 3. Wasilla 46.39; 4. Skyview 46.47; 5. Colony 47.81; 6. Houston 47.99; 7. Homer 49.52.

800 relay — 1. Kodiak 1:35.53; 2. Wasilla 1:36.03; 3. Skyview 1:37.00; 4. Kenai 1:37.13; 5. Houston 1:38.60; 6. Colnoy 1:39.79; 7. Palemr 1:40.19; 8. Homer 1:41.12.

1,600 relay — 1. Kodiak 3:32.75; 2. Skyview 3:36.77; 3. Palmer 3:40.87; 4. Wasilla 3:45.18; 5. Kenai 3:48.32; 6. Homer 3:54.70.

3,200 — 1. Kodiak 8:29.87; 2. Palmer 8:30.76; 3. Wasilla 8:43.04; 4. Skyview 8:55.08; 5. Colony 9:20.90; 6. Soldotna 9:31.45; 7. Kenai 9:33.76.

Shot put — 1. D. Teeling, Was 47-3; 2. R. Stewart, Col 44-7; 3. T. Spalding, Ken 44-4.5; 4. R. Kalke, Hom 42-11; 5. K. Scheibe, Pal 42-6.5; 6. A. Rodriguez, Sky 42-5; 7. M. Sega, Kod 42-1.

Discus — 1. T. Spalding, Ken 153-7; 2. D. Teeling, 144-3; 3. D. Sorensen, Pal 122-7; 4. M. Wyatt, Hom 117-2; 5. B. Self, Pal 114-11; 6. T. Minogue, Sol 113-10.

High jump — 1. T. Spalding, Ken 6-6; 2. J. Ulen, Sol 5-8; 2. (tie) C. Schneider, Sol 5-8; 2. (tie) K. Shedd, Sky 5-8; 5. C. Buzby, Hou 5-6; 5. (tie) Co. Buzby, Hou 5-6.

Long jump — 1. J. McCall, Pal 20-8.5; 2. C. Foster, Col 20-2; 3. A. Bricker, Col 19-4; 4. T. Spalding, Ken 19-2.5; 5. C. Schneider, Sol 19-1.5; 6. T. Anderson, Was 19-0.75; 7. L. Turner, Pal 18-2.

Triple jump — 1. T. Spalding, Ken 43-11.75; 2. A. Bricker, Col 41-3.5; 3. T. Anderson, Was 40-3.25; 4. M. Rilatos, Was 40-1.5; 5. M. Minturn, Pal 38-5.25; 6. J. Black, Col 37-11.

Girls leaders

100 meters — 1. D. Harris, Was 12.97; 2. M. Dampier, Was 13.11; 3. J. Nolden, Sol 13.52; 4. B. Beeson, Ken 13.53; 5. T. Holen, Hou 13.57; 6. C. Schleich, Was 13.69; 7. S. Oliver, Kod 13.74; 8. L. Sandahl, Ken 13.77.

200 — 1. M. Dampier, Was 26.18; 2. D. Harris, 27.02; 3. B. Beeson, Ken 27.47; 4. C. Schleich, Was 28.07; 5. J. Nolden, Sol 28.30; 6. T. Holen, Hou 28.34; 7. L. Sandahl, Ken 28.39; 8. B. Mucha, Sol 28.56.

400 — 1. M. Dampier, Was 57.92; 2. B. Beeson, Ken 59.29; 3. G. Winter, Pal 64.51; 4. C. Kiefer, Ken 64.89; 5. M. Barnett, Kod 65.48; 6. B. Mucha, Sol 65.89; 7. A. Hutchins, Was 65.61.

800 — 1. M. Dampier, Was 2:12.27; 2. B. Beeson, Ken 2:20.52; 3. A. Michaelson, Col 2:20.80; 4. A. Hutchins, Was 2:23.40; 5. J. Bethea, Kod 2:24.60; 6. A. Jahn, Col 2:27.42; 7. J. Pahkala, Was 2:30.74; 8. M. Ringgenberg, Was 2:32.13.

1,600 — 1. J. Bethea, Kod 5:11.83; 2. A. Michaelson, Col 5:19.79; 3. M. Dampier, Was 5:24.40; 4. M. Burroughs, Was 5:25.34; 5. J. Ford, Was 5:26.81; 6. J. Pahkala, Was 5:28.28; 7. A. Jahn, Col 5:34.15; 8. S. Minturn, Pal 5:36.51.

3,200 — 1. J. Bethea, Kod 11:08.67; 2. A. Michaelson, Col 11:32.37; 3. M. Burroughs, Was 11:40.01; 4. J. Ford, Was 11:45.18; 5. A. Jahn, Col 11:45.65; 6. H. Bohman, Pal 12:03.20; 7. M. Thompson, Col 12:07.37.

100 hurdles — 1. B. Bohn, Was 16.36; 2. M. Ulen, Sol 16.77; 3. S. Oliver, Kod 16.79; 4. S. DeVito, Ken 17.16; 5. K. Sandahl, Ken 17.28; 6. E. Hollers, Sky 18.19; 7. T. Cabana, Hom 18.33; 8. S. Ng, Kod 18.34.

300 hurdles — 1. B. Bohn, Was 48.87; 2. S. DeVito, Ken 48.93; 3. M. Ulen, Sol 49.38; 4. E. Hollers, Sky 50.88; 5. C. Schleich, Was 51.36; 6. M. Barnett, Kod 51.51; 7. S. Ng, Kod 51.84; 8. L. Sandahl, Ken 52.28.

400 relay — 1. Palmer 54.26; 2. Wasilla 54.73; 3. Soldotna 54.78; 4. Kenai 55.02; 5. Kodiak 55.64; 6. Houston 56.10; 7. Skyview 57.48; 8. Colony 57.63.

800 relay — 1. Wasilla 1:50.02; 2. Soldotna 1:54.80; 3. Kenai 1:55.59; 4. Kodiak 1:57.85; 5. Houston 1:57.90; 6. Palmer 1:58.96; 7. Skyview 2:02.16; 8. Colony 2:02.66.

1,600 relay — 1. Wasilla 4:18.41; 2. Kenai 4:23.17; 3. Palmer 4:23.67; 4. Kodiak 4:33.04; 5. Colony 4:44.77; 6. Soldotna 4:55.71; 7. Homer 4:58.92; 8. Houston 5:02.81.

3,200 relay — 1. Wasilla 10:03.92; 2. Colony 10:10.33; 3. Palmer 10:26.35; 4. Kodiak 10:30.31; 5. Kenia 10:36.69; 6. Soldotna 10:52.65; 7. Skyview 13:10.53.

Shot put — 1. S. Irwin, Col 37-8; 2. E. LaMere, Pal 35-3; 3. A. Imoe, Was 34-6; 4. S. James, Hou 33-4.25; 5. S. Oliver, Kod 32-6; 6. K. Swenson, Col 32-5; 6. (tie) S. Tuisaula, Was 32-5; 8. M. Mahan, Sky 31-8.75.

Discus — 1. S. Irwin, Col 119-10; 2. J. Duke, Sol 107-0; 3. S. James, Hou 106-11; 4. A. Imoe, Was 104-4; 5. R. Huffman, Pal 101-7; 6. M. Parham, Sky 99-6; 7. M. Cristiano, Sol 95-10; R. Young, Ken 93-8.

High jump — 1. T. Bak, Sky 5-4; 2. M. Ulen, Sol 4-10; 3. S. James, Hou 4-8; 3. (tie) J. Jaronik, Col 4-8; 3. (tie) K. Skjold, Sol 4-8; 3. (tie) M. Cunningham, Sky 4-8; 7. K. Smith, Pal 4-6; 7. (tie) T. Stewart, Col 4-6.

Long jump — 1. M. Dampier, Was 15-8.75; 2. T. Bak, Sky 15-6; 3. A. Strick, Was 15-0; 4. D. Harris, Was 14-10.75; 5. L. Zola, Col 14-8; 6. T. Stewart, Col 14-3.75; 7. M. Cunningham, Sky 14-3.5; 8. A. Vincent, Col 14-2.5.

Triple jump — 1. T. Bak, Sky 35-2; 2. D. Harris, Was 34-4.5; 3. A. Strick, Was 33-11.25; 4. M. Dampier, Was 32-4; 5. M. Ulen, Sol 31-6; 6. T. Stewart, 30-9.25; 7. A. Hutchins, Was 30-7; 8. C. Gillespie, Hou 30-2.5.