Valley runners win state XC titles

Sports editor

PALMER -- The results of the 4A boys' cross-country state championships were nearly the same, but just a little bit different as the remainder of the races in the class this season.

Palmer's Aaron Dickson captured the 2002 boys' title and remained unbeaten for the year. Drew Dickson, part of the Dickson triplets at Palmer High School, finished fifth in the race, marking the first time this season that the Dickson duo did not finish in the top two positions in a boys 4A cross-country event.

The Dicksons along with a handful of fellow runners burst out ahead of the pack in the beginning of the race. Aaron began to steadily increase his lead throughout the first lap. As the race progressed Aaron and his brother, who was sporting a bright pink headband, began to separate.

Chugiak's Jesse Cherry was the first to come between the Dicksons. Cherry, the Region IV champion, slid past Aaron midway through the course. A pair of runners followed Cherry and by the time that Drew crossed the finish line he was in the fifth position.

The Dickson brothers each finished in the top 10 of the state meet for the second year in a row, and each improved upon their finish from last year. Aaron finished second in last year's championships, while Drew placed ninth.

Peter Doner was the first Colony Knight to cross the finish line, placing 10th at 16:59. Rory Egelus finished 14th for Palmer at 17:13.

The Dicksons did lead Palmer to a third place finish in the team standings in the boys 4A class. The Moose finished with 104 points. Chugiak won the championship and Kodiak finished second.

Colony finished seventh in the girls 4A race led by the second place finish of Dominique Colberg. Colberg, the Region III girls champion, spent most of the race in a pack that included Skyview's Marci Mohler and Soldotna's Jessica Weimer. The three runners traded positions throughout the final laps of the race. As the race progressed, Colberg's lead over the two Kenai Peninsula runners grew. Once Colberg hit the final stretch, she preserved her lead and her position in the top two. Last year, Mohler sprinted past Colberg in the final stretch of the state meet to beat the Colony runner by less than a second.

West High's Kris Smith spent the entire race ahead of everyone. Smith cruised to her second consecutive state title with a time of 18:40.

Kathleen Lafrance was the first Palmer girl to cross the finish line, placing 30th with a time of 20:41.

East placed four runners in the top 10 en route to the 4A girls team title.