Wasilla girls repeat as state champs; Dampier wins three titles

FAIRBANKS — Last year, the Wasilla Warriors did it with 12. This year, it took only 10.

Wasilla’s terrific 10 powered through the final day Saturday and came from behind to earn its second straight girls track and field crown during the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks.

Wasilla senior standout Morgan Dampier earned three individual titles and the Warriors won a pair of relay events to erase a major deficit in the team standings.

“I could not be more proud of what everyone did today,” Dampier said by cellphone after the meet. “Everyone really put their hearts into it.”

Dampier was one of a pair of Valley athletes to win multiple individual titles. Colony’s Audrey Michaelson won the 3,200 for the second straight year, and also finished first in the 1,600.

With wins in the 200, 400 and 800-meter races and a second-place finish in the 100, Dampier collected 38 team points for the Warriors.

“It was pretty impressive,” Wasilla head coach Gary Howell said of Dampier’s day.

Dampier won all four events at the Region III Championships last week, and heading into the state meet, Howell knew the 100 would be the toughest event for the Division I Sacramento State-bound Dampier.

“We knew that going in. The 100 was her biggest hurdle. It was an elite field,” Howell said.

Bartlett’s Destiny Little won the event with a time of 12.54 seconds, and Dampier was right behind at 12.75.

“I really don’t have any hard feelings. I went out hard. Destiny went out harder and won fair and square,” Dampier said. “I gave it everything I had.”

Even though Dampier finished second in her first race Saturday, she spent plenty of time winning. Later in the afternoon, Dampier used a time of 57.65 to win the 400. Wasilla freshman Peggy Mathis finished second at 58.14. The Wasilla athletes were the only runners in the event to break the minute-mark.

Dampier, the state record holder in the 800 meters, won the 800 for the third straight year. But Michaelson made it a close race. Dampier finished first with a time of 2:20.04, just a hundredth of a second ahead of the Colony runner.

“Everyone knows that Audrey kicks, but I had no idea she was that close to me,” Dampier said.

Dampier capped her day with an impressive finish in the 200. She posted a personal best time of 25.82 seconds en route to the win.

“It was my last race. What the heck, I’ll go all out,” said Dampier, who now has six individual state titles in her career.

Wasilla entered the finals of the running events in ninth place with only six points. Wasilla got an immediate win with its 3,200 relay team. Alysha Devine, Jenna Ford, Riley Burroughs and Mariah Burroughs combined to post a 9:51.15 to edge runner-up Lathrop.

“It was a good way to get the day rolling,” Howell said.

West Valley built an early lead in the team standings, collecting 35 points in the field events. Lathrop had 28 points heading into the running finals.

Bartlett, which finished as the runner-up to Wasilla with 77 points, won a number of races early Saturday to take a big lead in the team standings. The Bears won three straight events — the 100 hurdles, 100 meters and 800 relay. After those three wins, Bartlett sat in first place with 61 points and Wasilla was seventh with 19 points.

“That was not a good place to be,” Howell said.

Howell said he was surprised at how close the race was in the team standings. Despite the major gap in the standings, Wasilla continued to chip away at Bartlett’s lead, and took its first official lead in the team standings after Dampier won the 200. The Warriors padded their advantage winning the final event of the day, the 1,600 relay. Ford, Jessica Pahkala, Peggy Mathis and Mariah Burroughs combined to win that race.

Wasilla was able to earn big points in the 800. In addition to Dampier winning the race, Pahkala was fourth and Mariah Burroughs finished sixth. That was good for 15 points. Wasilla also scored 18 team points in the 400 with Dampier’s win and Mathis’ runner-up finish.

Mathis was also a points machine for Wasilla, earning 30 team points for WHS.

“Thirty points from a freshman is unheard of,” said Dampier, who was also named the meet’s Most Outstanding Athlete.

Mathis was second in the 400 and 800, fourth in the 200, and helped Wasilla win the 1,600 relay.

Alysha Devine also finished in the 300 hurdles and Sariah Tuisaula was fifth in the shot put.

The state title was extra sweet for Howell, who announced that this is his last season as the head coach of the Wasilla track and field team. Howell, and English teacher at Wasilla High, said he’s accepted a new position at Mat-Su Career and Technical School.

“Proud does not even begin to explain. This is a really great way to cap the season for me personally. This is an awesome way to go out as a coach,” Howell said.

Wasilla finished with 94 points in the team standings.

Michaelson now owns three individual state titles after wins in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Friday, Michaelson won the 3,200 for the second straight year, with a time of 11:04.22. She beat runner-up Sarah Freistone of Dimond by seven seconds. Freistone had held the top time in the state in the event this season. Saturday, Michaelson won the 1,600 with a mark of 5:03.45.

“Audrey ran an incredible time in the mile,” Howell said of the Colony runner.

Michaelson beat the prior season state best by about nine seconds.

Palmer senior Rachael Huffman led the Moose with a pair of runner-up finishes in the throwing events. On Friday, Huffman hit 105 feet, 4 inches to finish second in the discus. Her mark of 36-8.75 placed her second in the shot put. Palmer junior Taylor Blake finished fourth in the shot put.

Wasilla senior Devon Teeling posted a pair of top-3 finishes in the throwing events. Teeling, who swept the throws at the Region III meet in each of the last two years, was second in the shot put on Friday, with a throw of 48 feet. He finished third in the discus.

Palmer senior Ben Self was third in the shot put and seventh in the discus.

Palmer posted a second-place finish in the 3,200 relay. Mason Minturn, Ben King, Andrew Liebing and Joe Day teamed to run a time of 8:07.63 in the event. Their time was about seven seconds better than the state’s regular season best, but a second of the pace of first-place Kodiak.

Day was also the runner-up in the 800, with a time of 1:55.02. Kodiak’s Jordan Fogle edged Day with a mark of 1:54.86.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships

Friday-Saturday, Fairbanks

Girls team scores:

1. Wasilla 94; 2. Bartlett 77; 3. West Valley 60; 4. Lathrop 43; 5. Service 35; 6. Dimond 34; 7. Chugiak 31; 8. Colony 28; 9. Soldotna 26; 10. Palmer 24; 11. West 18; 12. Kenai 16; 13. East 14; 14. Eagle River 12; 15. South 11; 16. Homer 3; 17. Kodiak 1.

Girls individual results:

100 — 1. D. Little, Bar 12.54; 2. M. Dampier, Was 12.75; 3. A. Allen, Lat 12.88; 4. D. Harris, Ser 12.89; 5. H. Souders, Ser 12.89; 6. L. Ashmore, WV 13.25; 7. L. Ashmore, Dim 13.28; 8. T. Holen, Hou 13.93.

200 — 1. M. Dampier, Was 25.82; 2. D. Little, Bar 26.16; 3. H. Souders, Ser 26.28; 4. P. Mathis, Was 26.34; 5. A. Allen, Lat 26.56; 6. S. Warners, ER 27.07; 7. A. Saxon, Col 27.14; 8. J. Bozeman, Dim 27.31.

400 — 1. M. Dampier, Was 57.65; 2. P. Mathis, Was 58.14; 3. E. Acquistapace, WV 1:00.15; 4. B. Mucha, Sol 1:01.29; 5. B. Bookout, Chu 1:01.50; 6. M. Imig, Dim 10:02.36; 7. C. Cox, Col 1:02.94; 8. E. Wheatall, Ser 1:04.46.

800 — 1. M. Dampier, Was 2:20.04; 2. A. Michaelson, Col 2:20.05; 3. B. Beeson, Ken 2:20.57; 4. J. Pahkala, Was 2:20.91; 5. R. Roelle, West 2:21.00; 6. M. Burroughs, Was 2:22.49; 7. S. Friestone, Dim 2:25.41; 8. S. Kirk, 2:25.70.

1,600 — 1. A. Michaelson, Col 5:03.45; 2. P. Mathis, Was 5:08.68; 3. S. Freistone, Dim 5:10.06; 4. K. Culver, South 5:12.91; 5. J. Northey, Ser 5:15.20; 6. J. Pahkala, Was 5:16.45; 7. S. Kirk, South 5:17.10; 8. L. Blanchet, West 5:20.83.

3,200 — 1. A. Michaelson, Col 11:04.22; 2. S. Freistone, Dim 11:11.37; 3. M. Edic, Lat 11:14.94; 4. J. Ford, Was 11:16.80; 5. K. Mondl, ER 11:19.23; 6. J. Northey, Ser 11:19.96.

400 relay — 1. Bartlett (M. Kueter, R. Smith, T. Kueter, D. Little) 50.38; 2. Service 51.64; 3. East 51.67; 4. West Valley 51.93; 5. Palmer 52.96; 6. Chugiak 53.23; 7. Lathrop 53.90; 8. Juneau 53.91.

800 relay — 1. Bartlett (M. Kueter, Smith, T. Kueter, D. Little) 1:46.66; 2. West Valley 1:47.52; 3. Service 1:50.05; 4. Dimond 1:50.29; 5. Palmer 1:52.07; 6. Chugiak 1:52.57; 7. Juneau 1:54.71.

1,600 relay — 1. Wasilla (Ford, M. Burroughs, Pahkala, Mathis) 4:09.49; 2. Kenai 4:09.92; 3. West 4:13.73; 4. West Valley 4:15.80; 5. Dimond 4:19.29; 6. South 4:24.76; 7. Juneau 4:32.83.

3,200 relay — 1. Wasilla (Devine, R. Burroughs, Ford, M. Burroughs) 9:51.15; 2. Lathrop 9:51.51; 3. Dimond 9:51.64; 4. West 9:57.85; 5. Kenai 10:09.76; 6. Kodiak 10:10.00.

100 hurdles — 1. R. Smith, Bar 14.89; 2. M. Kueter, Bar 15.56; 3. K. Williams, Ser 16.38; 4. M. Ulen, Sol 16.59; 5. S. Jackson, WV 16.78; 6. S. Simpson, West 17.14; 7. M. Vaitohi, Dim 17.20; 8. L. Sandahl, Ken 17.48.

300 hurdles — 1. R. Smith, Bar 45.19; 2. D. Inch, East 47.42; 3. S. Warners, ER 47.80; 4. A. Devine, Was 48.37; 5. M. Vaitohi, Dim 48.70; 6. M. Winchester, WV 49.39; 7. C. Brice, WV 50.22; 8. M> Barnett, Kod 50.35.

High jump — 1. M. Kueter, Bar 5-2; 2. M. Drange, WV 5-1; 3. J. Martellaro, WV 5-1; 4. C. Franz, WV 5-1; 5. S. Warners, ER 5-0; 6. T. Kueter, Bar 5-0; 7. M. Ulen, Sol 5-0; 8. B. Walker, Dim 4-8.

Long jump — 1. A. Allen, Lat 17-8.5; 2. A. Collins, Chu 15-6.25; 3. J. Nolden, Sol 15-2.75; 4. T. Cabana, Hom 14-8.5; 4. (tie) R. Gregg, Chu 14-8.5; 6. S. Warners, ER 14-8; 7. K. Treder, West 14-7.25; 8. J. White, Lat 14-5.

Triple jump — 1. A. Allen, Lat 38-10.25; 2. A. Collins, Chu 34-6.75; 3. L. Zakurdaew, South 33-4.5; 4. L. Klueber, Dim 32-6; 5. A. Reitz, Chu 32-01; 6. M. Drange, WV 31-4.5; 7. K. Treder, West 31-3.25; 7. (tie) S. Simpson, West 31-3.25.

Shot put — 1. L. Wong, Sol 37-1.25; 2. R. Huffman, Pal 36-3.75; 3. S. Swenson, WV 5-11; 4. T. Blake, Pal 35-4.5; 5. S. Tuisaula, Was 34-1; 6. L. Klueber, Dim 33-7.5; 7. M. Anderson, Dim 32-9.75; 8. T. Dunbar, East 32-9.5.

Discus — 1. S. Swanson, WV 107-7; 2. R. Huffman, Pal 105-4; 3. M. McVee, Chu 102-7; 4. K. French, West 100-0; 5. H. Cristiano, Sol 98-10; 6. M. Burbank, Lat 98-0; 7. A. Imoe, Was 97-0; 8. L. Manu, East 96-9.

Boys team scores:

1. Bartlett 101; 2. Lathrop 70; 3. West 48; 3. (tie) Chugiak 48; 5. Dimond 39; 6. Kodiak 36; 7. South 33; 8. West Valley 24; 9. Palemr 22; 10. East 21; 10. (tie) Service 21; 12. Wasilla 19; 13. Juneau 14; 14. North Pole 10; 15. Skyview 8; 16. Thunder Mountain 6; 17. Houston 4; 18. Soldotna 1; 18. (tie) Houston 1; 18. (tie) Ketchikan 1.

Boys individual results:

100 — 1. K. Honore, Bar 11.36; 2. H. Desmond, Lat 11.36; 3. J. Pessetto, South 11.55; 4. D. Anderson, WV 11.56; 5. B. McKoy, Bar 11.65; 6. P. Kott, ER 11.72; 7. F. Mobley, South 11.81; 8. Ch. Buzby, Hou 11.81.

200 — 1. D. Brunson, Bar 22.58; 2. J. Pudlo, South 22.67; 3. K. Honore, Bar 22.68; 4. L. Wright, NP 22.73; 5. H. Desmond, Lat 22.96; 6. A. White, Sky 23.38; 7. J. Pessetto, South 23.49; 8. K. Brown, Ser 23.59.

400 — 1. D. Brunson, Bar 50.43; 2. J. Miller, Jun 50.63; 3. L. Wright, NP 50.83; 4. C. Kveseth, Chu 51.17; 5. Co. Buzby, Hou 51.95; 6. K. Thompson, Ket 52.36; 7. K. Roylance, West 52.79; 8. M. Moore, WV 52.87.

800 — 1. J. Fogle, Kod 1:54.86; 2. J. Day, Pal 1:55.02; 3. K. Hanson, lat 1:57.92; 4. R. Kornkven, Lat 1:59.10; 5. K. English, TM 2:00.40; 6. B. Kowalski, WV 2:01.01; 7. T. Dolan, Bar 2:01.32; 8. W. Early, Bar 2:04.36.

1,600 — 1. M. Romey, Ser 4:21.75; 2. P. Noon, WV 4:22.82; 3. K. Hanson, Lat 4:24.10; 4. K. English, TM 4:24.55; 5. L. Thomet, Kod 4:28.82; 6. M. Huffman, South 4:23.55; 7. J. Frr, East 4:35.01; 8. C. Christiansen, Kod 4:36.27.

3,200 — 1. M. Romey, Ser 9:29.78; 2. L. Thomet, Kod 9:34.40; 3. C. Christiansen, Kod 9:41.49; 4. P. Noon, WV 9:43.96; 5. K. Hanson, Lat 9:59.44; 6. J. Farr, East 10:03.76; 7. E. Hoefler, EV 10:04.77; 8. T. Turney, Ser 10:08.20.

400 relay — 1. Bartlett (Honore, McKoy, Predmore, Showalter) 43.76; 2. South 43.91; 3. Dimond 44.04; 4. East 44.47; 5. West Valley 44.67; 6. Skyview 45.38; 7. Thunder Mountain 46.66.

800 relay — 1. Bartlett (Honore, McKoy, Predmore, Showalter) 1:31.03; 2. Chugiak 1:31.42; 3. East 1:32.53; 4. Lathrop 1:32.79; 5. Dimond 1:3.95; 6. Houston 1:34.56; 7. Skyivew 1:35.49; 8. Juneau 1:36.19.

1,600 relay — 1. Chugiak (Rohde, Keith, Wenzl, Kveseth) 3:28.60; 2. West 3:28.71; 3. Skyview 3.31.32; 4. Bartlett 3:32.84; 5. Dimond 3:35.84; 6. West Valley 3:36.00; 7. Lathrop 3:36.11; 8. Ketchikan 3:47.48.

3,200 relay — 1. Kodiak 8:06.43; 2. Palmer 8:07.63; 3. Lathrop 8:11.79; 4. Bartlett 8:19.63; 5. West 8:23.20; 6. Dimond 8:25.01; 7. Service 8:27.80; 8. Thunder Mountain 9:00.39.

110 hurdles — 1. T. Rohde, Chu 14.61; 2. T. Showalter, Bar 14.93; 3. P. Pena, West 15.33; 4. A. West, South 15.79; 5. L. Elliott, West 15.79; 6. J. Corr, Dim 15.98; 7. L. Graham, WV 16.84.

300 hurdles — 1. T. Rohde, Chu 39.34; 2. J. Corr, Dim 40.52; 3. W. Ellis, South 41.09; 5. L. Graham, WV 42.06; 6. B. Bayne, Hou 42.10; 7. J. Fox, Lat 42.28; 8. A. West, South 42.52.

High jump — 1. T. Gladden, Lat 6-2; 2. C. Bryant, Lat 5-10; 3. L. Elliott, West 5-10; 4. L. Brown, West 5-10; 5. K. Roylance, West 5-8; 6. J. Ulen, Sol 5-8; 7. C. Parker, Dim 5-6; 8. R. Jorgensen, Chu 5-6.

Long jump — 1. M. Tate, Lat 21-3; 2. R. Predmore, Bar 20-11.75; 3. J. Miller, Jun 19-10.5; 4. R. Pace, West 19-7.5; 5. K. Bullard, Dim 19-5; 6. A. Pearce, Ser 19-4.25; 7. T. Gladden, Lat 19-2.25; 8. T. Smith, Hom 19-0.25.

Triple jump — 1. R. Predmore, Bar 43-5.25; 2. J. Lyons, Bar 41-9.5; 3. D. Keith, Chu 41-6; 4. K. Bullard, Dim 40-11.25; 5. T. Gladden, Lat 40-9.25; 6. T. Anderson, Was 40-9; 7. S. Jones, Dim 40-6.75; 8. M. Rilatos, Was 39-10.25.

Shot put — 1. M. Tosi, East 49-4.75; 2. D. Teeling, Was 48-0; 3. B. Self, Pal 46-3.25; 4. W. Harren, Was 46-1.5; 5. R. Garris-Shoemaker, WV 45-3.5; 6. A. Reno, Bar 45-3.25; 7. L. Tullmasealii, West 44-6.5; 8. A. Rodriguez, Sky 43-4.5.

Discus — 1. T. Holtman, West 158-0; 2. B. Corpuz, Dim 141-2; 3. D. Teeling, Was 140-6; 4. M. Deldonno, Dim 134-11; 5. P. Owens, lat 132-1; 6. V. Charoonsophonsak, Dim 124-5; 7. B. Self, Pal 123-4; 8. T. Tosi, East 120-10.