Anchorage Daily News

PALMER -- Grace Christian's cross-country running team has this team concept thing down pat.

Running may ultimately be an individual pursuit, but that doesn't mean team tactics don't come into play during a big meet.

Witness the Grizzlies' victories Saturday at the Class 1-2-3A state meet at Palmer High: the Grace Christian boys captured a third straight team title, while the girls also won to end Seward's two-year reign.

At least one Grace Christian team has won a team title in six of the past eight years.

"We all set goals at the beginning of the year," said Grace Christian head coach Chris Gionet. "But from the first day of practice, it's team concept. From open runners, to a (junior varsity) runner to varsity, they're part of the team. We can have individual goals, but team always comes first."

Led by Holly Kopp's third-place showing, Grace Christian placed four runners in the top 10 and five in the top 15. That gave the Grizzlies a scant 25 points to easily beat second-place Seward (58).

During a race, two runners of similar ability pair up, Gionet said. They might trade off the lead, alternately pushing each other.

"We say, 'Two as one, two as one,' " Gionet said. "The idea is that two runners are going to be stronger than any one runner."

Grace Christian's Jacob Kirk surprised himself by easily winning the boys individual title in 16 minutes, 16.2 seconds -- a time that would have placed him fifth in the big-schools meet.

Kirk was all smiles afterward as he received congratulations from teammates, family and coaches. He finished well ahead of Anchorage Christian Schools' Tyler Andersen (16:48.5) and Cook Inlet Academy's Josh Holly, two formidable foes considered favorites.

"I was not expecting this to happen," said Kirk, a junior who didn't win any races during the regular season until a victory at the Region III meet last week in Skyview.

Kirk said he took the lead within the first kilometer.

"At first I was looking over my shoulder," he said. "But then I was like, 'I'll just run. Just try to go.' "

Kenny Lake freshman Kailey Wilson is the only member of her team, which formed this year. But her victory in the girls 1-2-3A race served as the ultimate recruiting tool.

Wilson won in 19:09.2, and more than a dozen Kenny Lake students were on hand to witness it.

That's a decent turnout considering Kenny Lake's enrollment is fewer than 50 students, according to the Alaska School Activities Association.

Local businesses and a parent-teacher organization donated gas for two school "Fan Vans" so students could make the trip. They flashed signs like "Kailey Wilson: A Class of Her Own" as she pulled ahead of Seward's Allison Barnwell to victory.

First-year coach Jesse Heinbaugh said Wilson trained on trails overlooking the Tonsina River, or along lonely roads near Kenny Lake. Since Tuesday, he said, Wilson has been running in snow.

"It's just the attention that's she's gotten over the season. Some kids have already started to show some interest," Heinbaugh said. "It's showing that we can turn out this caliber of athlete."

Said Wilson: "More people seem to be interested in it now that we've started. The whole school's been really supportive."

Find Ron Wilmot online at adn.com/contact/rwilmot.

ASAA/First National Bank State Cross Country Championships

1-2-3A Girls Team

1) Grace Christian 25; 2) Seward 58; 3) Sitka 107; 4) Bethel 112; 5) Haines 114; 6) Nome Beltz 115; 7) Eielson 170; 8) ACS 235.

1-2-3A Girls Individual

1) Wilson, Kailey, Kenny Lake, 19:09.2; 2) Barnwell, Allison, Seward, 19:23.1; 3) Kopp, Holly, Grace, 20:02.8; 4) Applegate, Mariah, Grace, 20:17.5; 5) Stevenson, Bailey, Su-Valley, 20:28.7; 6) Lende, Stoli, Haines, 20:34.6; 7) Lisac, Jordan, Dillingham, 20:34.9; 8) Dupea, Marjie, Grace, 20:37.0; 9) Jensen, Amanda, Skagway, 20:56.8; 10) Gionet, Jaala, Grace, 21:04.5; 11) Stong, Katie, Port Lions, 21:11.5; 12). Paustian, Kari, Sitka, 21:12.2; 13) Atherton, Kristina, Seward, 21:18.0; 14) Hunter, Jackyln, Scammon Bay, 21:23.7; 15) Davis, BethAnne, Grace, 21:26.8; 16) Hale, Brandi, Mount Edgecumbe, 21:36.2; 17) Bennett, Lizzy, Monroe, 21:40.0; 18) Pellumbi, Eniana, Bethel, 21:42.7; 19) Klejka, Jennifer, Bethel, 21:47.2; 20) Cresap, Sarah, Grace, 21:48.3;

21) Loughlin, Julie Anne, Grace, 21:52.2; 22) Esbenshade, Christina, Yakutat, 22:04.7; 23) Zweifel, Catie, Seward, 22:07.9; 24) Carter, Cori, Tri Valley, 22:10.1; 25) Mocan, Thresia, Nome Beltz, 22:10.9; 26) Schreder, Nicole, Monroe, 22:12.2; 27) Sefton, Kelley, Seward, 22:15.1; 28) Brady, Bailey, Sitka, 22:15.3; 29) Schneider, Jessica, Akiachak, 22:17.6; 30) Lemieux, Jolene, Haines, 22:18.0; 31) Frisch, Lara, Valdez, 22:21.9; 32) Schreder, Megan, Monroe, 22:25.8; 33) Barnwell, Mackenzie, Seward, 22:26.5; 34) Rohlman, Keya, Sitka, 22:28.2; 35) Scott, Missy, Su-Valley, 22:28.5; 36) O'Daniel, Kaylie, Skagway, 22:29.3; 37) Arneson, Sadie, Cook Inlet, 22:36.1; 38) Byman, Meg, Eielson, 22:44.1; 39) Olson, AnnieKate, Nome Beltz, 22:44.9; 40) Luce, Liz, Nome Beltz H, 22:50.1;

41) Larson, Tristen, Valdez, 22:52.0; 42) Rasmussen, Marnie, Haines, 22:56.2; 43) Cleveland, Jerrilyn, Shungnak, 22:59.4; 44) Lemieux, Crystal, Haines, 23:00.9; 45) Horner, Richelle, Nome Beltz, 23:02.5; 46) Beans-Polk, Chelsey, Bethel, 23:08.3; 47) Hickerson, Winona, Kotzebue, 23:09.6; 48) Bauder, Lauren, Cook Inlet, 23:10.9; 49) Rasmussen-Rehkopf, Sarah, Sitka, 23:12.7; 50) Lammer, Renee, Nome Beltz, 23:14.3; 51) Murtiff, Mickey, Eielson, 23:14.7; 52) Burgess, Tammy, Point Hope, 23:15.6; 53) Greene, Crystal, Delta, 23:20.8; 54) McElwee, Christina, Bethel, 23:22.2; 55) Feemster, Samantha, Seward, 23:22.8; 56) Chavez, Charmae, Bethel, 23:24.1; 57) Reed, Julie Ann, Kiana, 23:25.2; 58) Alvanna-Stempfle, Maddy, Nome Beltz, 23:26.5; 59) Lovett, Alyson, Sitka, 23:27.2; 60) Howard, Breanna, Eielson, 23:33.6;

61) Boyd-Griffith, Taylor, Eielson, 23:36.1; 62) Webb, Justine, Sitka, 23:38.9; 63) Medinger, Kathryn, Sitka, 23:41.2; 64) Thompson, Krystal, ACS, 23:43.0; 65) Norcross, Mariann, Seward, 23:46.4; 66) Nash, Crystal, Chevak, 23:54.2; 67) Forbes, Lauren, Bethel, 23:54.7; 68) Erlich, Jamie, Kotzebue, 23:56.1; 69) Agwiak, Tiffany, Mountain Village, 23:57.7; 70) McGill, Amanda, Dillingham, 24:01.8; 71) Daly, Fran, Haines, 24:05.4; 72) Brush, Kelsey, Cook Inlet, 24:06.6; 73) Settle, Cecily, Galena, 24:12.3; 74) Cosca, Billie, Nome Beltz, 24:13.3; 75) Uttereyuk, Carla, Scammon Bay, 24:16.5; 76) Willis, Sabrina, ACS, 24:26.8; 77) Taylor, Chelsea, Eielson, 24:42.0; 78) Winkler, Anitra, Cantwell, 24:51.3; 79) Wrigley, Mallory, Delta, 24:58.9; 80) Belt, MacKenzie, Eielson, 25:32.7; 81) Sorenson, Mackensie, Eielson, 25:33.1; 82) Jaconette, Olivia, ACS, 25:42.9; 83) Thibodeaux, Briana, ACS, 26:10.4; 84) Jimmie, Angel, Nenana, 26:19.9; 85) Meadows, Alex, ACS, 26:21.4; 86) Baker, Rachel, ACS, 26:27.8; 87) Reichard, Madi, Bethel, 26:48.5; 88) Daly, Maggie, Haines, 26:52.4; 89) Jones, Abby, Haines, 28:41.0; 90) Dederick, Kaitlyn, Cook Inlet, 34:46.6.

1-2-3A Boys Team

1) Grace Christian 30; 2) Seward 85; 3) ACS 91; 4) Mount Edgecumbe 121; 5) Chevak 139; 6) Sitka 142; 7) Nome Beltz 162; 8) Tri-Valley 190; 9) Eielson 206; 10) Su Valley 276.

1-2-3A Boys Individual

1) Kirk, Jacob, Grace, 16:16.2; 2) Andersen, Tyler, ACS, 16:48.5; 3) Holly, Josh, Cook Inlet, 16:49.6; 4) Karlberg, Leif, Grace, 16:59.5; 5) Price, Travis, Seward, 17:05.9; 6) Head, Jeremy, Nome Beltz, 17:10.6; 7) Arnold, Andrew, Grace, 17:13.6; 8) Payenna, Teddy, Mount Edgecumbe, 17:17.1; 9) Wilson, Mickey, Skagway, 17:22.5; 10) Best, Nick, Eielson, 17:23.1; 11) Weber, John, Grace, 17:30.2; 12) Coffey, Daniel, Craig, 17:33.9; 13) Paniyak, Harald, Chevak, 17:34.2; 14) Cotter, Caleb, Grace, 17:40.4; 15) Talerico, Andrew, Tri Valley, 17:43.8; 16) Chase, Brett, Seward, 17:44.1; 17) Freidman, Nico, Sitka, 17:44.7; 18) Keeney, George, Valdez, 17:46.6; 19) Arneson, Lars, Cook Inlet, 17:50.9; 20) Howell, Patrick, Wrangell, 17:52.6;

21) Davis, Caleb, Grace, 17:57.3; 22) Charters, Luke, ACS, 17:57.5; 23) LePore, Corbin, Bethel, 18:01.6; 24) Baxter, Ryan, Craig, 18:03.1; 25) Dillon, Joseph, Grace, 18:03.6; 26) Hanson, Randy, Bethel, 18:04.0; 27) Baker, Matt, ACS, 18:05.0; 28) Stooksbury, Stephen, ACS, 18:08.4; 29) Weber, Quinn, Skagway, 18:09.4; 30) Hunter, Jeremy, Scammon Bay, 18:10.3; 31) Tennyson, Reed, Dillingham, 18:10.6; 32) Hughes, Blake, Hutchison, 18:11.7; 33) Rogers, Jesse, Mount Edgecumbe, 18:12.6; 34) Buchanan, Andrew, Seward, 18:14.4; 35) Andrews, Brian, Chevak, 18:15.0; 36) Olsen, Ryan, Haines, 18:17.7; 37) Haddow, Tyler, Seward, 18:23.3; 38) Gillespie, Austin, Seward, 18:27.3; 39) Olson, Blake, Dillingham, 18:33.8; 40) MacIntyre, Stephen, Sitka, 18:35.0;

41) Carter, Jake, Tri Valley, 18:35.9; 42) Kahler, James, Sitka, 18:37.4; 43) Strickland, Sebastian, Nikiski, 18:38.0; 44) Johnson, Steven, Wrangell, 18:38.4; 45) Talerico, Jonathan, Tri Valley, 18:43.9; 46) Copeland, William, Mount Edgecumbe, 18:47.0; 47) Sia, Ian, Mount Edgecumbe, 18:54.7; 48) Ferguson, Conor, Chevak, 18:55.2; 49) Conger, Emerson, Nome Beltz H, 18:55.6; 50) Reich, Brad, Kiana, 18:58.5; 51) Jackson, Martin, Kwethluk, 19:00.5; 52) Weldon, Alex, Eielson, 19:01.5; 53) Woolsey, Sam, Sitka, 19:02.1; 54) Chavez, Ryan, Bethel, 19:05.6; 55) Rogers, Matthew, Mount Edgecumbe, 19:09.1; 56) Williams, Ryan, ACS, 19:13.3; 57) Matchian, Lawrance, Chevak, 19:16.3; 58) Wongittilin, Mikey, Nome Beltz, 19:23.5; 59) Matchian, Thurl, Chevak, 19:24.3; 60) Ballot, Linus, Buckland, 19:24.6;

61) Sullivan, Tim, Nome Beltz, 19:28.2; 62) Ulroan, Warren, Chevak, 19:28.5; 63) Sanders, David, Tanana, 19:28.9; 64) Longridge, Ian, Sitka, 19:30.8; 65) Noratak, Arnold, Mount Edgecumbe, 19:32.3; 66) Figley, Tyler, Su-Valley, 19:33.2; 67) Zweifel, Mike, Seward, 19:33.5; 68) Finn, Matt, ACS, 19:34.5; 69) Field, Tim, Noorvik, 19:34.9; 70) Wongittilin, Jon, Nome Beltz, 19:36.4; 71) Hoch, Dylan, ACS, 19:40.1; 72) Magdanz, Grant, Kotzebue, 19:40.3; 73) Gale, Cooper, Sitka, 19:40.7; 74) Kelley, Bill, Su-Valley, 19:42.9; 75) Johnson, Jordon, Mount Edgecumbe, 19:44.7; 76) Hill, Scott, Nenana, 19:46.9; 77) Gould, Nick, Eielson, 19:49.8; 78) Heintz, John, Delta, 19:51.3; 79) Jacobson, Zach, Eielson, 19:51.8; 80) Solie, Tyler, Cook Inlet, 19:52.4;

81) Herman, Charlie, Delta, 19:55.1; 82) Boyscout, Travis, Chevak, 19:55.5; 83) Blandford, Nathan, Nome Beltz H, 19:57.0; 84) Cloward, Andy, Seward, 20:03.5; 85) Miller, Jared, Kotzebue, 20:06.3; 86) Hamler, Skyler, Su-Valley, 20:08.2; 87) Tirrell, Tony, Delta, 20:10.8; 88) Beier, Christian, Heritage, 20:16.8; 89) Rima, Kevin, Hutchison, 20:22.9; 90) Booshu, Lonny, Nome Beltz, 20:32.9; 91) Burbank, Rocky, Tri Valley, 20:47.3; 92) Brouillard, Ross, Monroe, 20:49.6; 93) Brewer, Chris, Eielson, 21:17.4; 94) Valero, Jeremy, Eielson, 21:18.9; 95) Parry, Brandon, Su-Valley, 21:27.7; 96) Stevenson, Mike, Su-Valley, 21:43.5; 97) Mallula, Billy, Eielson, 21:45.7; 98) Shreeve, Sterling, Tri Valley, 23:20.5; 99) Bloczynski, Lee, Su-Valley, 25:34.6.

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