At state track meet, torch is passed from one generation to another

PALMER – Along with her cleats and other assorted gear, West Valley freshman Kendall Kramer brought a piece of history to this weekend's state track and field championships.

It was a picture of her dad, Mike Kramer, winning a race at the 1986 state championships.

"It's an extra little boost for me," she said. "It makes me so proud."

Like daughter, like dad. Mike Kramer, who swept the 1,600 and 3,200 races as a senior at Lathrop High, was oozing with pride Friday when Kendall won a state title by flying to a personal-best time in the Class 4A 3,200-meter race.

With the victory, the Kramers joined an elite club – families with two generations' worth of Alaska state track champions in individual events. Though no official records exist for this particular feat, it's believed six families have pulled it off.

This weekend at Machetanz Field, three past champs were on hand to watch their kids capture state championships.

Joining Kramer were Bruce Jackman, a three-time long jump champion from Kenai Central whose son Josh captured his third straight long jump title on Friday and the 200-meter crown on Saturday, and Doug Herron, the state record-holder in the 800 from Bartlett whose son Camron won Saturday's 800 for West Valley.

"It's way more fun and way more nerve-wracking watching," Bruce Jackman said after Josh took a dramatic, come-from-behind victory in the long jump with the last leap of his high school career.

It was nerve-wracking for Josh too, who confessed that family history contributed a bit of stress.

[Kenai jumper, Galena runner steal show on Day 1 of state track and field]

"I put the pressure on myself this year," he said. "I wanted to get the three-peat like my dad."

Kendall Kramer grew up knowing about the accomplishments of her parents – Susan Kramer is a marathon runner who grew up in Washington – but she steered clear of sports as a little girl.

"I was not interested in running till seventh grade," she said. "I actually despised it. My parents had to force me to go out to run and ski – 'Let's take the dogs out for a run,' 'Come do the Town Races with me.'

"Now I love it and can't go a day without it."

Mike Kramer said he and his wife encouraged Kendall to be active as a little girl, but they never forced her to compete.

"It's got to be her own desire to do it, so were careful not to pressure her and tried to role-model an active lifestyle," Mike said.

Now, Kendall impresses her dad with her drive.

"I've never been as motivated as she is at age 14," Mike said. "I hope she hangs onto that. It comes from within. We can only instill so much."

[Alaska's fast families of track and field]

Richard Welling, a state high jump and triple jump champion for Dimond in 1983, is the father of 2015 Thunder Mountain graduate Naomi Welling, who won multiple state championships in the hurdles and jumping events.

Naomi is competing at Brigham Young now, but Richard was at this week's state meet to watch another daughter, Audrey.

When it came to drawing from his experiences as a high school champion, Richard said he was most concerned about influencing how Naomi acted around her teammates and opponents.

"If anything, it made me want to help her keep it in perspective because I know how you can get a big head," he said. "I told her, 'Make sure you give everyone a hug; give everyone a pat on the back.' ''

For Kendall Kramer and Naomi Welling, their Alaska track DNA comes from their fathers, so there's no talk about whether they will be able to match the first generation's personal records.

Not so for Josh Jackman and Camron Herron. They compete in the same events in which their fathers set huge PRs during high school.

Bruce Jackman set the Region III record in 1987 when he soared 23 feet, 11.5 inches. The leap crushes the current state record of 23-0, but state records can only be set at the state meet.

Josh Jackman's best is 22-4, and while he is motivated by his dad's PR, he tries not to let it weigh on him.

"I think about it all the time, but it's so far out there I try not to let it get into my head too much," he said.

Few marks are as far out there as the state-record 800-meter time of 1:49.2 registered by Bartlett's Doug Herron at the 1985 state championships.

The time was the fastest high school time in the nation that season, and no Alaska runner has sniffed the mark. In Saturday's 800 finals, Camron Herron claimed the championship in a respectable personal-best of 1:56.94.

These days Doug Herron runs a running academy in Anchorage, but he willingly leaves the coaching of Camron in the hands of West Valley coach Dan Callahan.

"He's got a coach, and I'm just there for support," Doug said. "… I've seen it happen too many times where you live vicariously through your kids."

He's content his son found something he likes to do. "He just really enjoys it," he said.

And that, said former Palmer High coach and administrator Mike Janecek, is the ultimate goal of high school athletics – helping kids become active, and hoping they pass it on to the next generation.

"We're all excited to see winners and we all want to win a team championship," Janecek said, "but what we really want is for kids to go away with a lifetime of fitness.

"… It's always been my ambition to pass on that lifestyle of fitness to kids, and for them to pass it on to their children."