Anchorage Daily News

PALMER -- With the warm afternoon sun glaring off at Machetanz Field, Trevor Dunbar of Kodiak raised both arms in bliss, flashing two fingers on each hand as he crossed the finish line in record time.

The sign Dunbar displayed to the huge crowd at Palmer High -- where the state cross-country running meet was held Saturday for the first time in four years -- represented so many story lines.

The junior finished the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 36 seconds to break a 15-year-old course record on the Michael Janecek Running Trails.

He won his second straight Class 4A boys title and lead his Bears to another team title.

"Two times," Dunbar said. "Back-to-back state championships, and two for me."

Then Juneau-Douglas' Leah Francis captured her second consecutive state title in the 4A girls race. Only a sophomore, Francis finished the 5-K course in 18:52.

Her team finished third behind the West Eagles, who dethroned the three-time defending state champion West Valley Wolfpack to capture the program's first state championship -- girls or boys.

"This has been a monkey on our backs for the past 40 years," West coach Joe Alward said about Anchorage's oldest high school. "My girls finally went out on a big high note."

He wasn't kidding.

Senior Shoshana Keegan's fourth-place finish led five Eagles who placed top 15. When told her team wrapped up first place, Keegan and company couldn't contain themselves.

"Really?" Keegan asked.

"Really?" teammate Ariel Roelle repeated.

Both girls let out ear-piercing screams that practically echoed off the football stands here at Machetanz Field. Years of heart-breaking runner-up finishes behind West Valley were over.

Francis, on the other hand, has yet to experience second place. As a freshman, she won last year's state meet at Skyview High by 13 seconds.

On Saturday, she nearly tripled her margin of victory after defeating former 4A champion Crystal Pitney of West Valley by 37 seconds.

Her secret? She uses the pressure of big meets for an edge.

"I was really nervous," she said, "throwing up at the starting line, shaking like a leaf.

"(But) I like being nervous," she added. "I think it's necessary because I need pressure to perform. Otherwise, it's just another workout."

From the moment the starting pistol fired, Francis never trailed. At one point early in the race, she held a 100-meter lead over Keegan and Pitney, who raced elbow-to-elbow, battling for second.

Pitney, a senior, finished second in 19:29, followed by Juneau senior Kirsten Jorgensen (19:35) and Keegan (19:42).

As for Dunbar, less than a month ago he won the 5-K Palmer Invitational in 16:18 here on a wet and cold afternoon. After the meet, the course was trashed.

So for the next three weeks, state meet director Mike Janecek and other race officials scrambled to get Palmer High's trails in shape for the 400 runners expected Saturday.

They dumped and compacted 140 yards of sand along the clay course, which Janecek described as having the consistency of chewy peanut butter after the early September rains.

"It was so gooey," he said.

But thanks to Saturday's sunshine, the course was dry as a bone -- perfect conditions for records.

"Considering (Dunbar) ran a bump over 16 in four inches of mud, we knew if the weather was nice, the record was going down," Janecek said.

Waking up to hardly a cloud in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley sky, Dunbar felt he could break the high school state record held by Dimond's Miguel Gomez of Dimond in 1993, and David Dyer of Lathrop in 1992.

But he didn't run so quick to beat his old man's record. Dunbar's father and coach, Marcus, set the all-time course record of 15:31 in the mid-1990s.

A nine-year coach at Kodiak, Marcus couldn't be any prouder of his son, who defeated South's Aaron Fletcher by 27 seconds.

"He's been running well all year long," Marcus said. "And he definitely wanted to get the record."

Coach Marcus seldom says a thing about his son's running form or his motivation.

"I don't have to push him at all -- I just let him keep doing what he's doing," Marcus said. "I don't want to screw him up.

"He sets big goals for himself and goes after them."

His only goal Saturday was to pull ahead of Fletcher and Palmer's Jake Parisien, whom Dunbar paced for the first couple of kilometers.

But Fletcher, who also finished second behind Dunbar at last year's state meet, knows the Kodiak runner all too well.

"There's nothing you can do about it but be ready for it," Fletcher said about Dunbar's style.

After the 3-K mark, Fletcher said Dunbar typically takes off, shifting his lanky legs to a faster gear. On Saturday, Dunbar did it 1-K earlier.

"Once I got a gap," Dunbar said, "I just wanted to make it bigger and really go for a fast time. I wanted to set the record."

Dunbar said he broke the 15-year-old mark for all those in Kodiak who couldn't make the trip north.

And maybe next year, he'll cross the finish line flashing one extra digit on each hand.

"Next year I hope I can get three," Dunbar said.

Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

ASAA/First National Bank Alaska

Class 4A Boys

Team -- 1) Kodiak 53; 2) Colony 117; 3) West Valley 136; 4) Palmer 136; 5) Juneau-Douglas 139; 6) West 140 7) Skyview 141; 8) Service 141; 9) South 199; 10) Dimond 204; 11) Lathrop 227.

Individual -- 1) Dunbar, Trevor, Kodiak, 15:36.43; 2) Fletcher, Aaron, South, 16:03.78; 3) Parisien, Jake, Palmer, 16:35.33; 4) Salus, Sam, Kodiak, 16:36.33; 5) Hoefler, Werner, West Valley, 16:45.74; 6) Wick, Mason, Colony, 16:48.21; 7) Estes, Will, West, 16:56.02; 8) Brown, Hunter, Juneau, 16:57.33; 9) Sliwa, Jimmy, Wasilla, 16:59.56; 10) Ford, Jeff, Colony, 17:04.01; 11) Hanley, Ryan, Dimond, 17:08.31; 12) Anthony, Dylan, Kodiak, 17:10.65; 13) Honer, Tommy, Skyview, 17:10.99; 14) Garcia, Benny, Kodiak, 17:17.00; 15) Smith, Kevin, Palmer, 17:20.57; 16) Talbot, Cole, Service, 17:21.42; 17) Husa, Lauri, Palmer, 17:22.36; 18) Talbot, Silas, Service, 17:28.14; 19) Brown, Mitchell, Dimond, 17:28.44; 20) Moerlein, Mike, Skyview, 17:30.21; 21) Kjera, Ian, Lathrop, 17:33.08; 22) Thibodeau, Sage, Juneau, 17:33.44; 23) Tanner, Josh, West Valley, 17:33.88; 24) Gray, Dave, Colony, 17:34.36; 25) Cubbedge, Colton, Kodiak, 17:40.14;

26) Phelps, Cody, Service, 17:40.55; 27) Heinrichs, Caleb, Kodiak, 17:42.12; 28) Remington, Jacob, West Valley, 17:44.45; 29) Cook, Johnny, Skyview, 17:44.90; 30) Updike, Lucas, Ketchikan, 17:45.44; 31) Roelle, Hans, West, 17:47.16; 32) Enloe, Tanner, Colony, 17:48.68; 33) Silva, Anthony, Skyview, 17:49.25; 34) Bearden, Taylor, West Valley, 17:51.39; 35) Luch, Brent, West, 17:52.52; 36) Kalbfleisch, Derek, Bartlett, 17:52.98; 37) Bursell, Zach, Juneau, 17:53.78; 38) Zinck, Ethan, West, 17:56.51; 39) Rulien, Taylor, West, 17:56.86; 40) Ord, Nathan, Juneau, 17:57.29; 41) Goodman, Dane, Service, 17:57.68; 42) Browning, Gus, Juneau, 17:58.32; 43) Odegaard, Alex, West, 17:58.73; 44) Smith, Cameron, Dimond, 18:01.33; 45) Kirchner, Brian, South, 18:02.66; 46) Chamberlain, Baruch, Wasilla, 18:03.41; 47) Hovda, Gerry, Lathrop, 18:04.08; 48) Updike, Isaac, Ketchikan, 18:04.70; 49) Woodby, Robin, Juneau, 18:07.03; 50) Davis, Anthony, Lathrop, 18:07.33;

51) Fowler, Nick, Service, 18:07.64; 52) Harpel, Christian, South, 18:08.10; 53) Manglesdorf, Wylie, Palmer, 18:09.07; 54) Jensen, John, Colony, 18:10.83; 55) Kisken, Sawyer, West Valley, 18:11.72; 56) Alguire, Coleman, Ketchikan, 18:13.19; 57) Clancy, Keith, Skyview, 18:19.55; 58) Murphy, Kendall, South, 18:20.51; 59) Blott, Justin, Kodiak, 18:21.41; 60) Guth, Anthony, Skyview, 18:21.91; 61) Montgomery, Kevin, Palmer, 18:22.20; 62) Jonas, Spencer, South, 18:24.65; 63) Stoops, Daniel, Juneau, 18:30.27; 64) Nugent, Pat, Lathrop, 18:34.69; 65) Reimer, Alex, Colony, 18:35.26; 66) Durst, David, West Valley, 18:39.23; 67) Bishop, Kevin, Lathrop, 18:39.64; 68) Mayo, Wyatt, West Valley, 18:42.08; 69) Ray, Joshua, North Pole, 18:43.04; 70) Janorschke, Alex, Skyview, 18:44.22; 71) Ginn, Zach, Lathrop, 18:44.60; 72) Traver, Scott, Service, 18:45.25; 73) Wheeler, Scott, West, 18:46.29; 74) Carpenter, Kyle, Dimond, 18:48.54; 75) Alward, Jake, Dimond, 18:52.67;

76) Samse, Tyler, Bartlett, 18:56.77; 77) Bailly, Jordan, South, 18:59.18; 78) Dewilde, Gavin, North Pole, 19:00.29; 79) Campbell, Kevin, Dimond, 19:06.88; 80) Kelly, Logan, Service, 19:09.44; 81) Culver, Robinson, South, 19:18.59; 82) Hovda, Robert, Lathrop, 19:18.87; 83) Peshel, Rick, Colony, 19:23.57; 84) LaRue, Lance, Palmer, 19:26.46; 85) Lee, Kyle, Dimond, 19:44.09.

Class 4A Girls

Team -- 1) West 45; 2) Juneau-Douglas 64; 3) West Valley 82; 4) Wasilla 127; 5) Service 150; 6) Chugiak 172; 7) South 203; 8) Colony 203; 9) Kodiak 206; 10) Skyview 210; 11) North Pole 278.

Individual -- 1) Francis, Leah, Juneau, 18:52.72; 2) Pitney, Crystal, West Valley, 19:29.25; 3) Jorgensen, Kirsten, Juneau, 19:35.34; 4) Keegan, Shoshana, West, 19:42.99; 5) Luch, Letitia, West, 19:43.30; 6) Rorabaugh, Marisa, West Valley, 19:43.88; 7) Bronga, Jamie, East, 19:44.61; 8) O'Guinn, Ivy, Skyview, 19:50.42; 9) Kennedy, Esther, Service, 19:51.96; 10) Reed, Abby, Kodiak, 19:55.32; 11) Nelson, Kendra, Wasilla, 19:55.86; 12) Luch, Marcelyn, West, 20:04.66; 13) Liotta, Annie, West, 20:09.29; 14) Gerik, Danielle, West, 20:09.76; 15) Ivanoff, Chole, Kodiak, 20:10.91; 16) Teslow, Kayla, West Valley, 20:18.41; 17) Krehlik, Katie, Juneau, 20:20.70; 18) Schmitz, Christi, North Pole, 20:22.72; 19) Lutz, Jacquie, Palmer, 20:23.69; 20) Renteria, Jennifer, Chugiak, 20:25.72; 21) Benedix, Jana, Lathrop, 20:26.18; 22) McPhetres, Kryston, Chugiak, 20:26.78; 23) Miller, Leigh, Juneau, 20:27.16; 24) Simpson, Malia, West Valley, 20:31.27; 25) Kroloff, Emma, Service, 20:35.48;

26) Bialka, Katie, Wasilla, 20:40.86; 27) Ord, Annika, Juneau, 20:42.81; 28) Watkins, Molly, Kenai, 20:48.29; 29) Gross, Jessica, Wasilla, 20:49.99; 30) Nelson, Brooke, Wasilla, 20:50.42; 31) Hitz, Hilary, South, 20:51.82; 32) Bush, Isabel, Juneau, 20:54.67; 33) Roelle, Ariel, West, 20:57.30; 34) Dalton, Anna, West, 20:57.64; 35) Stewart, Sydney, Colony, 20:58.00; 36) Lucas, Marquee, Skyview, 20:59.66; 37) Doner, Heidi, Colony, 21:00.10; 38) Laughlin, Liza, Colony, 21:02.20; 39) Nees, Roskia, Service, 21:03.72; 40) Lee, Heather, South, 21:15.29; 41) Lange, Katherine, Chugiak, 21:15.57; 42) Callahan, Molly, West Valley, 21:15.87; 43) Bailey, Mychaela, Service, 21:16.74; 44) Houchen, Sarah, Palmer, 21:17.22; 45) Ortiz, Molly, Ketchikan, 21:18.63; 46) Wick, Maria, Colony, 21:18.94; 47) Backstrum, Kate, South, 21:19.73; 48) Boger, Wendy, West Valley, 21:20.39; 49) Kelley, Alison, Wasilla, 21:21.46; 50) Fuller, Elle, Wasilla, 21:21.81;

51) Dineen, Jordan, South, 21:24.08; 52) Holloran, Madison, Service, 21:28.04; 53) McPhetres, Alyson, Chugiak, 21:29.97; 54) Ottoson-McKeen, Alice, Juneau, 21:30.31; 55) King, Kristen, Eagle River, 21:35.39; 56) Allen, Sarah, Service, 21:37.92; 57) Hutchison, Michaela, Skyview, 21:41.12; 58) Cunningham, Kayla, Chugiak, 21:41.62; 59) Spann, Rita, North Pole, 21:42.85; 60) Loan, Kinsey, Chugiak, 21:44.82; 61) Paustian, Kari, Sitka, 21:45.16; 62) Yeaton, Jessica, South, 21:46.00; 63) Seal, Amanda, Chugiak, 21:46.82; 64) Gibbs, Brianna, Kodiak, 21:47.88; 65) Crews, Laura, South, 21:49.23; 66) Egle, Amelia, Kodiak, 21:52.37; 67) Janorschke, Megan, Skyview, 21:53.12; 68) Muller-Stubblefield, Krystal, Service, 21:55.32; 69) Bowers, Aurora, West Valley, 22:05.98; 70) Millay, Mallory, Skyview, 22:06.84; 71) Wilhelm, Tara, Ketchikan, 22:08.53; 72) Wettin, Stephanie, South, 22:17.27; 73) Greaves, Shelayne, Ketchikan, 22:23.02; 74) Spencer, Nikki, North Pole, 22:27.47; 75) Bowker, Megan, Colony, 22:28.23;

76) Skvorc, Caitlin, Colony, 22:30.38; 77) Jahn, Abby, Colony, 22:43.89; 78) Fowler, Kelsea, Skyview, 22:52.73; 79) Roe, Christy, Kodiak, 22:57.00; 80) Fried, Jenni, Kodiak, 23:11.27; 81) May, Sophie, North Pole, 23:15.48; 82) Ripley, Emily, Wasilla, 23:24.68; 83) DelosSantos, Annalise, Kodiak, 23:29.62; 84) Holladay, Anita, North Pole, 23:31.30; 85) Bornmann, Clara, North Pole, 23:52.82.