Anchorage Daily News

Running all out for 800 meters then running a mile race about 15 minutes later is no easy task. Just ask Palmer's Jake Parisien.

But Parisien, a senior and one of Alaska's top distance runners, did that to spur Palmer to its second straight boys team title during Saturday's 23rd running of the Palmer Relays.

Parisien anchored the mixed distance medley (girls 1,200, girls 400, boys 800, boys 1,600), one of many unusual events that make up the Palmer Relays.

As Parisien took the baton from Thorton DePriest to begin his mile, Palmer was second and Parisien was a good 50 meters behind Colony's Cody Huggins, one of the better milers in the state.

Head to head, Parisien could beat Huggins almost any day. But with Huggins having this big a head start?

To make matters worse, Parisien had just run anchor on the 1,600- meter sprint medley, an exhausting 800 meters. He trailed to begin that race too, but caught up with Colony's Bradley Truax before fading late and finishing second.

He didn't fade this time. Parisien caught Huggins early and maintained a five-second lead to the finish. The win helped Palmer easily defend its title with 119 points. Second-place Colony had 98.

Parisien said he found out just before the races that he would be running an 800 and a 1,600 back to back. Earlier, he anchored Palmer's 1,600 relay, following legs by Ryan Cunningham, Rick LeCheminant and Kevin Smith.

"I was like, 'Dang,' " he said.

Parisien hung with Truax during the 800, but Truax gamely held his lead.

"With 50 meters left, I saw he was going to get it, so I just guided it in," said Parisien, who was trying to save something for the 1,600 coming up next.

Truax also had quite a day, as did his teammates in the 3,200 relay. Truax's critical third leg helped Colony win in 8 minutes, 21.12 seconds, one of the fastest times this year.

Doug Gray and Matt Swan gave Colony the lead, but Truax lost it when a Heritage Christian runner passed him in the first 100 meters.

Truax regained the lead and handed it off to Huggins, who ran a strong anchor to win.

"He's a tough runner," Huggins said. "I knew he would come back. He's got a strong kick. I wasn't too worried."

The Colony and West girls each finished with 87 points to tie for the team title. Colony had just one win, the 1,600-meter freshmen/sophomore sprint medley. Megan Bowker, Hannah Zola, Megan Wilson and Heidi Doner teamed for the victory.

Su Valley won two events. Missy Scott, Kristjana Timmers, Marina Cron and Ashley Evans teamed to win the girls 800 relay, and Caitlin Hunt was the top high jumper at 4 feet, 10 inches.

The Palmer girls team of Monica Nuernberg, Rashayne Zimmer, Geneva Ratcliff and Erika Chambers won the 400 weight-persons relay (1:00.19).

The Wasilla boys team of Beebo Russel, Tim Orr, Robert Cliborn and Christopher Lafe won the weight-persons relay in a decently fast time of 50.44.

Orr, a football player who is no stranger to sprinting, doesn't run much in track. He sticks to practicing for his shot put and discus events.

"We started practicing our handoffs about five minutes before the start," Orr said.

Palmer's Anthony Anderson, Christopher Forkner, Devin Konkler and John Scoresby won the 400 relay (46.02), while Konkler, Forkner, Scoresby and Tony Guzman teamed to win the 800 (1:35.10).

Find Ron Wilmot online at adn.com/contact/rwilmot or call 352-6712.

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