With the promise of the regular-season finale only two weeks ago, cross country coaches from Eagle River and Chugiak high schools had an opportunity Saturday to see how their athletes stack up, in preparation for the Region IV Championships, slated for Sept. 24
Jon Kehler, Chugiak's coach, was optimistic as to his team's chances, after having his boys varsity team place fifth among Anchorage schools, seventh overall, only 19 points behind Service.
The team was without frontrunner Brandon Gebel, one of the squad's best, because of an emergency appendectomy less than two weeks ago.
"We'll be there right in the middle of things," said Kehler, hoping for the best. "We may rest him for one more week, but Gebel will be back."
Even so, the Mustangs put together a pretty fine finish with John Dunaway (28th), Cody Volk (31st), Forrest Meyen (38th), Jason Murphy (47th) and Ross Voorhees (66th).
The Eagle River girls team was one athlete away from being in the money last Saturday, also placing fifth among local high schools, well behind East.
"(Sara) Juback was sick. She didn't have a good race," said Eagle River coach Ja Dorris of his veteran senior. However, with the solid threesome of Lauren Fritz (22nd), Samantha Rink (26th) and Brittany Mumma (30th), the squad was still competitive.
Dorris was most pleased with the performance of junior Colin Singleton.
"He ran a great race. I'd consider that a breakout race for him," said Doris.
Singleton finished ninth overall with a time of 17:09 over the challenging, undulating course.
Dorris said that in a best-case scenario, he'd like to see Singleton and the girls varsity team advance out of the Region IV championships to the Oct. 1 state meet at Skyview High.
"Stranger things have happened," he quipped. "We would love to send a girls team to state this year."
Kehler acknowledges that the Lady Mustangs are probably a year or two away.
"We have an incredibly young team on the girls - three freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors," said the coach. "In a couple years we could have a state championship team out here."
Kehler said he credited a lot of his team's success to assistant coach John Murphy, who will be leaving the team Saturday to begin his freshman year at Stanford University.
"We're going to have a big party for him after the race Friday," Kehler said. "He's been huge to our team this year. The kids love him."
After the high school race, a community race was held on the same Kincaid course, with Murphy placing second, in less than 16 minutes, said Kehler.
The Mustangs host Eagle River and Service Friday. Races begin at 4 p.m.
Reach the reporter at damorse@ak.net.
Adidas/Lynx XC Race
Saturday, Sept. 10
Girls-Freshmen
Team finish - 1) East, 28; 2) South, 30; 3) West Valley, 75.
No Eagle River or Chugiak High individuals.
Boys-Freshmen
Team finish - 1) South, 19; 2) East, 82; 3) West, 85; 4) Dimond, 91; 5) Lathrop, 100; 6) West Valley, 127.
Chugiak (Ch) and Eagle River (ER) individuals only - 22) Jonathan Blas (Ch), 51) Kevin Jamieson (ER).
Girls Open
Team - 1) Dimond, 56; 2) South, 58; 3) East, 74; 4) Service, 86; 5) West, 97; 6) Chugiak, 157; 7) Anchorage Christian, 197; 8) Bartlett, 236.
Ch and ER individuals only - 22) Candace Blas, Ch, 23:50; 34) Melissa Apodaca, Ch, 24:26; 35) Alice Bradley, Ch, 24:29; 36) Carla Pace, ER, 24:35; 40) Kelsey Platt, ER, 24:50; 47) Chelsey Homan, Ch, 25:11; 48) Rayelene Dougherty, Ch, 25 :22; 54) Chrissy Chapple, Ch, 25:51; 57) Tamara Teller, Ch, 25:57; 60) Jessica Beck, Ch, 25:59; 51) Cari Jamieson, Ch, 26:47; 77) Tae Freeman, ER, 27:16; 82) Rachelle Wood, Ch, 27:38; 96) Ellen Hackenmueller, Ch, 28:42; 98) Kori Radcliffe, Ch, 28:47.
Boys Open
Results not available, computer difficulties
Girls Varsity
Team - 1) West Valley, 47; 2) West, 69; 3) Service, 87; 4) Juneau, 104; 5) South, 112; 6) East, 126; 7) Eagle River, 183; 8) Dimond, 192; 9) Anchorage Christian, 243; 10) Chugiak, 266; 11) Lathrop, 270; 12) Bartlett, 365.
Individuals (top five, other Ch and ER) - 1) Shoshana Keegan, W, 19:28; 2) Katie Krehlik, J, 19:37; 3) Becca Rorabaugh, WV, 19:39; 4) Kirsten Jorgenson, J, 19;41; 5) Jackie Holt, Se, 20:02; 22) Lauren Fritz, ER, 20;58; 26) Samantha Rink, ER, 21:13; 30) Brittany Mumma, ER, 21:20; 40) Kristen King, ER, 21:41; 41) Sarah Watzke, Ch, 21:43; 47) Amanda Seal, 21:56; 53) Kayla Cunningham, Ch, 22:13; 57) Marti Maley, Ch, 22:32; 65) Alex Richey, ER, 23:18; 69) Mariah Hebbe, Ch, 23:35; 70) Jennifer Kenison, Ch, 23:42; 71) Sara Juback, ER, 24:00; 73) Meredith Levinson, Ch, 24:16.
