The Wrangell cross-country team used its final regular-season test last weekend to sharpen tactics and build momentum, capturing an individual title and multiple top-10 finishes against Southeast competition in Petersburg. 

Sophomore Jenna Meissner set the pace on Saturday, Sept. 19, in the girls varsity 5,000-meter race, crossing the line first with a winning mark of 20 minutes, 43.29 seconds. Senior Alana Harrison secured fifth place in 22:07.61, while freshman Natalie McGee took 23rd in 25:41.81. 

Meissner also took first at the meet in Ketchikan a week earlier and at Sitka last month.

“I was really proud of how our kids competed in Petersburg,” head coach Mason Villarma said. “This is a tough course, and we’re at the point in the season where we want to see athletes racing with confidence and competing for places, not just chasing times.”

The Petersburg course is two laps with a long uphill through the first half mile that rises in elevation 161 feet and then a fast downhill that brings runners back through a sandy beach after 1.46 miles, according to a description in the Juneau Independent. Then it repeats. A challenging course that keeps heart rates elevated, the newspaper’s sports reporter wrote.

Villarma pointed to the frontrunners setting the standard, noting that “Jenna picking up another win was outstanding, and Alana gave us another top-five finish.”

The boys team brought their own intensity by landing three runners among the top seven. Senior Jackson Carney took third overall in 18:06.19, junior Carter Howell followed in sixth at 18:32.42, and sophomore Ryder Ritchie earned seventh in a personal-best 18:42.31.

Junior Lucas Stearns finished 12th in 19:20.35, and freshman Quinton Davies took 24th in 21:49.48. 

“On the boys’ side, Jackson ran an excellent race to finish third, and putting Jackson, Carter and Ryder all inside the top seven shows how competitive that group has become,” Villarma said.

Sitka runners took first place in the team scores, with the Wrangell boys coming in second. Runners from seven schools participated in the meet.

“I would say this meet served more as an important practice for upcoming regionals,” assistant coach Laura Davies said. “We viewed it largely as an opportunity to fine tune things prior to regionals. I’m thankful for Petersburg and Sitka for having a competitive team there.”

She added, “Really nice to have some of our parents there to cheer on runners, so it was a confidence booster to have that support, and very nice to have a nearby meet so our runners could get good night sleeps in their own beds and not be on the road right before regionals.”

Davies emphasized that preparation will be key heading into the postseason.

“The focus now is on using everything Mason has taught them, all the hard work they put in all season long and making sure they apply it at regionals this weekend,” Davies said.

Next up for Wrangell is the Southeast championship meet in Juneau on Saturday, Sept. 26.

“More than anything, I like where this team is heading,” Villarma said. “We’ve continued to improve throughout the season, the kids are running for each other, and we still have another gear. We’re excited to see what they can do when it matters most over the next couple of weeks.”