Wrangell girls cross-country teammates Kaylauna Churchill, Abby Gerald, Helen Decker, Reyn Hutten, Amy Jenson and Kiara Meissner pose together at State in Anchorage last weekend. Decker's sign reads "Run like a bear is after U" – a reference to last year's Region V in Ketchikan, when the girls race was postponed after a bear wandered onto the course.
Spattered in mud, Bryce Gerald (at left, in red) heads for the finish during the State Cross-Country Championships in Anchorage on Sept. 26. The only runner from among Wrangell's boys to make it this year, Gerald finished eighth overall in the race.
The high school cross-country team wrapped up its season over the weekend, with the girls coming in 11th place overall at the State Championships in Anchorage and senior Bryce Gerald coming in eighth place in the boys race.
“I’m so happy with how the season went. I’m sad it’s over,” reflected coach Jenn Davies.
Gerald bested his time from last year’s championship, when he also came in eighth. This year he finished in 17 minutes 16 seconds, better than 17:22 last year, then his personal best.
“I felt good about my time and my place,” he said. Gerald had been less satisfied with his placement the previous weekend at Region V in Juneau, where he came in fifth. He said, “it gave me more motivation to do better at State.”
“It was a great way to go out as a senior,” Davies commented.
Though she had taken first place at Region V the week before, at State junior Reyn Hutten finished in 31st place for the girls, at a time of 22:35. She recalled having some trouble late in the race, overcome by a state of dizziness. It may have been due to a late start, a skipped lunch or nerves.
“I’m not really sure what happened, but I actually fell over the finish line,” Hutten explained. She then spent 45 minutes in the medical
tent afterward before recovering.
Conditions at the course made things difficult for all runners. Snowfall in Anchorage on Sept. 23 melted away quickly enough, but coupled with rain it turned the track into a muddy mess. Wrangell’s students had to go out and buy spiked cleats specially for the course before the meet.
“I was slipping, even with my spikes,” Gerald said.
On the heels of their third-place performance at Region V, the rest of the girls team finished in due order. Amy Jenson placed in 62nd at 24:11, and Kaylauna Churchill in 83rd at 25:13. Helen Decker finished just a nose ahead of Sharelle Anelon of Newhalen for 95th at 26:25, and Abigail Gerald and
Kiara Meissner finished in 112th and 116th place, of 119.
“The girls had a great race,” Davies said. She thinks the team will be well-placed for competing next year. Only two seniors—Gerald and Jenson—will be departing, and she expects a good group of runners to return next fall.
“I’m really going to miss their leadership,” the coach admitted. At Region V, Jenson and Gerald both received the All-Academic Award, which is a grade-based prize.
While cross country comes to a finish, other athletic programs are just getting started. Wrestling and volleyball both began practicing last month, and middle school basketball started last week. Wrangell’s wrestlers will be hosting the Tom Sims Invitational Oct. 16 and 17, and the high school’s basketball team will hit the court shortly after on Oct. 22.
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