Cross-country heading into regionals

Wrangell High School’s cross-country team finished another lap for the season, competing in Juneau over the weekend.

“It went really, really, really well,” said the team’s coach, Jenn Davies.

Reyn Hutten continued setting the pace, once again finishing first for the 1-3A division and placing fourth overall from among 107 girls.

Among 151 boys, Riley Blatchley and Jacob Hammer came in 17th and 20th for their division, respectively, on what Davies explained was a challenging course.

“There’s some strategy involved,” she said, with the course sporting a mixture of pavement, trails and sand over a hilly environment. “Spikes really help.”

“Juneau has a great course,” Davies concluded. “It was a great meet.”

Only four boys and four

girls were able to make the journey, and the group

only returned Monday evening. The team is getting set for regionals in Sitka this weekend, and a few of the runners were getting over strained ankles and other infirmities in preparation for the big meet.

“I think we’re ready to go,” Davies said.

The team is set to leave on this afternoon’s jet, provided the weather is permitting. As of Tuesday’s press time the National Weather Service was forecasting wind and rain through the evening, with an accompanying weather advisory.

“I’m a little stressed

about that,” Davies admitted.

But once the team arrives in Sitka, she said they will spend Friday getting to know the course before Saturday’s meet. “This will be a first look for a lot of the kids.”

If Wrangell’s runners keep up the pace they’ve had this season, at least a few of them are set to head to State in Anchorage the following weekend.