Even without one of their strongest runners, the Haines boys’ cross-country team placed third among small schools at last weekend’s meet in Petersburg, the season opener for the Glacier Bears. Nine teams competed.
The Haines girls finished at the bottom of a pack of seven teams, but coach Liam Cassidy said he expects improvement will come with competition. “Our runners had their first chance to get a look at their competition. The goal is the same as every year – to improve all season and qualify both the boys’ and girls’ teams for the state meet.”
Junior Quinn Asquith, one of the boys’ squad’s top runners, missed the meet to attend a mountaineering class, but his teammates helped fill some of the hole he left.
Senior Blake Hamilton finished 11th in 18:56, followed by sophomores Patrick Henderson and Corey Piper, who were 12th and 13th, respectively. Sophomore Chris Olsen was 24th, junior Devin Braaten, 41st, and senior Hunter Badgley, 65th.
The bunching of Haines’ top runners was a good sign for Cassidy, as teammates often can push each other to faster times. “It was exciting to see that kind of teamwork. I expect to see a couple more guys on that train and see them move up together over the course of our season.”
Teams from Sitka and Mount Edgecumbe placed first and second, respectively.
The Glacier Bear girls were led by senior Jolene Lemieux, who finished 17th. The meet was the first taste of high school competition for freshman rookies Serena Badgley and Polly Bryant.
Cassidy’s hoping Lemieux will serve as role model for younger runners. “That’s what we’ve relied on to nurture this team’s success in the past, and she’s a good athlete to have in that role.”
Finishing behind Lemieux were Badgley (28th), junior Maggie Daly (46th), sophomore Tia Heywood (65th) and Bryant (69th).
Sitka, Juneau junior varsity and Thunder Mountain led scoring in the girls’ race.
Cassidy said he expected to have fuller Haines squads at upcoming meets in Yakutat, Juneau and Sitka. Seven runners from each school are allowed to compete at the regional championship Sept. 25 in Sitka.
Most of the high-school running teams in Southeast were in attendance at Petersburg, with the exception of the Juneau varsity squads and Skagway. The race featured a 3.1-mile loop between Sandy Beach’s active spawning stream and the airport. Runners enjoyed pleasant temperatures over rolling dirt roads. A well-attended citizens’ race preceded the nearly 200 high school runners.
The meet was Haines’ first visit to Petersburg for cross-country in six years.