Glacier Bear cross-country runners got a close view of their closest regional competitors at last week’s Ketchikan Invitational, where the Haines men were overwhelmed by division contenders from Wrangell and finished just one point ahead of Petersburg.
The Haines women, again led by sisters Ari’el Godinez-Long and Grace Long Godinez, finished third overall in the meet, leading their division but behind larger-division schools Sitka and Juneau-Douglas, respectively.
“Wrangell’s good,” said Haines coach Jordan Baumgartner. “They’ve got fast freshmen. Their sophomores are coming on strong and they have strong seniors. Petersburg’s not far behind. We’re going to have to work hard to make it to state this year.”
Baumgartner increased speed workouts this week and said he’s encouraged that most of his runners have improved their personal best times in recent weeks. He said he prefers to have competition from other schools in the division.
“That way we have to earn it. I feel that’s a much better way to go. Every kid on our team is improving. We’re peaking at the right time. Self-confidence-wise, that’s fun to watch,” Baumgartner said.
As the team’s focus turns to upcoming regional and state championship meets, the Glacier Bears’ focus will move away from leaders and towards each squad’s top five runners. Their finishes comprise a team’s score.
On the women’s squad, that includes senior Sal Chapell, who finished an impressive fourth for Haines last weekend in Ketchikan, notching a time of 22:31. To Chapell, improving isn’t a matter of pressure. “I think of how my times have been decreasing in past races. I think I can get down to a low 22 (minutes) or maybe below 22.”
For the men’s squad, runners like freshman J.C. Davis may be key. Davis has been running in the team’s sixth position and could serve as spoiler for top-five runners from other schools in upcoming regional and state championships.
Under coach Baumgartner’s policy of allowing each runner one opportunity to travel and another week off, Davis sat out last week’s meet in Ketchikan but he’ll be in the mix during the championship runs.
Haines women will get a rest this weekend while the full squad of 13 men runners will compete in the Juneau Invitational Sept. 24. The regional championship meet will be held in Sitka Oct. 1.
Eighty-eight men competed in last week’s race in Ketchikan on a short, 2.8 mile-course around Ward Lake. Scores included: 1) Sitka, 27; 2) Wrangell, 49; 3) Thunder Mountain, 98; 4) Haines, 126; and 5) Petersburg, 127.
Haines finishers included: 12) senior Luke Davis, 16:48; 28) sophomore Dalton Henry, 19:16; 32) sophomore Phoenix Swaner, 19:26; 36) junior Griffin Culbeck, 19:33; 37) senior Eric Gillham, 19:35; 45) senior Phoenix Jacobson, 20:01 and 71) senior Jacob Weerasinghe, 23:17.
Sixty-five women raced in Ketchikan. Scoring included: 1) Sitka, 56; 2) Juneau-Douglas, 69; 3) Haines, 72; 4) Thunder Mountain, 88; 5) Petersburg, 111; Ketchikan, 123.
Haines finishers included: 3) sophomore Ari’el Godinez-Long, 19:58; 6) senior Grace Long Godinez, 21:44; 10) senior Avari Getchell, 22:05; 12) senior Sal Chapell, 22:31; 46) sophomore Ila Nettleton, 26:55; 49) sophomore Ashlyn Ganey, 27:10 and 50) sophomore Willa Stuart, 27:11.