The temperature was in the 40s and a brisk wind pulsed through spectators and competitors alike Thursday at Kenai Central High School, but all in all many actually felt lucky to have a track meet.
The track athletes from Nikiski, Seward and Skyview were not as lucky as those from Kenai, Soldotna and Homer. A tri-meet scheduled for Thursday at Skyview had to be canceled due to water on the track.
There was a puddle on Kenai’s track, but when that became a problem, Kenai athletic director Tim Delaney would simply wipe the puddle off the track just before the race was to start.
After all, with the state track meet scheduled for May 19 and 20 at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, coaches are willing to go to great lengths to get in a meet.
Of the three teams in attendance, Soldotna had gotten in the most work on the track. Brantley said his team of about 60 has been using the track behind Soldotna Middle School for about two weeks now.
Homer coach Harry Rasmussen, whose team is up to 35 members from 25 last year, said his squad has only had one day on the track thus far. Kenai Coach Tim Sandahl said his team, which has numbers in the 50s, squeezed in three workouts on the track before Thursday’s meet.
There were no team scores kept at the meet, but that didn’t keep coaches from receiving a few surprises.
Rasmussen said his pleasant surprise came from junior Ethan Parker, who won the 800 and 1,600. The coach said Parker had shown promise in the hallways, but looked even better on the track.
Senior Justin Smith, whose season last year was cut short by injury, won the 100 and 200 and also anchored Homer’s 800 relay to victory. Rasmussen also said junior Matt Kinney and senior Cam Hagen ran well.
On the girls side, Tatiana Gruber won the 400 for Homer while Breanna Weaver won the high jump. Rasmussen also said Erika Klaar looked good in the sprints. Rasmussen also likes the distance running of Julie Senott, Katie Arsenault and Lindsay Henkelman.
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