Take into consideration that more than 600 runners participated in the competition and those numbers take on a whole new level of distinction.
Homer senior Monte Garroutte finished fifth on the 5-kilometer Tsalteshi Trails, and also earned the distinction of being the top Kenai Peninsula finisher. Garroutte finished the race in 17 minutes, 24 seconds, 44 seconds behind top-finishing Jesse Cherry of Chugiak.
Chugiak also won the team competition, while the Homer team took 14th place overall.
According to Garroutte, he felt better about his pace in this year's competition as compared to other years.
"I paced myself better this time," Garroutte said. "It was nice to have something left at the end to pass a few people."
Senior Aleta Phelps was the top girls finisher for the Homer Mariners, and took ninth place overall with a time of 20:54. Phelps was the fourth peninsula runner to finish the race.
Juliane Smith of Service finished first in 18:57, leading her team to a second-place overall finish. East High School took top honors in the girls competition for the day. The Mariner squad finished 12th.
Homer runners Mike Farrens, (19:59) Garrett Hoanin, (20:33) Colin McArthur, (20:36) Peter Sheppard, (25:41) and Jude Murphy (27:19) each set personal bests on the trail.
On the girls' side of the action, open runners Johanna Spaeder (26:55) and Kasey Aderhold (27:00) also set personal bests.
Other Homer finishers included:
Morgan Jones, 21:08; Travis Hines, 21:49; Martin Bruun, 22:39; Megan Mahan, 23:19; Melanie Mach, 23:27; Levi Ryan 24:00; Hannah Harrison, 24:25; Erika Klaar, 24:48; Kristin Vantrease, 24:49; Samantha Halpin 26:10; Jenny Merritt, 26:56; Monica Peters, 27:43; Amanda Isenhour, 29:24; and Nathan Lander, 37:18.
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