Kenai’s Mason Dunham raced to the boys individual champion for the fourth-straight season and the girls individual borough championship goes to SoH’s Jordan Strausbaugh; each leading their respective teams to the overall Kenai Peninsula Borough Cross Country Running team championships.
The 2020 KPBSD Cross Country Running Championships, competed on the Tsalteshi Trails, featured individual and team competition in preparation for the upcoming Region III South cross country running event.
The Soldotna High School girls, lead by a one-two finish by Jordan Strausbaugh and Erika Arthur, raced to the girls team championship with five runners in the top ten. Strausbaugh completed the 5-k course in 20 minutes and 48 seconds, followed by Arthur in 21:33. Kenai’s jayna Boonstra, winner of the Frank D. Invitational, Homer Invitational and Nikiski Class Races, missed the borough championships due to illness.
The Kenai Kardinal boys, with Maison Dunham posting a winning time of 17 minutes and 20 seconds for his fourth KPBSD title, held-off SoHi for the team title. Homer’s Seamus McDonough posted a 17:39 for second place. The Kenai boys placed three runners in the top-four with Gregory Fallon, 3rd and Joe Hamilton, 4th.
Girls Team Scores: 1. Soldotna, 22; 2. Kenai Central, 49; 3. Homer, 51.
Girls Individual 5-Kilometer Results
1. Jordan Strausbaugh, Sol, 20 minutes, 48 seconds; 2. Erika Arthur, Sol, 21:33; 3. Eryn Field, Hom, 21:48; 4. Katie Delker, Sol, 22:04; 5. Jordan Ruffner, Sol, 22:07; 6. Emilee Wilson, Ken, 22:12; 7. Summer Foster, Ken, 22:16; 8. Elena Badajos, Hom, 22:18; 9. Frida Renner, Hom, 22:30; 10. Sonia Montague, Sol, 22:32; 11. Emily Moss, Ken, 22:52; 12. Leah Fallon, Ken, 22:56; 13. Gabriella Tews, Ken, 23:09; 14. Kaidence Schaeffer, Sol, 23:22; 15. Adelyn McCorison, Hom, 23:42; 16. Kara Super, Hom, 23:43; 17. Lucy Dammeyer, Sol, 23:47; 18. Syliva Clemens, Hom, 24:22; 19. Jordan Barrowcliff, Hom, 24:38; 20. Lynnea Hack, Ken, 24:43; 21. Kaya Cox, Ken, 27:06.
Boys Team Scores: 1. Kenai Central, 34; 2. Soldotna, 38; 3. Homer, 51.
Boys Individual 5-Kilometer Results
1. Maison Dunham, Ken, 17:20; 2. Seamus McDonough, Hom, 17:39; 3. Gregory Fallon, Ken, 17:42; 4. Joe Hamilton, Ken, 17:52; 5. Maleda Denbrock, Sol, 17:56; 6. Nathanael Johnson, Sol, 18:03; 7. Lance Seneff, Hom, 18:23; 8. Avery Willets, Sol, 18:31; 9. Quinn Cox, Sol, 18:43; 10. Jeren Nash, Sol, 18:48; 11. Tyler Hippchen, Ken, 18:55; 12. Austin Cline, Hom, 18:58; 13. Tytus Gilbert, Sol, 19:05; 14. Adams Veldstra, Hom, 19:06; 15. Ky Calvert, Ken, 19:11; 16. Damon Weisser, Hom, 19:21; 17. Garrett Briscoe, Hom, 19:31; 18. Sean Babitt, Sol, 19:47; 19. Nathan Haakenson, Ken, 20:18; 20. Jonah Mershon, Hom, 20:28; 21. Zane Tews, Ken, 22:08.
Region III Cross Country Running: Qualifying Standards
The Region III South Cross Country Running Championships will be held on the Tsalteshi Trails on Saturday, October 3rd. The Region III Championships for 2020 are divided into two meets, South and North under ASAA COVID restrictions. Qualifiers to a revised, individual only ASAA State Cross Country Running Championship will be determined at re-vamped regional tournaments throughout Alaska. Region III South and Region III North will both send 10 individual girls and 10 individual boys to the state meet in Division I and 16 individual girls and 16 individual boys to the state meet in Division II.
Newly Adopted State Qualifying Standards (ASAA Board September 2)
Region 3 – 10 berths
Region 4 – 16 berths
Region 5 – 6 berths
Region 6 – 6 berths
Region 1 – 6 berths
Region 3 – 16 berths
Region 5 – 4 berths
Region 6 – 10 berths
Region 1 – 10 berths
Region 2 – 6 berths
Region 5 – 14 berths