Kristen Gronlund senior xc runner

Published: August 31st, 2008 01:41 AM
Anchorage Daily News

by Ron Wilmot

When Gronlund decided to go out for cross country as a sophomore at Wrangell High, her life began to fall into place.

h She joined youth court, got a job as a lifeguard, kept her grades up and kept training.

"The self discipline of running was really good for me," said Gronland, who moved to Palmer this year. "It changed a lot of my views."

Gronlund grew up in tiny Wrangell, a coastal town in Southeast Alaska. Running for Wrangell High last season, Gronlund placed 24th in the Class 1-2-3A state championships. She also placed fifth in her regional meet.

At Colony, however, she's trying to crack the varsity lineup. She said running at a Class 4A school is like "another level."

"Wrangell has 110 students. Here, it's 1,200," she said. "The population of Wrangell is 1,800, so (Colony High) is almost as big as the town. It's a big shock. But I love it so far.

"I'm teetering on the edge of (making) varsity," she said. "It'd be cool to say I made varsity at a big school."

Running against tough competition every day has helped. Gronlund said she's already running more than 30 seconds faster than at the beginning of last season.

Gronlund is continuing her busy schedule. She plans on joining youth court, and she may try cross-country skiing and track, two sports not offered in Wrangell.

She's also volunteering at the Alaska Food Bank in Palmer, where her grandmother, Lynn Gronlund works.

"I just wanted to help out, and my grandmother encouraged me," Gronlund said.

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-- Ron rwilmot@adn.com">Wilmot

rwilmot@adn.com