Runners kick out the jams at Interior Invite

FAIRBANKS — A chill was in the air and skies were overcast when the Interior Invitational started Saturday morning at Birch Hill Recreation Area. By the time the awards ceremony rolled around, however, the trails were bathed in sunlight.

In between was a seven-race running festival that included participants from middle school age to adults.

The Alaska Nanooks’ dual meet with Humboldt State got things started, and Theresia Schnurr was in control for the second straight event, cruising to a 4-kilometer win in 15 minutes, 39 seconds. The only difference Saturday was that this time the long-legged Alaska freshman was running in a Nanooks singlet, as she was declared eligible by the NCAA following her 6K win on Thursday.

Twins Anna Coulter (runner-up in 15:46) and Julia Pierson (fourth in 15:58) weren’t far behind, helping the Nanooks to a 24-31 team victory (lowest score wins) over the Lumberjacks.

The Alaska men, though, were overrun by a strong Humboldt squad that claimed six of the top eight spots en route to a 17-42 win. Eric Malain’s strong finish allowed him to match Schnurr’s double victory in 13:05.

Nanooks freshman Matthew Scerbak took fourth in 13:19 and freshman Mitchell Chandler, in the open class until he gets NCAA clearance, was fifth in 13:25.

“We got beat soundly both days but time-wise we weren’t too far out of it,” Alaska coach Scott Jerome said. “I thought that was a pretty good sign.”

Next up were middle school races of 2.5K for both boys and girls. Those served as a prelude for the marquee event — challenging 5K high school races that featured nearly 200 runners from 11 schools, including those from the immediate area and others from Colony, Tanana, Houston, Cantwell and even Dillingham.

The depth of the green army from Colony — running in Fairbanks for the first time — allowed the Knights to sweep the meet. The girls notched seven of the top 18 results and scored 41 points to edge West Valley (50) and Lathrop (51). The boys, with seven among the top 13, outpointed West Valley (without star Werner Hoefler) 33-50.

“We don’t have any stars, but we have a really solid group of seven, eight, runners for boys and girls,” Colony co-coach Mark Strabel said. “That’s what we really concentrate on is the team aspect, running together.”

Christi Schmitz of North Pole wanted no company and broke away from Lathrop senior Heather Edic near the end — powering up the final hill and gliding back down to the stadium — to win the girls event in 21:00.

North Pole isn’t known for its hills, but a bluff in the Chena Lakes Flood Control Area with 300-400 feet of elevation gain provides ample training, Schmitz said.

Edic was happy with her runner-up result in 21:15.

“I improved a lot from last week, so I’m excited,” she said. “The gap between us is a lot smaller, so I think if I keep doing that I’ll be back for regionals.”

Senior Jacob Remington of West Valley and sophomore Pat Nugent of Lathrop duked it out in the boys race, trading leads on the second lap before Remington’s superior closing speed won out in 18:13. The gutsy, pint-sized Nugent trailed by just 2.6 seconds.

“I shifted into fifth and I was like, ‘Oh, I gotta find another gear somewhere,’” Remington said of his finish.

Nugent hoped to get a lead on the final climbs to offset Remington’s speed.

“I thought I could get him on the last hill, but he just had one last kick in him and outkicked me. It was a good race, though,” Nugent said.

North Pole, West Valley and Lathrop will get another chance against Colony next Saturday at the Palmer Invitational on the course used for the Alaska State Championships Oct. 4.

The day ended with an open 5K race won by Taylor Bearden in 18:18. Nathaniel Burrell was second in 18:36. Both are home-school students who hope to gain high school athletic eligibility by next week.