September 23, 2023
Submitted by VHS Cross-Country Coach
The Bucs Cross-Country team headed to the coveted Fairbanks Golf Course for the long awaiting state qualifier, Regions. The open greens and gentle sloping course is where runners ran two laps around the course and hoped for Personal Records; and it delivered for the Bucs runners. We are still awaiting official times and rankings.
The frosty morning kept runners moving until their afternoon races. All boys ran in the Division II Varsity race. They were pumped up and ready to run. Senior Rafe Caruthes slipped into second place behind Monroe for the first quarter of the 5K course before slowly sliding past him. As he spread his lead slowly during the race, his teammates Sophomore James Humphrey and Junior Romen Weber stuck together and slowly started leap-frogging runners. Halfway through, Humphrey began to pull away from Weber, but Weber stayed on his heels. In his third race of the season, Freshman Robert Taylor remained strong and continued to pass one runner at a time. Caruthers maintained a strong pace and pulled ahead of 2nd place Delta, earning another PR by 37 seconds and taking first at 17:10. Humphrey and Weber came barrelling down the long stretch to the finish line together a couple minutes later, with Humphrey taking the lead finishing 12th and Weber 12th at 19:43 and 19:45. Weber earned a PR by about 45 seconds and a determined Humphrey by over 2 minutes. Taylor picked up his stride after his second lap and finished over 3 minutes faster than his last race.
The clouds rolled in to cool off the girls as they took off with DI and DII Varsity Girls. Freshman J. Weber overcame a bothersome stomach to finish strong with Junior Morgan Hamilton encouraging her from behind and earning a PR by 2 minutes finishing in 13th place at 25:46. Hamilton earned her first PR since freshman year and finished 14th at 25:48.
The runners ran with heart, overcoming physical and mental challenges that may slow them down. When they thought they had nothing left, they pushed harder and were rewarded with PRs and Cold Stone. All six runners set new Personal Records, with 5 earning a place at state.
Next stop, State at Palmer High School on October 7th. Join the team to celebrate their successful season on September 30th for a Fun Run on the West Dike at 11am.
Unofficial Current Region 6 Division II Standings are:
1st Rafe Caruthers
11th James Humphrey
12th Roman Weber
30th Robert Taylor (estimated)
12th Jewely Weber
13th Morgan Hamilton
Go Bucs!
