George Plumley Invite
Palmer High School, AK
September 6, 2025
Submitted by the VHS Cross-Country Coach
The Bucs’ cross-country team journeyed back to Palmer for the biggest race of the season with almost 40 teams and over 1,000 runners spread across 6 races. After a week of illnesses and injuries, our goal was to just have fun and enjoy the races. Out for the season are Sophomores Logan Beck and Zach Berkley, we anticipate their return next season. Sitting out this race due to injuries or illness were Zane Caruthers, Gabe Caruthers, Kaden VanBuskirk, Cody Miller, and Connor Hamilton.
The course was three hilly laps through a dirt and mud forest with a track finish. Freshman Lucas Clubb got the day of races started as our lone JV runner. He took off with 169 runners and kept an even pace under 7 minutes to finish strong with the biggest Personal Record of the day, beating his previous time by 1:30 to finish 100th at 21:14.
The rest of the Boys JV runners moved up to Varsity this race. It was a thunderous race with 232 boys shaking the earth beneath the spectators’ feet. Reggie Baksis started strong in 20th place with the lead pack. Maintaining a strong, even pace throughout the race, he gradually slipped to 39th place to finish 17:51. Hot on his heels was James Humphrey chasing down his dreams of sub 18, which he missed by 4 seconds with a finish in 49th place at 18:03. James Sanborn struggled with passing runners on the crowded course and was slowed by those in front of him, he broke free at the finish and finished in 96th place at 19:08. Cirque Carter overcame a side ache to finish strong in 138th place at 20:04. Robert Taylor cruised across the finish line next in 200th place at 22:11, he was followed by Dylen Agcaoili-Smith who finished strong despite a rolled ankle in 207th place at 22:37. Narrowly missing a PR, Jaymyn James sailed across the finish line in 210th place at 22:41.
The mist rolled in for the Varsity Girls. Bryndi Beck took charge and earned a PR of 2 seconds to finish 94th out of 179 girls at 23:09. Zooey Baksis just keeps getting faster, she earned another PR by 49 seconds to finish 129th at 24:44. Her sister Miquela Baksis was exactly a minute behind and also earned a PR by 46 seconds to finish 143th at 25:44, just beating out teammate Jewely Weber, who earned a season best, finishing in 147th place at 25:46.
We have worked hard on endurance and consistency. The team’s hard work has paid off with mile splits remaining more consistent. Our Boy’s Varsity team remains in 1st place for Region 6 Division II, we’re looking for a first place finish at Regions in 3 weeks. Next week we take on the challenging hills of Kincaid Park in Anchorage with the Big 8 teams of Anchorage. Go Bucs! (Finish times and mile splits below.)
