Seward dominates when Mariners host six schools at Homer Invite </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 6:05 PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Seward dominates when Mariners host six schools at Homer Invite

By Aaron Selbig
Staff Writer

Under a bright blue sky and with a crystal clear view across Kachemak Bay, Homer High's Mariner Field played host Sept. 4 to a small army of high school cross-country runners from Nikiski, Soldotna, Seward, Nikolaevsk, Kenai and Unalaska, all of them hoping to kick their season into high gear at the Homer Invitational.

Photo by Aaron Selbig

Homer harrier Alicia Stafford, left, powers through the second lap at the Homer Invitational cross country meet, held Sept. 4 at Homer High.

On the varsity girls' side, Seward's Allison Barnwell dominated the 5-kilometer course, finishing with a time of 20 minutes, 12.3 seconds, a full 30 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Taylor Ostrander of Kenai.

Frances Bursch led the Homer girls with a fifth place, 22:31.8 finish while Alaine Miller -- eighth place -- and Alecia Stafford -- 10th place -- both cracked the top 10 with 24:08.2 and 24:20.3 times respectively.

Tux Seims once again paced the Homer boys, coming in fourth with a time of 18:05.7, good enough for fourth place. Garrett McCarthy was close behind with an eighth place, 19:06.8 finish.

Brett Chase of Seward took the top spot for the varsity boys, pacing the pack with a time of 17:47.4.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig.@homernews.com.