Sure, the track was limited to five lanes by a ring of snow.
And yes, only one of two entrances to the bleachers could be accessed. Big mounds of snow were blocking both entrances, and Kenai Central High School has tunneled out a path to the bleachers on just one side.
Despite that, Soldotna head track coach Phil Leck and his team were thrilled to have a dual meet with Kenai Central on Friday.
“Today for us — it’s all about being excited to be on a track,” Leck said.
Compared to Soldotna’s track, Kenai’s track is paradise.
“150 meters and three lanes right now is it,” Leck said of the Stars home facility.
The coach has spent hours and hours snowblowing before and after practice, but a complete lap is not yet available to the Stars. By contrast, Kenai Central head coach Ivy O’Guinn said the Kardinals have had at least three open lanes on the track for about three weeks.
Leck said the SoHi program is anxious to get back to competing after losing the 2020 season to the coronavirus pandemic. The coach said the Stars had over 20 graduates on both the girls and boys side. Leck said the girls and boys were ready to take runs at state titles.
Friday’s meet helped turn the page on the 2020 season.
“Today, it was refreshing just to see the kids finally get back on the track,” he said.
Leck said the wait has been hardest on distance runners and jumpers. He said there have been days when the distance athletes couldn’t run outside, period, because even the streets have been icy.
“We haven’t practiced a jump event this year,” Leck said. “I’m not worried about it because jumps are all about speed and explosion.”
O’Guinn, a standout runner who graduated from Skyview High School in 2010, made her head coaching debut for the Kards. Two years ago, Kenai athletic director Jesse Settlemyer brought O’Guinn aboard as an assistant. Settlemyer had been a coach and teacher at Skyview when O’Guinn was there.
O’Guinn said the Kardinals have a young team, so there were personal records across the board. Part of it is the runners had a chance to mature during the lost season of 2020.
“Then you add in the conditions,” O’Guinn said. “It was a nice, sunny day and everybody was ready to go fast.”
Leck also said he was pleased with his varsity runners, especially considering they have not been on a track.
Some SoHi standouts were Nathanael Johnson in distance events, Drysta Crosby-Schneider in the sprints and distance runners Jordan Strausbaugh, Erika Arthur and Ellie Burns.
The official results for the Kenai-Soldotna dual were not yet available when the Clarion went to press.
The Kodiak girls also hosted Homer in dual meets Friday and Saturday. The results follow:
Friday
Homer at Kodiak
BOYS
100 meters — 1. Liam James, Hom, 12.46 seconds; 2. John Saliva, Kod, 12.75.
400 — 1. Micah Fields, Kod, 56.36; 2. Jackson Roberts, Kod, 58.66.
1,600 — 1. Micah Fields, Kod, 4:47.58; 2. Christian Harver, Kod, 5:05.80.
110 hurdles — 1. Aiden Brost, Hom, 22.51.
3,200 relay — 1. Kodiak, 9:43.4; 2. Kodiak, 10:16.9.
Shot put — 1. Orion Harper, Kod, 44 feet, 7 inches; 2. Joshua Manwiller, Hom, 35—10.5.
Discus — 1. Joshua Manwiller, Hom, 111—7; 2. Michos Fernandez, Kod, 101—2.
Long jump — 1. Akio Viray, Kod, 17—10; 2. Liam James, Hom, 16—11.
GIRLS
100 — 1. Laura Inama, Hom, 13.26; 2. Adeleine Rogers, Kod, 14.11.
400 — 1. Brooke Miller, Hom, 1:07.76; 2. Elizabeth Parnell, Kod, 1:09.77.
1,600 — 1. Brooke Miller, Hom, 6:04.34; 2. Elena Badajos, Hom, 6:13.20.
100 hurdles — 1. Laura Inama, Hom, 18.65; 2. Jiselle Blanco, Kod, 21.25.
800 relay — 1. Kodiak, 2:07.20; 2. Homer, 2:18.14.
3,200 relay — 1. Homer, 12:02.51; 2. Kodiak, 12:58.51.
Shot put — 1. Adelyn McCorison, Hom, 22—10; 2. Alana Prescott, Hom, 19—8.
Discus — 1. Adelyn McCorison, Hom, 56—1.
Long jump — 1. Laura Inama, Hom, 16—.75; 2. Marielle Mangrobang, Kod, 13—.5.
Saturday
Homer at Kodiak
BOYS
200 — 1. Liam James, Hom, 25.56; 2. Akio Viray, Kod, 25.60.
800 — 1. Jackson Roberts, Kod, 2:17.52; 2. Jerron Bruce, Kod, 2:18.57.
3,200 — 1. Christian Harver, Kod, 11:03.76; 2. Bengt Anderson, Kod, 11:21.26.
300 hurdles — 1. Aiden Brost, Hom, 49.80; 2. Elmar Barroga, 51.85.
400 relay — 1. Kodiak, 51.44; 2. Homer, 54.23.
1,600 relay — 1. Kodiak, 3:58.26; 2. Homer, 4:09.02.
High jump — 1. Lance Seneff, Hom, 5—2; 2. Jackson Roberts, Kod, 5—2.
Triple jump — 1. Manuel Silva, Kod, 30—9; 2. Sean Bruno, Kod, 26—.5.
GIRLS
200 — 1. Laura Inama, Hom, 28.39; 2. Adeleine Rogers, Kod, 30.46.
800 — 1. Brooke Miller, Hom, 2:39.88; 2. Elena Badajos, Hom, 2:53.87.
3,200 — 1. Elena Badajos, Hom, 13:21.37; 2. Naomi Griffin, Kod, 13:45.45.
300 hurdles — 1. Laura Inama, Hom, 53.06; 2. Elan Hilty, Kod, 56.93.
400 relay — 1. Kodiak, 57.02; 2. Homer, 1:00.34.
1,600 relay — 1. Homer, 5:01.90; 2. Kodiak, 5:09.23.
High jump — 1. Elan Hilty, Kod, 4—9.
Triple jump — 1. Laura Inama, Hom, 29—11.5.
A heat of five runners competes in the 200-meter dash Friday in a dual meet between Kenai Central and Soldotna. Heats were limited to five runners due to the snow surrounding the track at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Nathanael Johnson leads Kenai Central’s Jack Laker on the way to victory in the 1,600-meter run in a dual meet Friday, April 16, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Emilee Wilson leads Soldotna’s Erika Arthur and Jordan Strausbaugh during the 800-meter run during a dual meet Friday, April 16, 2021, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
