Homer Runners take 2nd, 3rd at State Meet

     Kenai Peninsula high school runners made a very strong showing at the State Cross Country Running Championships, held Saturday at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

     Kenai Central sophomore Allie Ostrander won the state 4A girls title outright – completing the five-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 46 seconds. Ostrander struggled through a tough finish to the race, vindicating her only loss in the same race last year.

     The Soldotna girls’ team and the Kenai boys finished in the top-10, at fifth and fourth place, respectively.

     In the smaller 1-2-3A division, it was Homer High School that was the story of the day. Coming off a strong showing at regionals, the Mariner runners performed well above expectations. The boys’ team – led by 7th place finisher Connor McCarron – finished third overall and the Homer girls’ team came in second. The Mariners were led by Aurora Wacslawski in 12th and Barae Hirsch in 15th.