Vikings outdo themselves in cross country run

Petersburg was host to 190 runners from 14 different communities this weekend for a cross-country meet.

Many of the Petersburg boys came in under their best times.

Aaron Murph was the top placer for the Viking boys at 14th place with a time of 18:42; Tucker Hagerman finished with a time of 19:35; Cole Somerville came in with a time of 19:40; Kjell Wittstock finished with a time of 21:42; Kyle Hagerman finished with a time of 21:44; Stuart Medalen came in at a time of 23:04; Dalton Small finished with a time of 23:33 and Gus Petersen finished with a time of 25:51.

“All Petersburg runners in the high school race ran a personal best,” Head Coach Jo Ann Day said. “Petersburg is a fast race. The start is uphill of over the first half mile, then we throw in another tough hill, but the end of the race is all downhill. All of the teams got some really fast times. Even if the hills slow them down a bit, they are able to make up some time on the downhill.”

The Viking girls came in 4th overall and first in 3A competition against Sitka, Haines, Wrangell and Klawock.

Grace Weller was the top placer at second in 3A and fifth overall with a time of 20:08; Robyn Schwartz placed sixth in 3A and 15th overall with a time of 22:04; Fran Abbott came in 10th with a time of 22:32; Kylie Wallace placed 13th with a time of 22:44; Stephanie Pfundt finished with a time of 24:36 and Nicole Peterson came in with a time of 25:15.

“Aaron Murph had a banner race, cutting 2:30 off of his previous fastest run,” Day said. “Team Captain, Kyle Hagerman bested his time by 1:30 and his brother Tucker continues to improve every race, cutting his time by one minute this week.”

According to Day, Fran Abbott improved her time by one minute.

“The girls have a strong scoring team,” Day said. “The team has really been working hard together. They're a great group of motivated hard working runners.”

Day also said that regionals will be run in Juneau this year which is a very hilly course.

“We've been training for hills,” Day said, “and it really showed this weekend in this race.”