by Tommy Wells
A ccording to archaeologists, mankind can be separated into two district groups: Hunters and gathers.
That theory was so wrong this past weekend at the Bethel Sand Pit as the Hunters gathered everything.
Mathew Hunter and Hunter Crace, that is.
The two Bethel Regional High School standouts helped the Warriors dominate the leaderboard on Saturday and breeze to the 2017 Bethel Cross Country Meet championship. Led by Hunter and Crace, Bethel claimed nine of the top 10 spots in the field and easily took first place in the team standings with just 11 total points. Kwigillingok and Akiachak finished a distant second and third, respectively.
One of Western Alaska’s top runners, Hunter didn’t have any problem sprinting to the individual honors. He covered his home course in a time of 19 minutes and 56 seconds. He finished 39 seconds faster than his nearest competitor – teammate Hunter Crace.
Crace held off a strong push by the only non-BRHS runner in the top 10 to claim second. He finished the 5-kilometer race with a time of 20:35 and checked in at the finish line just 3 seconds faster than Kuskokwin Learning Academy’s Eugene Alexie of Toksook Bay.
Bethel ran the table on the top 10 from there. Nels Alexie-Leonard finished fourth while sophomore sensation Diesel Geerdts placed fifth. Thomas Phelan, a rising freshman, took sixth, while teammates Lawrence Poe, Thomas Dyment, Max Black and Gary Poe rounded out the list of top 10 finishers.
Bethel’s Jamin Crow narrowly missed the top 10, placing 11th with a time of 21:54.
Arnold Phillip led a strong contingent of runners from Kwigillingok at the meet. He junior star finished 14th overall with a personal-best time of 22:22.
William Evon was Kwigillingok’s second-fastest runner. He checked in at No. 19 with a time of 22:56.Akiachak’s Milton Charles led the Huskies to third in the team standings.
In the girls’ division, Acacia Chingliak and Danielle Pasitnak, both of Akiachak, raced to the top of the standings. Chingliak won the girls’ race in a time of 25:19 Pasitnak finished second at 25:32.
Lindsey Beans-Polk and DellaRae Charlie paced the BRHS girls. Beans-Polk placed third overall with a run of 26:56. Charlie was fifth at 28:17.
Kaeli Amik highlighted the Kwigillingok girls’ outing. She finished sixth with a personal-best mark of 29:15.
2017 Bethel XC
BOYS Final team standings
1. Bethel 15
2. Kwigillingok 57
3. Akiachak 72
Individual Results
1. Mathew Hunter, Bethel 19:56
2. Hunter Crace, Bethel 20:35
3. Eugene Alexie, KLA 20:38
4. Nels Alexie-Leonard, Bethel 20:43:00
5. Diesel Geerdts, Bethel 20:45
6. Thomas Phelan, Bethel 20:54
7. Lawrence Poe, Bethel 20:59
8. Thomas Dyment, Bethel 21:34:00
9. Max Black, Bethel 21:42
10. Gary Poe, Bethel 21:43
11. Jamin Crow, Bethel 21:54
12. Eric Tinker, Akula 22:13
14. Arnold Phillip, Kwigillingok 22:22
15. Ray Daniel, Bethel 22:23
16. Preston Alexie, Quinhagak 22:40
17. Jessie Nicholas, Kwethluk 22:47
18. Braden Dallmann, 22:48
19. William Evon, Kwigillingok 22:56
20. Sam Beans-Polk, Bethel 22:57
21. Terrell Jimmy, Bethel 23:21
22. Harvey Levi, George Morgan 23:37:00
23. Alek Winkelman, Bethel 23:37:50
24. Dustin Jackson, Kwethluk 23:43
25. Seth Smith, Bethel 23:47
26. Milton Charles, Akiachak 23:56
27. Justin Ward, Aniak 24:00
28. Avery Hoffman, Bethel 24:12
29. Billy Howell, Bethel 24:23
30. William Jackson, Akiachak 24:27
31. Tristan Chimegalrea, Kwethluk 24:29
32. Mark Ivan, Akiak 24:30
33. Jarius Allain, Bethel 24:35
34. Joshua Pavil, Bethel 24:39
35. Arles Andrew, Kwigillingok 24:48
36. Nalon John, Kwigillingok 24:50
37. Wilson Agimuk, Nelson Island 24:55
38. Justin Jackson, Akiachak 25:14
39. Travis Chaney, Bethel 25:17
40. Martin Alexie-Leonard, Bethel 25:19
41. Billy Turner, Aniak 25:31
42. Jason Evon, Kwigillingok 25:33
43. Michael Chakuchin, Nelson Island 25:44
44. Keenan Andrew, Tuluksak 26:04
45. Isaiah Dementieff, Akiak 26:07
46. Devin Tunutmoak, KLA 26:30
47. Nolan Atti, Kwigillingok 26:37
48. Randall Andrew, Kwigillingok 26:38
49. Michael Uttereyuk, KLA 26:45
50. Johnny Bosco, Nelson Island 26:57
51. Michael Larson, Kwethluk 28:01
52. Tyson Ivanoff Sample, Akiachak 29:10
53. Elia Guest, Quinhagak 29:13
54. Joseph Pasitnak, Akiachak 29:36
56. Merlin White, Kwigillingok 29:53
57. Amik Garrett, Kwigillingok 29:55
58. Andrew Wilson, Aniak 30:08
59. Michael Urovak, Quinhagak 34:37
60. Bradley Oulton, Bethel NA
GIRLS
1. Acacia Chingliak, Akiachak 25:19
2. Danielle Pasitnak, Akiachak 25:32
3. Lindsey Beans-Polk, Bethel 26:56
5. Dellarae Charlie, Bethel 28:17
6. Kaeli Amik, Kwigillingok 29:15
7. Saralee Egoak, Joann A. Alexie 30:01
8. Schenia Wassilie, Akiachak 30:42
9. Payton Chanar, Nelson Island 31:26
10. Priscilla Julius, Nelson Island 32:21
11. Nissa Egoak, Joann A. Alexie 32:31
12. Josephine Chakuchin, Nelson Island 32:59
13. Katie Wooten, George Morgan 33:31
14. Shannon Ekamrak, Akiachak 33:32
15. Julian Stanley, Bethel 34:58
16. Robyn Kugtson, Kwigillingok 35:32
17. Shiana Williams. Akiak 37:18
18. Deandrea Brink, Akula 38:16
20. Melissa Brink, Akula 46:50
21. Dorothy Bukowski, Bethel NA
