What’s going on in Alaska?

When you think of Alaska cross country, you might think of Sarah Palin. You shouldn’t. Alaska-Anchorage men’s and women’s teams are on track to post their best-ever finishes at a national meet.
Certainly, head coach Michael Freiss recruits just as heavily from the Rift Valley (or thereabouts) as he does from the Skagit Valley (or thereabouts). But the team faces other challenges that most programs don’t, primarily travel. Although it may be hard to shed a tear for a program that opens with two meets at Hawaii, the team will make a total of seven trips to the mainland (and Hawaii).
Another challenge for this bunch: The start time in Louisville will be 7 a.m. Alaskan time.
But along the way, the Seawolves have excelled. Marko Cheseto (pictured) leads the men’s team should win the regional title in two weeks.. But the key to the men’s No. 8 ranking could be the return of Alaskan and 2008 All-American Jake Parisien and the transfer of Yonatan Yilma. Two Kenyans and three Alaskans form the core of UAA’s No. 4 women’s program.
In perhaps their best meet of the season, Cheseto and Miriam Kipng’eno won the individual races at the highly competitive Willamette Invite in Oregon. Both are the teams to beat in the Great Northwest Conference. (At the conclusion of last season, I woulda picked W. Washington and Seattle Pacific.) They’ll tangle with Western Region foe Chico State at regionals; don’t be surprised if UAA sweeps all four trophies.

Note: Photo from goseawolves.com