Aug. 31, 2008
by Matias Saari, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Published Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK -- A chill was in the air and skies were overcast when the Interior Invitational started Saturday morning at Birch Hill Recreation Area. By the time the awards ceremony rolled around, however, the trails were bathed in sunlight.
In between was a seven-race running festival that included participants from middle school age to adults.
The Alaska Nanooks' dual meet with Humboldt State got things started, and Theresia Schnurr was in control for the second straight event, cruising to a 4-kilometer win in 15 minutes, 39 seconds. The only difference Saturday was that this time the long-legged Alaska freshman was running in a Nanooks singlet, as she was declared eligible by the NCAA following her 6K win on Thursday.
Twins Anna Coulter (runner-up in 15:46) and Julia Pierson (fourth in 15:58) weren't far behind, helping the Nanooks to a 24-31 team victory (lowest score wins) over the Lumberjacks.
The Alaska men, though, were overrun by a strong Humboldt squad that claimed six of the top eight spots en route to a 17-42 win. Eric Malain's strong finish allowed him to match Schnurr's double victory in 13:05.
Nanooks freshman Matthew Scerbak took fourth in 13:19 and freshman Mitchell Chandler, in the open class until he gets NCAA clearance, was fifth in 13:25.
"We got beat soundly both days but time-wise we weren't too far out of it," Alaska coach Scott Jerome said. "I thought that was a pretty good sign."
