Chasing history: Staples could become first East boys runner to win state XC in 50 years
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A few fun facts about East Anchorage sophomore Katahdin Staples:
The name Katahdin?
“It is the largest mountain in Maine, and also the start or the finish or the Appalachian Trail,” he says.
He represents his school with pride.
“East isn’t one of the big dogs, we aren’t South or Chugiak, so to get a win for East, it feels amazing,” Staples said after winning the Big 8 Invitational earlier this season. “Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School mostly does basketball and football, and I like to try and do the cross country and show that East is a great school because that is how I feel.”
Fact-checking that statement — it’s true.
The historic Thunderbirds basketball program — including the state’s first NBA player Trajan Langdon — has won 19 state championships in its illustrious history, while the football program has won three state titles in the last seven seasons.
Another fact; Staples is one of the fastest long-distance runners in the state, and he’s only a sophomore. He has finished in the top three in all seven races he’s competed in this year, including a victory at the Region IV Cross Country Championships at Kincaid Park on Saturday.
“My first thought when the gun went off was, ‘Wow, this is such a beautiful day!’” Staples said of his race. “Then it was just — there is a guy in front of me, when should I pass them? Not here, okay now. Okay, I hear people on me I got to pick it up a little bit to get them off my tail.’
“Every time, I’m not sure I can do it, but then we get to the end, and then it happens.”
Proven with perennial podium placements, Staples could make history at the Division I State Championship meet Saturday. The program has not seen a boy’s champion at the meet since the legendary Don Clary in 1973 and 1974.
Clary went on to become Alaska’s first track and field Olympian when he competed in the 5,000 meters at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
”I may beat them now, but they are going to get faster, I am going to get faster,” Staples said of fellow competition in the state. “I am hoping we will all build each other up to run some fast times, that would be amazing.”
Staples currently has the fastest 5K time in Division I this year at 16 minutes, 15 seconds, set at the Mustang Smokin Stampede on Sept. 21. The Div. I Boys state championship meet is set for 2:15 p.m. Saturday on the Bartlett Trails.
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