Seahawks hold their own at The Dome

CINTHIA RITCHIE

April 18, 2008 at 10:26AM AKST

Seward High School’s boys and girls track teams looked strong at the Big C Relays track and field meet April 11-12.

Tucked inside The Dome, a strange, futuristic building squatting behind ChangePoint Church on Raspberry Road, the teams put in impressive showings in long-distance, hurdling and high jumps events.

Coach Lori Krier was pleased.

"We placed well, especially among 3-A schools," she said, mentioning Denali Foldager’s 300-meter low hurdle overall second place and Dylan Beck’s 300-meter intermediate hurdle overall third place finish.

"I don’t want my kids to look and say, ‘I’m the best in 3-A,’" Krier said. "I want them to be the best overall."

She also praised Travis Price, who came in third at the "special" 800-meter by-nomination-only event.

"We were really happy with how we did," she said. "Of course, you always see things you need to work on in terms of technique."

The girls team, which consists of nine members, is strongest in distance and hurdles, she said. The 20-member boys team is more well-rounded.

"They have more variety," she said. "They can fill more slots in different events."

She’s already looking ahead to the state meet.

For the first time, small schools will have a separate state championship. Last year, athletes from Class 1-3A schools won only two events at state. That will change this year, when small schools will compete among themselves for 17 titles.

Seward, as a Class 3-A school, will vie with Anchorage Christian Schools, Grace Christian, Cordova, Glennallen, Nikiski and Valdez.

Krier sees this as a way of finally leveling out the playing field.

"We’re working on getting as many kids up there as we can," she said.

Cinthia Ritchie can be reached at (907) 342-2428 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 428