Adventures in an Unanticipated Season
L-R at the Homer lighthouse: Coach Kelly Gerlach, Mia Ranck, Bella Ranck, Grace Rogers.
By Kelly Gerlach and Mackenzie Dysinger
The Glennallen High School track team finished their 2021 season during the last two weeks of May. Uncertain sports schedules this year kept the team roster small with distance runners Brynna Gerlach and Bella Ranck and sprinter Mia Ranck.
While track regionals and state signify an end to the girls’ racing season, it is also the pinnacle of their hard work and commitment. For the past few months, the Glennallen team has spent hours training while balancing schoolwork, music, theater, and other extracurricular activities. With the assistance of their coaches Kelly Gerlach and Mackenzie Dysinger, they have endeavored to become better people and athletes this 2021 season.
The team ran their first race at Homer High School, a mostly 4A meet with an outstanding field of competitors. The highlight of this meet was Bella Ranck’s personal best mile time of 6:47. The team made the most of their 16-hour drive by bringing a paddleboard and wet suits and riding the ocean tides after the races.
Susitna Valley High School hosted the Region II Championships on May 21-22. Preliminary races were held for the sprinters that Friday as well as the 3200m run. Mia Ranck competed in back-to-back preliminaries in both the 100m and 200m; she qualified for finals in the 100m. In one weekend she achieved personal records in the two events with a time of 33.85 for the 200m and 15.38 in the finals for the 100m.
Bella Ranck completed her first 3200m with a time of 15:11, while teammate Brynna Gerlach won the event with a time of 13:11. Both girls ran the 1600m in the wind and rain the following day. Brynna Gerlach managed both a win and a season best with a time of 6:02. Teammate Bella Ranck finished her 1600m with a strong sprint and time of 6:51.
Brynna Gerlach at state track meet at Dimond High School.
Distance runner Brynna Gerlach qualified to compete at the state level for both her events. As a team, the three girls and their coach headed to state on May 28-29. The ASAA Division II State Championships were held in Anchorage at Dimond High School. On Friday, May 28, Brynna Gerlach competed in the 3200m, earning a personal record by 9 seconds with a finishing time of 13:02.
The following day, despite the pouring rain, athletes from all over the state stepped on the track one last time for their 2021 season. With family and teammates cheering from the sidelines, Brynna Gerlach finished her 1600m with a time of 6:06.37. Glennallen High School commemorated their track season with a celebration dinner and lofty goals for next season.
Congratulations on a job well done!
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