By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Running with a pack of Sitka Wolves on land has strengthened senior harrier Skyler McIntyre so much he will take that to the seas, so to speak, as in the Seawolves.
McIntyre recently signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage and will be part of the Seawolves cross country and track and field teams.
“The UAA coach said he saw me run at State and he wanted me,” McIntyre said. “I’m a hard-working, dedicated runner that is super-excited to compete. It’s been my dream for the past four years to get to the collegiate level. I’m going to work really hard when I get there.”
UAA is in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the top tier of Division II athletics.
“They’re getting a kid who is committed, a kid who has lots of room for growth,” Sitka High track & field coach Jeremy Strong said. “He’s only been running competitively for three years.”
McIntyre didn’t run cross-country as a freshman but he showed up for track.
He attended a camp at the University of Oregon that summer, tried the mile, and loved it. Over the course of three seasons he has progressed to become one of the best distance runners in the state.
“He’s a good picture of if you work hard and put in the effort really good things can happen for you,” Strong said.
Sitka High School Wolves senior Skyler McIntyre signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University
of Alaska Anchorage as a member of the Seawolves cross country running and track and field teams. McIntyre is shown at the signing ceremony in the Sitka High Gym with Sitka High Wolves cross country coach Shasta Smith, Sitka High Wolves track and field coach Jeremy Strong, and legal guardians and grandparents Anthony and Carolyn McIntyre. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
McIntyre also chose UAA for their curricula.
“I’m going into the medical field, studying physical therapy, and they have a great medical program at UAA,” he said. “It just seemed like a perfect fit. Right now the coach is letting me focus on my last high school season. This summer I will be on his training plan heading into the cross country season.”
UAA assistant cross country and track coach Ryan McWilliams said McIntyre’s high school performances in both track and field and cross country speak for themselves. Former UAA athletes Diane Chong and Kelsie Johnson had told McWilliams about the upcoming runner.
“Sure enough, he shows up on the scene and has been running really well,” McWilliams said. “Obviously, we have been really successful in cross country and specifically the distance side in track and field. He’s going to be coming into a really talented but young group so he will be around the core group for most of his career. We function at a high level, especially on the distance side, so him getting in with the group and pushing himself every day is the expectation.. If he comes in and puts his head in with the group and gets to buying in and doing the work the expectations are he’s going to have a pretty good career here.”
Three on the Seawolves current roster are freshmen runners McIntyre has been competitive with in high school races: Kaleb Korta (Galena), Jacob Moos (Galena), and Declan Dammeyer (Anchorage).
College cross country meets are typically 8K or 10K distance, a bit longer than the high school 5K.
“My goal in the 10K would be a 32:30,” McIntyre said.
He ran a 4:41 mile and 9:37 two mile last year. He was the Region V District II cross country champion this season with a faster time than his DI season opponents. He placed fourth at State, and he also placed third in the 3200 at State last season.
McIntyre hopes to be running the 5K/10K in the outdoor track season and 3K/5K during the indoor season.
“But I’m a pure long distance runner more than a middle distance,” he said. “It’s going to be a big transition period for me. I’m excited to compete at that level, and also to finally become an adult and learn to function in the real world.”
The time commitment and the longer season will be the biggest changes.
“The season is longer, we start a little bit sooner and we go a little bit longer,” UAA’s McWilliams said. “The amount of time you have to dedicate to it is much higher than it is for the vast majority of high school kids across the nation. On a day-to-day and month-to-month basis you’re going to be active for longer. It takes some getting used to. It’s different for everybody, most everybody experiences it to some level though, and that’s usually the main obstacle in making the jump to college.”
McWilliams said they’re not concerned about track events yet.
“A lot of that can be based on how his cross country season is going to go,” he said. “But I wouldn’t feel confidant picking any particular outdoor event for him; hopefully, that arrives organically and naturally, that there is one he’s obviously going to be better in. We’re really excited to have him – it’s great having those Alaska in-state signees and I think he’s going to be a good one. We’re pretty pumped to get him up here next year and start working with him.”
McIntyre said he will miss his training partner, Sitka junior Dominic Baciocco, and the team vibe he had with the Wolves.
He also thanked his grandparents, Anthony and Carolyn McIntyre, who basically raised him since he was born, becoming his legal guardians when he was 4 years old.
“I’m extremely happy that I stayed here in Sitka with my grandparents,” he said. “They want the best for me. My grandpa was a runner back in the day so I’m just following in his footsteps.”
Anthony ran cross country and track at San Clemente High in California.
“When Skyler was in track he said to come down and watch him run,” Anthony said. “I watched him run and he asked me, ‘what do you think?’ I said, ‘I think you are a distance runner.’”
“We couldn’t ask for a better grandson,” Carolyn said.
“Or son,” Anthony added. “He is a great kid.”
