Vanessa Aniteye
Eagle River’s Vanessa Aniteye has been on a roll this year, leaving swift times in her wake.
In the past seven months, the Seattle Pacific senior placed sixth at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships for 400 meters, running a personal-best and school-record time of 53.64 seconds; competed for Germany in the summer, recording lifetime bests in the 100 (12.12) and 200 (24.53); and completed her first cross country season, clocking 22:30 for six-kilometers (6:02 per mile), finishing as her team’s second scorer.
But Aniteye is not done.
The versatile athlete has been strategic leading up to her indoor debut in the 800 meters, acquiring strength from the cross country season to pair with her sprint speed. So far, the decision has paid off, collecting a win at the Spokane Invitational in 2 minutes, 13.04 seconds, and achieving an NCAA provisional mark in the process.
Aniteye currently ranks No. 1 nationally in Division II for 800 meters and will look to lower her time as the season progresses.
Kaleb Beloy
CSU-Pueblo sophomore Kaleb Beloy also added his name to the provisional qualifying list, running 4:19.96 for the mile at the UCCS Pre-Holiday Meet to claim his first collegiate win, trimming over eight seconds from his previous best set one week ago.
Since the mark was run at 6,300 feet elevation, the time gets converted to sea level for national qualifying purposes. Beloy, a South High grad, currently ranks fourth in Division II.
Similar to Beloy, UAA’s Cole Nash ran a quick time at altitude to find himself earning a provisional qualifier. Originally from Colorado, Nash flew home early for a chance to open his indoor season, clocking 14:42.69 for 5,000 meters, finishing second. With the conversion in place, Nash’s time ranks eighth in Division II this season.
In his first heptathlon of the season, CSU-Pueblo’s Terrel Johnson set a personal best, scoring 4,758 points — 59 points more than his previous best set at the RMAC Championships last spring. Johnson, a West Valley grad, set a personal best in the shot put (34 feet, 2.75 inches) en route to his heptathlon high score. The junior finished eighth, adding his name to the provisional qualifying list (No. 24) for Division II.
Oregon State’s Emma Nelson opened her senior season at the Spokane Invitational, placing runner-up in the high jump. Nelson, formerly of Chugiak High, cleared the initial two heights on her first try, to finish with a clearance of 5 feet, 7.25 inches.
Galen Brantley III
Galen Brantley III of Dickinson State began his junior season at the Marauders Open in the throws. Brantley, formerly of Soldotna High, placed second in the shot put (50 feet, 0.75 inches) and 12th in the weight throw (40 feet, 10.25 inches). Brantley also plays tight end on the football team for the Blue Hawks.
Soldotna’s Dylan Dahlgren, also of Dickinson State, made his collegiate debut in the throwing events. The freshman placed seventh in the weight throw (48 feet, 5.25 inches) and 11th in the shot put (42 feet, 5.25 inches). Like Brantley, Dahlgren is a two-sport athlete for the Blue Hawks, playing defensive line on the football team.
Other indoor track and field performances from Alaskans:
- Homer’s Audrey Rosencrans opened her season at the Spokane Invitational. The Academy of Art senior ran 10:40.15 to place ninth for 3,000 meters.
- Anchorage’s Sebastian Sweda Mittelstadt opened his junior season at the BYU Invite, making his track debut for Westminster (Utah). Sweda Mittelstadt, formerly of Service High, ran 4:36.68 to finish ninth in the mile.
- Eagle River’s Reilly Hall opened her sophomore season for Colorado Mesa at the Mountaineer Open. Hall, formerly of Chugiak High, ran 1:03.84 in the 400 meters to place ninth.
- Eagle River’s Jeremiah Wilson, also of Chugiak High, opened his season for Colorado Mesa. The junior placed sixth in the 200 (23.01) and 11th in the 60 (7.03).
- Fairbanks’ Nathan Sanches, formerly of Lathrop High and UAF, competed in the 5,000 meters for Colorado Mesa, running 16:31.87 to place seventh.
- Palmer’s Tucker Christiansen opened his season at the Bobcat Preview. The Montana Tech sophomore ran 53.29 in 400 to place third.
- Soldotna’s Nate Johnson made his collegiate debut at the Mountaineer Open. The Colorado Christian freshman placed 17th in the 400 (53.74) and 18th in the 200 (24.47).
- Anchorage’s Grant Goodman opened his sophomore season for Central College at the Dutch Holiday Preview. Goodman, a South High grad, placed eighth in the 3,000 (10:10.06) and ran a leg on the second-place 4×400-meter relay.
- Juneau’s James Connally made his collegiate debut for Eastern Oregon at the Spokane Invitational. Connally, a Juneau-Douglas grad, placed 17th in the 200 (22.64) and 19th in the 60 (7.22).
- Ketchikan’s Chris Llanos, also of Eastern Oregon, opened his season at the Spokane Invitational. The senior made his debut in the 5,000 meters, running 17:36.69 to place 17th.