Santiago Gomez-Prosser

The last time Santiago Gomez-Prosser raced, he was standing atop the podium with his NAU teammates at the national championships.

This time, the sophomore sped to a top-3 finish in the mile at the Lumberjack Team Challenge, held in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Gomez-Prosser, a Dimond High standout, clocked a time of 4 minutes, 14.25 seconds, to take bronze and shave off more than five seconds from his previous best, set in 2019.

Not only was the time a lifetime best, but the race was held in the university’s Walkup Skydome, situated at 6,800 feet. With an altitude conversion, the time equates to approximately 4:05 at sea level, which would place in the top seven in Alaska history.

Gomez-Prosser, who has already etched his name into the all-time list for 5,000 meters (No. 5), is on track to officially add his name to Alaska history for the mile and 3,000. This will only be his second track season for Northern Arizona, after redshirting last spring.

Blake Bennett

Another Alaskan present in the mile with Gomez-Prosser was Grand Canyon senior, Blake Bennett.

The former ACS star opened his season in the Skydome, running 4:25.68 to finish 11th in the 24-person field. The time ranks just outside his personal best, but quicker than his last appearance in the NAU arena, back in 2019.

Kodiak’s Keith Osowski opened his season at the Dave Little Meet in South Dakota. The Black Hills State senior notched two wins, running 4:23.86 in the mile and anchoring the distance medley relay.

Also at the Dave Little Meet were Soldotna’s Galen Brantley III and Dylan Dahlgren, both of Dickinson State.

Galen Brantley III

Brantley, a junior, took the win in the shot put, heaving the spherical ball 51 feet, 6.25 inches, while also registering a personal best by nine inches in the weight throw in 45 feet, 7.25 inches. Dahlgren, a freshman, entered his third competition for the Blue Hawks, throwing the shot put 45 feet, 0.5 inches, and the weight throw 40 feet, 6 inches.

At the Brant Tolsma Invitational in Virginia, William & Mary’s Lucy Young recorded a lifetime best in the mile. The sophomore, formerly of South High, rallied to a time of 5:10.07 in her season opener, taking over two seconds off her time from last spring.

Girdwood’s Ava Earl opened her season at the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open, racing the 3,000 meters. The Northwestern sophomore, also of South High, ran 9:47.42 in the ten-lap race to place third behind two teammates.

Audrey Rosencrans

Homer’s Audrey Rosencrans dropped down in distance at the Blue Marlin Invitational. The Academy of Art senior competed in the mile, recording a time of 5:18.72, in addition to the 800. Her time of 2:25.54 is a mere 0.38 seconds outside her lifetime best, set in 2017.

At the MLK Collegiate Invitational, CSU-Pueblo teammates Kaleb Beloy and Terrel Johnson both set personal bests in their respective events.

Beloy, formerly of South High, took off 15 seconds in the 3,000 meters, registering a time of 8:42.47. Johnson, a West Valley grad, set a personal best of 8.75 seconds in the 60 hurdles, while also clearing 6 feet, 0.75 inches in the high jump and leaping 22 feet, 5.75 inches in the long jump.

Other Alaskans who competed this weekend:

  • Eagle River’s Breanna Day of Chugiak High started her season at the Bellarmine Open. The Murray State sophomore recorded a personal best in the 3,000 (11:09.65).
  • Soldotna’s Cody Nye competed at the Cobbler Indoor Open. The Minnesota-Morris senior finished third in the shot put (45 feet, 5 inches) and sixth in the weight throw (45 feet, 4.25 inches).
  • Minnesota-Morris’ Lauren Parsons, formerly of South High, also competed at the Cobbler Indoor Open. The freshman achieved a personal best by over four feet in the weight throw (27 feet, 7.25 inches), in addition to competing in the shot put (23 feet, 4.75 inches).
  • Jordan Hayes, a Service High grad, made her collegiate track and field debut at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial. The Linfield freshman competed in the 60 (8.70) and 200 (28.28).
  • Soldotna’s Erika Arthur opened her season at the Bobcat Challenge. The Carroll (Mont.) sophomore competed in the 3,000 (11:47.92).
  • Palmer’s Tucker Christiansen also competed at the Bobcat Challenge. The Montana Tech sophomore raced the 400 (53.41) and ran a leg on the 4×400.
  • Jocelyn Chanonto, a Service High grad and current sophomore at Colorado State, competed at the UCCS Invite in the triple jump (34 feet, 1.5 inches).
  • Sebastian Sweda Mittelstadt, also a Service High grad, competed at the Weber State Indoor Meet. The Westminster (Utah) junior made his debut in the 3,000 (9:29.60).
  • Logan Mathieu, formerly of Chugiak High, competed at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invite. The North Dakota State sophomore raced the 60 hurdles (8.13) and 200 (23.00).
  • Jeremiah Wilson, also a Chugiak High grad, competed at the Western Colorado Open. The Colorado Mesa junior registered times in 60 (7.03) and 200 (23.66).
  • Colorado Mesa sophomore Reilly Hall, also of Chugiak High, competed in the 200 (27.94).

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