At a triad of track meets, Alaskans shined brighter than the North Star.
Kicking off the action in Seattle was Santiago Gomez-Prosser, who had a stellar day at the Husky Classic, recording a massive personal best in 3,000 meters.
The Northern Arizona sophomore and former Dimond High star clocked a time of 7 minutes, 59.66 seconds to finish 16th in the 92-person field.
The time — a 28-second improvement — rockets him onto the Alaska all-time list at No. 4, behind Trevor Dunbar, Don Clary, and Isaac Updike. He joins his uncle, the late Laird Prosser, who sits at No. 10.
Alaska Men’s All-Time 3,000
1. Trevor Dunbar, 7:43.33 (2/16)
2. Don Clary, 7:46.42 (6/82)
3. Isaac Updike, 7:47.93 (2/20)
4. Santiago Gomez-Prosser, 7:59.66 (2/23)
5. David Morris, 8:03.69 (3/93)
6. Tristian Merchant, 8:04.97 (1/23)
7. Levi Thomet, 8:06.97 (2/17)
8. Marcus Dunbar, 8:09.64 (3/92)
9. Carl Blackhurst, 8:10.01 (1/03)
10. Laird Prosser, 8:14.7 (3/98)
Juneau’s Sadie Tuckwood also found success in Seattle, recording a lifetime best in the mile.
The Gonzaga sophomore sped to a time of 4:56.92 — a whopping 12 seconds quicker than her mark from one week ago. Tuckwood, a multi-time state medallist while at Juneau-Douglas, finished second in her section and ran to the seventh-best time in program history.
In the same heat, Palmer’s Sophie Wright also walked away with a lifetime best. The Western Washington sophomore trimmed over two seconds from her time, running 4:58.19 — fourth in program history.
In dipping under the five-minute barrier for the first time, both women add their names to the Alaska all-time list, with Tuckwood ranking fifth and Wright sitting eighth.
Alaska Women’s All-Time Mile
1. Allie Ostrander, 4:35.79 (1/19)
2. Kaarin Knudson, 4:43.88 (3/99)
3. Ruby Lindquist, 4:52.60 (2/22)
4. Betsy Haines, 4:56.5 (1977)
5. Sadie Tuckwood, 4:56.92 (2/23)
6. Caitlin Reese, 4:57.18 (1/03)
7. Morgan Ekemo, 4:57.27 (2004)
8. Sophie Wright, 4:58.19 (2/23)
9. Ava Earl, 4:58.42 (2/22)
10. Ari Goldstein, 4:58.63 (2008)
Continuing her Division II dominance, Eagle River’s Vanessa Aniteye rose to the top spot in the 800 meters for the fourth time over the past ten weeks.
While she was briefly overtaken by a runner from Grand Valley State on her down week, the Seattle Pacific senior returned to business, zooming to a personal best of 2:07.53 — 1.21 seconds quicker than her last outing. Aniteye won her heat, running to the second-quickest time in program history and maintaining her No. 5 spot on the Alaska all-time list.
Across the country, Girdwood’s Ava Earl competed at the David Hemery Valentine Invite.
The Northwestern sophomore and South High grad raced against a high-quality field over 3,000 meters at Boston University. Earl clocked 9:25.64, improving her personal best by just under two seconds. The time ranks third in Alaska history.
Also at the meet was Kodiak’s Keith Osowski, a senior at Black Hills State University.
Osowski, running in his first meet at sea level this season, came away with a personal best of 8:23.13 in the 3,000 to slice three seconds from his former time.
Tristian Merchant continued his blazing season by running to a personal best time in the mile at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational.
Merchant, an ACS superstar, dropped over three seconds from his mile, running 4:05.12. The time moved the Liberty sophomore to sixth in program history and No. 8 in Alaska history.
Alaska Men’s All-Time Mile
1. Trevor Dunbar, 3:55.54 (6/17)
2. Isaac Updike, 3:58.26 (2/21)
3. Marcus Dunbar, 4:00.58 (6/93)
4. Don Clary, 4:01.30 (1982)
5. Richard Hunz, 4:04.0 (1/84)
6. Richard Lee, 4:04.26 (6.98)
7. Jacob Kirk, 4:04.83 (2/14)
8. Tristian Merchant, 4:05.12 (2/23)
9. David Morris, 4:05.49 (2/93)
10. Tony Tomsich, 4:07.06 (2/10)
Lucy Young, formerly of South High, also competed in the mile. The William & Mary sophomore ran to a personal best of 5:08.37, to take off 1.7 seconds from her previous time.
At the Whitworth Invitational, UAA represented well across multiple events.
Fairbanks’ Olivia Manley led the charge in the sprinting events, opening her collegiate career with strong marks in the 60 (7.88) and 200 (25.62), while also running a leg on the 4×400 relay. In just her first meet, the West Valley standout ranks third and seventh in program history.
Manley was joined in the 200 by Sitka duo, Joei Vidad (26.19) and Haley Bartolaba (27.11), in addition to Kaitlyn Backman (26.37), formerly of West High.
Vidad led the charge in the 400 (59.99), followed by Sophia Cvancara (1:00.76), a former Dimond High sprinter, Backman (1:00.91), and Bartolaba (1:02.30).
Bailey Roe, a West Valley grad, led the green and gold in the 800 (2:22.09), while Haines’ Avery Williamson made her official debut in the 3,000 (10:58.25). Williamson was joined by Sofija Spaić (11:19.87), a former Colony High athlete, also debuting in the distance.
Mikayla Mader, a Bartlett High grad, had a strong day in the high jump (4 feet, 9.75 inches) and 60 hurdles (9.74). The senior set indoor bests in both events, and now ranks eighth and tenth in program history.
On the men’s side, Jacob Belanger, formerly of Service High, led the way in the 60 (7.27), while also competing in the 200 (23.06).
Anchorage’s Ty Elliot, a Grace Christian grad, made his debut in the 3,000. The freshman ran 8:34.42 to finish second in his heat and ninth overall in the 53-person field.
Felix Robertson, formerly of Colony High, sped to a personal best in the 60 hurdles (9.19), while also competing in the triple jump (40 feet, 8.25 inches) and tying his best in the long jump (19 feet, 9.75 inches).
A pair of UAA records were also reset in Seattle and Spokane.
Colorado’s Drew Johnson blazed to 4:09.96 in the mile, erasing Alfred Kangogo’s time of 4:10.52, set in 2013. Kangogo, though, still holds the all-time mark of 4:05.36, ran at The Dome against Kodiak’s Trevor Dunbar, before indoor track and field was instated as a UAA sport.
Germany’s Maximilian Kremser began his first indoor season with a bang. The freshman made his collegiate debut in the 400, speeding to a time of 48.25 to improve on the previous record of 48.31, set by Eagle River’s Ethan Hewitt in 2014.
Colorado’s Cole Nash ran a blistering time in the 5,000 (13:48.46) — less than one second from Micah Chelimo’s record (13:47.73) set in 2014, which doubles as the GNAC record.
Other indoor track and field performances from Alaskans:
- Sitka’s Dominic Baciocco recorded a personal best at the Husky Classic. The Santa Clara sophomore competed in the 3,000 (8:28.26), lowering his time by six seconds.
- Blake Bennett, formerly of ACS, competed at the Don Kirby Invitational. The Grand Canyon senior lowered his personal best in the mile (4:19.04), while also racing the 3,000 (8:30.93) at altitude.
- Homer’s Audrey Rosencrans competed at the DII Indoor Pre-Nationals Meet. The Academy of Art senior collected a 10-second personal best in the 3,000 (10:10.06), while also lowering her season best in the 5,000 (17:44.35).
- Soldotna’s Dylan Dahlgren set a personal best at the SDSU Indoor Classic. The Dickinson State freshman competed in the weight throw (49 feet, 5.75 inches), improving by almost one foot.
- Chugiak’s Emma Nelson competed at the Don Kirby Invitational. The Oregon State senior placed eighth in the high jump (5 feet, 7.75 inches).
- Delta Junction’s Hailey Williams competed at the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge. The Duke junior placed tenth in the 60 (7.81).