Preston Merchant
One month into the high school track and field season, times have begun to drop and field event marks have increased, with a handful of new state leaders overtaking the rankings.
At the SoHi Invite, Preston Merchant of ACS seemingly soloed a personal best in the 3200, completing the eight-lap race in 9 minutes, 36.06 seconds, to lop over 11 seconds from his previous best, set last season. Merchant’s time not only topped the field by 54 seconds, but improves upon the early-season marks set by Homer’s Seamus McDonough (9:43.00) and Colony’s Matthew Rongitsch (9:44.18).
The trio of seniors ended up battling for another top time in the 1600, with Merchant narrowly edging McDonough, finishing in 4:30.48 to 4:30.51, respectively. Rongitsch, the Division I cross country state champion, finished third in 4:36.81.
Also at the meet, a pair of sophomores went stride-for-stride over the 300-meter hurdles.
Anaulie Sedivy
ACS’ Jenna Houck and Soldotna’s Anaulie Sedivy both covered the distance in 49.35 seconds, registering personal bests and a joint-state lead in the process. Houck, who won the event at Big C Relays, only took up hurdling this spring, while Sedivy, who placed sixth at last year’s state meet, broke 50 seconds for the first time.
In the shot put, Wasilla’s Eric Kolomeychuk opened the season with a state lead of 48 feet, 11.5 inches, while teammate Layla Hays threw 35 feet, 5 inches to improve her personal best by a whopping 21.5 inches, and also top the state rankings.
Kenai Central’s Emma Beck unleashed a monstrous throw in the discus, measuring 116 feet, 10 inches. Not only is the mark a state lead, but a personal best by over 20 feet, and her third-consecutive win in the event.
Campbell Peterson
Chugiak’s Campbell Peterson continues to reign in the long-distance events, setting the current state lead of 5:13.69 in 1600 at the Quad 1 Meet, adding to her early-season mark in the 3200 (11:21.23).
In the sprints, Ketchikan’s Jason Lorig dropped a massive personal best in the 100-meter prelims at the Capital City Invite.
Lorig, a sophomore and former state qualifier in the event, stopped the clock at 11.07 seconds, slicing 0.42 seconds off his previous best from last season. He doubled back for another win and personal best in the 200 (23.48) while also running a leg on his team’s 4×100-meter relay.
Brian Morris
After taking the win in the 100 at the Russ Edwards Big C Relays, East Anchorage senior, Brian Morris, added a personal best in the 200, running 22.36 seconds at the ASD All Schools Meet. Morris, who was crowned state champion as a sophomore, is the only Alaskan under 23 seconds so far this season — and he’s done so twice.
Dimond’s Sarah Dittman jumped to a new state lead and personal best in the long jump (15 feet, 11.75 inches), while Eagle River’s Gabrielle Okorodudu matched the feats in the triple jump (33 feet, 5.75 inches).
In the boys relays, East Anchorage surged to the state lead in the 4×100 (43.70) and 4×400 (3:35.37), while Chugiak narrowly holds the top time in the 4×200 (1:33.48). The Colony Knights rose to the lead in the 4×800 (8:55.15).
On the girls side, Dimond remains at the top for the 4×100 (53.07), while West Anchorage leads the state in the 4×200 (1:51.03). Chugiak boasts the top time in the 4×400 (4:11.07), while Juneau-Douglas surged to the lead in the 4×800 (10:07.14).