Isaac Updike didn’t compete in track and field in high school track because his spring sport at Ketchikan High School was soccer. On Saturday became the fastest miler in Alaska history when he clocked 3 minutes, 55.17 seconds at Boston University’s John Thomas Terrier Classic.
The historic achievement earned the 31-year-old pro runner our Alaska Athlete of the Week accolades.
Updike, whose principal event is the steeplechase, slashing 3.09 seconds off his previous best in the distance and topped the 3:55.54 run by Kodiak’s Trevor Dunbar in 2017.
Updike last year finished third in the steeple at the USATF national championships to make Team USA and qualify for the World Championships, where he made it to the final.
Also receiving votes:
- Ava Earl – The Northwestern junior from Girdwood finished runner-up at the UW Invite, stopping the clock at 9 minutes, 5.65 seconds to improve by nearly 20 seconds. The time ranks No. 2 all-time for Alaskans and No. 2 in program history.
- Adarra Hagelund – The Soldotna track and field standout continued to impress, becoming the NAIA leader in the high jump. The Dickinson State sophomore cleared a height of 5 feet, 8.75 inches on her second attempt to improve her own program record.
- Pete Kaiser – The Bethel musher won his eighth Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race on Sunday with a patient, efficient run that brought him to the Bethel finish line 41 minutes ahead of Willow’s Matthew Failor on Sunday morning.
- Zach Lujan – Anchorage’s Zach Lujan is moving up to the big leagues in college football. The former South High standout quarterback recently accepted a job to serve as offensive coordinator at Northwestern University at the FBS Division I level.
- Destiny Reimers – The Anchorage basketball player led the UAF Lady Nanooks to back-to-back GNAC wins. The 5-foot-9 junior guard scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in Saturday’s 77-73 victory over Western Oregon. Two days earlier against Saint Martin’s she bagged 11 points and seven assists.
The Alaska Athlete of the Week is selected by a panel each Monday
Have a candidate in mind? Email us your nomination: info@alaskasportshall.org.