Colony’s Ella Hopkins & Grace Christian’s Robbie Annett. Photos by Peter Pounds
More than 800 prep athletes representing 25 teams toed the line at the Ted McKenney Invitational, going head-to-head against competitors statewide.
Colony’s Ella Hopkins and Grace Christian’s Robbie Annett defended their titles by significant margins over the five-kilometer distance, with Hopkins clocking 19 minutes, 15 seconds and Annett in 16:04, respectively.
Hopkins, who led by one second at the halfway point over Chugiak’s Hannah Shaha — the defending Division I state champion — pulled away over the next two and a half kilometers to earn her second win of the season and break her personal best. The senior opened her season at the Redington Top Dog Invite, winning at the 4.5-kilometer distance.
Hopkins becomes the first two-time winner at Tsalteshi Trails on the girls side since Kenai Central’s Allie Ostrander, who completed the rare four-peat from 2011-2014.
Behind Hopkins, East’s Rosie Conway and Wasilla’s Hailee Giacobbe battled for the runner-up spot, with both athletes clocking 19:29 for personal bests, while Conway was awarded second place.
Chugiak’s Hannah Shaha (19:43) and Hannah Bodkin (20:06) rounded out the top five, leading the Mustangs to the team title — their 22nd consecutive win against in-state competition. The streak is one of the longest in recent years and dates back to the 2021 season, including three state titles.
By placing all five runners in the top 23, the Mustangs tallied 65 points, while the Colony Knights netted 85 points to finish runner-up.
Girls Top 10
- Ella Hopkins, Colony, 19:15
- Rosie Conway, East, 19:29
- Hailee Giacobbe, Wasilla, 19:29
- Hannah Shaha, Chugiak, 19:43
- Hannah Bodkin, Chugiak, 20:06
- Tania Boonstra, Soldotna, 20:07
- Talia Smith, Service, 20:11
- Fiona Selvik, Service, 20:17
- Aubrey Virgin, Colony, 20:19
- Kathryn DeBardelaben, Soldotna, 20:26
On the boys side, Grace Christian’s Robbie Annett sped to an eight-second lead at the halfway point over teammate Colton Merriner. The senior and defending Division II state champion powered to the win in 16:04, notching a 35-second margin of victory over the field.
Annett becomes the first two-time winner at Tsalteshi Trails on the boys side since Dimond’s Santiago Prosser (2017-2018), who now competes for Northern Arizona — an NCAA Division I powerhouse. The senior also netted his second win of the season, after opening his season at the Grizzly Invitational.
South’s Vebjørn Flagstad placed runner-up in 16:39, followed by East’s Katahdin Staples in 16:43 to snag a huge personal best. Chugiak’s David Penfield (16:53) and Grace Christian’s Colton Merriner (17:00) rounded out the top five.
Led by Flagstad’s second-place finish, the South Anchorage Wolverines placed all five runners in the top 16 to amass just 50 points. Despite graduating two athletes from their state-winning team, the Wolverines appear stronger than ever and will look to defend their title in October.
The Colony Knights finished runner-up with 115 points.
Boys Top 10
- Robbie Annett, Grace, 16:04
- Vebjørn Flagstad, South, 16:39
- Katahdin Staples, East, 16:43
- David Penfield, Chugiak, 16:53
- Colton Merriner, Grace, 17:00
- Jaxon Henrie, South, 17:01
- Elias Oswald, Service, 17:01
- Johannes Bynagle, Homer, 17:04
- Ned Peters, Bethel, 17:06
- Coby Marvin, Colony, 17:10
Full results here.
