A year after narrowly missing out on qualifying for state, East’s Katahdin Staples returned with a vengeance.

The sophomore captured his first region title at Kincaid Park in 16 minutes, 34 seconds, while South’s Mia Stiassny embodied her dark horse mentality, covering the five-kilometer course in 19:04.

Staples, the Division I leader, toed the line as pre-race favorite with history just ahead of him.

Once the starting gun sounded, the sophomore’s original race plan went out the window and he decided to embrace the race atmosphere.

“It felt like this was the race to make it happen,” said Staples. “I was gonna try and pace myself and pick it up at the halfway mark, but then I went out and just felt good.”

Staples, the reigning Big 8 Invitational champion, and South’s Vebjørn Flagstad — the defending region champion — battled at the beginning of the first lap before separating on the hills.

The rivals had met twice this season, with a 1-1 head-to-head record going into the race.

Staples created a significant gap on the undulating course, utilizing his speed after beginning his season’s taper.

The T-bird ultimately outdistanced the field by 12 seconds to become the first East boy to win the region meet since John Farr in 2012.

“I love the red and blue so much,” said Staples. “To represent East and show that East is still always a contender — it makes me so happy.”

Staples raised his arms in triumph after crossing the line, celebrating his historic effort and his season of hard work as a newly-crowned region champion.

Led by Jaxon Henrie’s third-place finish, the South Wolverines put all five scorers in the top 15 to dominate the team competition with 42 points. Chugiak finished runner-up with 66 points, while Service (78) and West (95) rounded out the top four.

Boys Top 10

1. Katahdin Staples, East, 16:34
2. Elias Oswald, Service, 16:46
3. Jaxon Henrie, South, 16:47
4. David Penfield, Chugiak, 16:47
5. Vebjørn Flagstad, South, 16:51
6. Springer Moore, Service, 16:54
7. Thomas Ringsmuth, Chugiak, 16:55
8. Owen Harth, South, 16:57
9. Noa Kam-Magruder, Dimond, 17:09
10. Luke Shaw, Eagle River, 17:10

Full results here.

In the girls race, South’s Mia Stiassny entered the meet as a dark horse, having competed just once prior this season.

While she placed third at the State Preview two weeks ago, this was the junior’s maiden race at Kincaid this fall.

“Going into the race, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Stiassny. “But I believed in myself — I knew it was possible.”

The triple sport athlete showed no signs of rust as she filed into the lead pack with Chugiak’s Hannah Shaha, Dimond’s Ellie Stull and Avrey Campbell, Service’s Miya Kam-Magruder and East’s Rosie Conway.

The junior bided her time on the trails she knew like the back of her hand.

“We race these trails a lot for skiing,” said Stiassny. “I think that’s a big factor that helped me out a lot.”

Stiassny surged to the lead late during the second loop, pulling away from a strong field to collect her first region title and South’s first on the girls side since Robyn Miller in 2021.

“My whole mentality going in was: start the race and then see how it starts going,” said Stiassny. “Eventually I was like, ‘I’m just gonna be brave and take the front.’”

Led by Alliyah Miller’s fourth-place finish, the Chugiak Mustangs galloped away with their fourth-consecutive team title, amassing 41 points. Dimond placed runner-up with 71 points, while South (83) took third. East (91) nabbed the fourth and final team qualifier, earning their first trip to the state championships since 2012.

Girls Top 10

1. Mia Stiassny, South, 19:04
2. Rosie Conway, East, 19:24
3. Ellie Stull, Dimond, 19:30
4. Alliyah Fields, Chugiak, 19:31
5. Avrey Campbell, Dimond, 19:32
6. Hannah Bodkin, Chugiak, 19:38
7. Petra Knox, Chugiak, 19:43
8. Miya Kam-Magruder, Service, 19:59
9. Talia Smith, Service, 20:02
10. Fiona Selvik, Service, 20:10

Full results here.

At least 10 region meets were held statewide over the weekend, representing the penultimate meet for prep cross country runners across all three divisions.

At the Region III Championships, Grace Christian’s Robbie Annett defended his title in a blistering 15:28, setting a personal best, a state-leading time and leading the Grizzlies to victory in the Division 2 race. Seward’s Olive Jordan clocked 19:43, winning her region debut and helping the Seahawks narrowly collect the Division 2 title over Homer. The Colony Knights swept the team titles in the Division 1 races with Coby Marvin (16:31) and Trygve Vang-Thompson (16:33) going 1-2, while Wasilla’s Hailee Giacobbe sped to victory in 18:19 — the fastest time in the state this season.

The Region V Championships included a pair of sweeps in the Division 1 and 2 races by Juneau-Douglas and Sitka, with the Crimson Bears collecting their 11th-consecutive (girls) and 35th-consecutive (boys) region cross country titles. Led by Juneau’s Ida Meyer (19:37) and Sitka’s Clare Mullin (19:06), the girls teams each earned perfect scores of 15 points, while Juneau’s Nick Iverson (16:27) and Sitka’s Connor Hitchcock (16:23) won the boys races. In the Division 3 races, Wrangell’s Boomchain Loucks (16:51) narrowly edged Craig’s Aulis Nelson by half a second, leading the Wolves to the team title. Petersburg’s Maria Toth (21:36), Cadence Flint (21:43) and Arielle Tucker (21:59) went 1-2-3 to decimate the team competition.

At the Region VI Championships, individual winners were Lathrop’s Solveig Finstad (20:14), North Pole’s Loch Johnson (17:41), Delta Junction’s Iris Haas (20:11) and Monroe Catholic’s Myles Werle (18:00). In the team competition, the Lathrop girls and West Valley boys won the Division 1 titles; Delta Junction and Valdez captured the Division 2 titles.

At the Bering Strait Regionals, Unalakleet’s Ourea Busk (20:33), Isabella Eller (21:51) and Cedar Busk (25:02) swept the top three spots in the girls race, while Shaktoolik’s Seth Paniptchuk (18:37), Shishmaref’s Norman Stenek (19:22) and Golovin’s Derrick Smith (19:23) medaled in the boys race.

At the North Slope Borough Conference, Nome-Beltz’s Orson Hoogendorn (18:08) and AwaLuk Nichols (22:28) each won their fourth-consecutive region titles, while Bethel swept the team titles in the Division 2 race. Anaktuvuk Pass’ Justus Mulcahy (23:18) and Tikigaq’s Jennifer Nash (25:08) were victorious in the Division 3 race.

At the Lower Kuskokwim Conference, Kipnuk’s Daniel Dock won in 18:09, followed by Kwethluk’s Dawyne Maxie (18:50) and Klayton Maxie (19:05). In the girls race, Chefornak’s Abbygail Mael (23:50) took top honors, followed by Quinhagak’s Dana Roberts (23:59) and Chefornak’s Destiny Panruk (24:14).

At the Southwest Conference, Dillingham swept the team titles, while Tanalian’s Erin McGee (18:59) won the boys race. Dillingham’s Graelin Chaney (19:21) and Manokotak’s Jethron Nanalook (19:29) rounded out the top three. Newhalen’s Pagan Lester (23:47) won the girls race, followed closely by Bristol Bay’s Phelps Brooke (23:48) and Igiugig’s Shea Nelson (24:53).

At the Greater Yukon Delta Conference, Hooper Bay’s Payton Nanuk (19:18) won the boy’s race, followed by Chevak’s Laiton Pingayak (19:27) and Emmonak’s Connor Hootch. Hooper Bay’s Ariana Tall-Lake (23:56) and Erica Aguchak (25:39) went 1-2, followed by Scammon Bay’s Daisymae Tunutmoak (25:45).

Lastly, at the Greater Kuskokwim Conference, Akiachak’s Bryson Kasayulie (20:22) and Charlie Chingliak (20:26) led the Huskies to the team title, followed by Akiak’s Daveion Jasper (21:38). Kalskag’s Alysha Levi (25:07) won the girls race, followed by Sleetmute’s Kiley Hayden (26:08) and Kalskag’s Lakeisha Levi (27:22).

ASAA/First National Bank of Alaska
Cross Country State Championships
Saturday at Bartlett High School Trails
10:00 am – Division III Girls
11:00 am – Division III Boys
12:00 pm – Division II Girls
12:45 pm – Division I Girls
1:30 pm – Division II Boys
2:15 pm – Division I Boys