Eddington, Loucks and Haas claim multiple state titles; Homer, Sitka repeat as D2 champions

Repeat winners, sweeps, and historic times were the name of the game at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Track & Field State Championships.

Tri-Valley’s Taylor Eddington pulled off a rare feat in winning the 100, 200, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, while Wrangell’s Boomchain Loucks and Delta Junction’s Iris Haas captured the distance triple crowns. The Homer girls and Sitka boys repeated as Division II team champions.

Eddington has been on a tear all season long, but at the state meet she took it up a notch, achieving a state (meet) record in the 300 hurdle prelims in 43.31 — the fastest time ever recorded by an Alaska prep.

According to ASAA, state records can only be established at the state championships.

She also capped undefeated seasons in both the hurdles and the 200 against in-state competition.

Eddington, who doubles as a star hockey player on Alaska’s premier teams, was unstoppable at the state meet, collecting gold medals in the 100 (12.66), 200 (25.61), 100 hurdles (15.14) and 300 hurdles (43.79). Her time in the 100 hurdles is tied for ninth in Alaska prep history.

“I’ve always just kind of been dependent on myself,” said Eddington, after winning the 300 hurdles. “No matter who’s running with me, I need to push myself as hard as I can.”

“It’s my time against my time.”

Eddington had been eying the state record in the 300 hurdles after winning the state title one year ago, just a few months after picking up the event.

“After the state meet, my dad said, ‘state record’s only a second and a half away,’” said Eddington. “So that’s been my goal this whole season, to break that … I didn’t even think it was possible to shave off 0.86 off my time, but I did it.”

From training in the hallways to winning nine state titles — spanning from the cross country course to the 100-meter dash — the senior’s potential is immeasurable, as she plans to continue both hockey and track and field at St. Catherine University in Minnesota.

Wrangell’s Boomchain Loucks and Delta Junction’s Iris Haas both claimed triple crowns in the distance events, capping off their senior seasons at the top.

Loucks, a two-time Division III state champion in cross country, reamins undefeated in the distance events against in-state competition. His dedication this year has paid dividends, winning the 800 in a personal-best 1:57.16, while soloing 4:19.55 in the 1,600 and outkicking his competition in the 3,200 to win in 9:37.24.

“I was pretty nervous,” said Loucks after winning the 800. “But I just knew I had to relax, go with the flow, and with 250 to go, make a move.”

The Western Washington commit has played a huge role in Wrangell’s resurgence in the running scene, becoming its first track and field state champion, even if it meant training on suboptimal terrain.

“It brought a lot of confidence just practicing every day,” said Loucks, regarding his state-leading times. “I don’t have a track, so I have to go run on concrete and gravel. Every time I do a rep, it’s a little slow … so when I come here and run on the track, it feels really nice to go out there and run something fast.”

Like Loucks, Haas also had to get creative with training en route to her trio of wins at the state meet, taking the 800 (2:17.59), 1,600 (5:19.11) and 3,200 (11:31.99) decisively, while placing runner-up in the triple jump.

“I started with a lot of indoor workouts on the treadmill, and I think that set me up really [well] because I had to hit the times … there was no slowing down,” said Haas. “And then we moved outside and transitioned to more outdoor workouts, but I still hit some treadmill workouts during May.”

The reigning Division III cross country champion has continued to make history for Delta Junction, earning the program’s first state triple crown. The feat comes 15 years after Andrey Ionashku nearly achieved the triple, winning the 1,600 and 3,200 and finishing third in the 800. He later competed for UAA and now coaches the Huskies.

Haas also becomes the first track and field state champion in the 800 since Zoya Timoshenko in 2013.

But above all, the UAF commit credits her support system for her success at the state level.

“We have a really great community, so it was nice to represent them and just represent Region VI too ‘cause we all just support each other,” said Haas. “I don’t think I would do as [well] if it didn’t have the support that I have from my region and my town.”

Su Valley’s Jessie Wentworth and Redington’s Mia Bukala both defended their state titles, with Wentworth winning the high jump in 5-1 and Bukala taking the triple jump in 34-00.75, after overcoming a deficit to Haas in the prelims.

Jieaya Siatini Williams of Mountain City Christian Academy swept the shot put and discus for the second straight season. Her throw of 39-3.25 in the shot put elevated her to a four-time state champion in the event, after doubling back in the discus with a school-record throw of 131-9.

The senior and Wenatchee Valley commit in volleyball has been a force over the past four years — two of which she’s been undefeated against Division II competition — while holding the overall state leads throughout this season.

Siatini Williams relied on her technique and faith to stay focused throughout the competition, leading the Lions in qualifying four athletes to the shot put finals to comprise half the field.

“It feels really good,” said Siatini Williams, following her wins. “And I think it means that, even in the roughest times, you can always come out with a really good mark and even PR.”

Teammate Josh Woko, the ninth-best triple jumper in Alaska prep history, won his signature event with a mark of 42-4.75. The Dallas Baptist commit capped an undefeated season in the event, placed runner-up in the long jump and ran a leg on the winning 4×400 in 3:32.29. The Lions also claimed the 4×200 title in 1:33.16.

In the 400, it was all Unalakleet’s Ourea Busk who powered to her fourth straight title in the event, lowering her own school record in 57.74.

Busk burst onto the scene as a freshman and graduated as a seven-time state champion, including two in cross country, while adding to the Wolfpack’s growing legacy. The once one-woman team has since expanded to eight athletes, with the squad medaling in all six events they entered.

After fielding a 4×400 relay last spring that placed runner-up to Homer, the rematch between the Mariners and Wolfpack lived up to the excitement.

Unalakleet’s quartet of Isabella Eller, Turi Busk, Violet Jack and Ourea Busk held a steady lead over the defending champs, but a dropped baton during an exchange cost a few extra seconds before Ourea Busk regained the lead, anchoring the Wolfpack to their first ever relay state title in 4:13.25.

The Mariners picked up wins in the 4×100 (49.84), 4×200 (1:47.67) and 4×800 (9:45.74) — No. 6 in Alaska prep history — and from Jaelynn Kennon in the long jump (17-3) en route to their domination of the team standings. The title marks the third for Homer (’17, ’25, ’26), who defended their crown from last spring.

Additional scorers included Molly Evans (100 & 200), Maddy Miotke (100, 400 & long jump), Vera Bates (400), Etta Bynagle (800 & 1,600), Ariela Garvey (800, 1,600 & 3,200), Claira Booz (800, 1,600 & 3,200), Morgan Harness (800 & 1,600), Kennon (100 hurdles & high jump), Dayten VanOstrand (shot put & discus), Abby Sampson (high jump), Reilly Sue Baker (high jump, long jump & triple jump).

The Mariners scored a whopping 157 points — 88 points ahead of runner-up Seward.

Valdez’s Kyle Petersen swept the throws on the boys side, with strong marks of 157-2 in the discus and 48-0.50 in the shot put. Petersen is the first shot put state champion in Buccaneer history and the first discus champion since Dennis Mott in 2022.

Monroe Catholic’s Tristin Nicholson won the 400 in 51.44, lowering his own school record in the process.

Grace Christian’s Chris Jones won the 110 hurdles in 15.75, upgrading his bronze from one year ago.

Homer’s Tait Ostrom won the 300 hurdles in a school-record 40.76. He also ran a leg on the winning 4×800 (8:18.68), toppling yet another program record.

Skagway’s Royce Borst concluded an undefeated season in the high jump with a clearance of 6-2. Although the height was matched by Seward’s Luke Elhard, Borst committed fewer misses. The high jump state title was a first in program history for the Panthers and first in any event since Mickey Wilson completed the 400/800 double in 2010.

Sitka’s Calder Prussian swept the sprints, winning the 100 and 200 in school records of 11.19 and 22.44 to lead the Wolves to a successful team title defense. The Wolves also won the 4×100 (45.04) and Cole McLaughlin won the long jump (20-5.75). The Olympic College signee made the most of his training, which included workouts around the school’s hallways and dirt track to cement his name into the history books.

Additional scorers included Andrew Mullin (100 & 200), McLaughlin (200 & triple jump), Francis Myers (400 & triple jump), Zach Martens (800), James Nellis (110 hurdles & 300 hurdles), Shane Tincher (shot put & discus), Ashton Peterson (high jump) and Zander Sudnikovich-Remington (long jump), while the Wolves also scored points in the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relays.

Teammate Jack Mickelson won the men’s unified/partners long jump with Ashton Peterson.

The Wolves scored 102.5 points to net their third straight team title, edging runner-up Mountain City Christian Academy by 5.5 points.

Full results here.