Hiestand shatters 37-year-old record at Pacific Northwest Junior Olympic Championships

Following an illustrious season that saw Benjamin Hiestand defend his state title in the discus and place runner-up in the shot put, the rising senior took his talents to the Lower 48, competing against some of the best in the Pacific Northwest.

Hiestand launched the 3.5-pound discus to a monstrous 183 feet, 6 inches at the USATF Pacific Northwest Association Junior Olympic Championships in Tacoma, Wash., breaking the long-standing Chugiak High record by 19 inches, set by Erich Scheunemann in 1989.

The Mustang standout propelled the discus to the colossal mark on his sixth and final throw, tacking on more than three feet to his previous best and moving up to No. 2 all-time in Alaska prep history.

Hiestand’s throw catapulted him ahead of Scheunemann and Glennallen’s Judd Viersen, both of whom were also two-time discus state champions back in their day.

Only Jordan Clarke, a former Bartlett High standout, has ever thrown farther — according to lists initially kept by track and field historian Marcus Dunbar — launching the implement to an astounding 204-0 in 2008. Clarke went on to have a decorated collegiate career at Arizona State and later represented Team USA at the 2015 World Championships in the shot put.

Alaska Boys All-Time Discus

1. Jordan Clarke, Bartlett, 204-0 (2008)
2. Benjamin Hiestand, Chugiak, 183-6 (2026)
3. Erich Scheunemann, Chugiak, 181-11 (1989)
4. Judd Viersen, Glennallen, 181-6 (2000)
5. Jeremiah Richards, Palmer, 175-8 (1996)
6. Jimmy Magee, Kenai, 172-5 (1993)
7. Levi McKay, Skyview, 168-0 (2003)
8. John Knowles, Wasilla, 167-10 (2010)
9. Chris Lamb, Palmer, 167-0.5 (1988)
10. Erik Rasmussen, Homer, 166-9 (2007)

Source: Alaska Sports Report

Ten days earlier, Hiestand led a strong contingent of Alaskans at Nike Outdoor Nationals, placing seventh in the emerging elite section of the discus (171-2.25) at the historic Hayward Field.

Another highlight included Dimond’s Nevaeh Watkins, who tied for ninth in the championship section of the high jump. The rising senior cleared a season-best 5-7, in addition to competing in the emerging elite sections of the 100 (12.35) and 100 hurdles (15.33).

Delta Junction’s Iris Haas, a UAF commit, finished 21st in the championship section of the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7:25.55.

Other athletes in the emerging elite sections included Juneau-Douglas’ Bella Connally in the 100 (12.49), West’s Ansel Alexander in the 400 (50.24) and Kendall Barnett in the 800 (2:17.70) and mile (5:07.03), and Grace Christian’s Tagan Rinner in the 800 (2:17.90).

Rinner, who has committed to run at The Master’s University, returned to the track the following day, dropping a school-record 2:15.88 at the Portland Track Festival, eclipsing Cortney Ward’s 2:17.10 from 1999.

Dimond’s Jack Weiss lowered his personal best in the 800, clocking 1:58.49, to place 11th in the freshman section. He also sped to 51.27 in the 400. West’s Chloe Hayner also competed in the freshman section of the 400 (1:00.28).

Gruening’s Claire Shaha sped to a blistering 5:03.81 in the middle school mile, placing 12th. The time marks the fastest ever by an Alaskan middle school girl, while lowering her own 1,600-meter record for the fourth time this season, splitting 5:02.00. At the beginning of this season, the 1,600 record belonged to Allie Ostrander, who ran 5:15.53 at Kenai MS in 2011. Not to mention, Shaha’s time also doubles as a state lead, running faster than every prep runner in Alaska this season.

And finally, the Brian Young Invitational, hosted at Colony High earlier this month, yielded a slew of meet records and notable marks.

Tri-Valley’s Taylor Eddington clocked a blistering 15.03 in the 100 hurdles to move up to No. 6 in Alaska girls history.

Juneau-Douglas’ Bella Connally won the 200 in a sizzling 25.39 to jump to No. 9 in Alaska girls history.

The Southcentral All-Stars’ quartet of Jaelynn Kennon (Homer), Molly Evans (Homer), Josephine Kelley (Colony) and Eddington (Tri-Valley) sped to a meet-record 49.35 in the 4×100.

The Cook Inlet All-Stars’ Farrah Gamechuk (Bartlett), Mya Smothers (Bartlett), Sienna Johnson (Chugiak) and Anna Green (South) blazed to a meet-record 1:42.55 in the 4×200, which doubles as the fastest time in Alaska history.

The North/Southeast All-Stars’ Iris Haas (Delta Junction), Merrick Zook (West Valley), June Breitenbach (West Valley) and Landen Glynn (West Valley) clocked 3:48.07 in the mixed 4×400, which is believed to be the fastest in Alaska prep history.

Chugiak’s Finn Larsen leapt to a personal-best 44-9.25 in the triple jump, winning on his final attempt, while simultaneously topping the school record set by his brother, Anders — now an All-American at UAA — who jumped 44-2.75 in 2023.

Homer’s Tait Ostrom, a Lewis & Clark commit, won the 400 hurdles in 59.05.

Exhibition runner Curtis Beck, a rising junior at UAF and West Valley alum, posted top times of 21.87 (200) and 48.97 (400), respectively.

The meet, now in its 13th season, closed out with an unofficial “anything but a baton” relay.

Wrangell’s Boomchain Loucks, who completed the distance triple crown, and Eddington, who also won three events, were named athletes of the meet. Homer’s Molly Evans received the Kip Thomet Sportsmanship Award.

Both Loucks and Eddington later earned Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year honors for their historic performances throughout the season and dominance at the state meet. Loucks has committed to run at Western Washington University, while Eddington plans to compete in track and field and hockey at St. Catherine University in Minnesota.