Claire Shaha and Katahdin Staples sped to victories at the Ted McKenney Invite. Photos by Erin Shaha and Harlow Robinson/Alaska Sports Report
More than 700 prep athletes representing 23 schools toed the line at the Ted McKenney Invitational in Soldotna, navigating the Tsalteshi Ski Trails over a 5-kilometer course.
Chugiak’s Claire Shaha kicked off her high school career with a win in 19 minutes, 15 seconds, leading the Mustangs to a sweep of the team titles while becoming the first freshman to win the race in a decade.
Shaha combined with teammate Maddison Kukuk (19:21) for a lethal 1-2 punch, as the Mustangs galloped to the team title with 52 points. Chugiak enters the season as the five-time defending state champions and currently owns a 12-meet win streak against in-state competition.
Shaha, sister of 2023 state champion Hannah Shaha, is the first freshman to win the race since West Valley’s Kendall Kramer in 2016 and second since Kenai Central’s Allie Ostrander in 2011.
Both Kramer and Ostrander have continued their storied careers at the national and international levels, winning NCAA titles for UAF and Boise State, before competing professionally.
After graduating two from their state championship-winning squad, the Mustangs have reloaded. Photo by Erin Shaha
Earlier this year, Shaha reset Ostrander’s Alaska middle school record in the 1,600, lowering it from 5:15 to 5:02 while competing for Gruening. She also collected eight ASD Championship titles — two in cross country and six on the track.
Colony’s Wren Spangler, the reigning Mount Marathon junior champion, took third in 19:25, after moving up a dozen spots in the second half of the race. Eagle River’s Ashlyn Paynter (19:32) took fourth, followed by Colony’s Aubrey Virgin (19:38) in fifth.
Spangler and Virgin led the Knights to a runner-up showing with 64 points, followed closely by the East Thunderbirds (74) in third. The T-Birds put together one of their strongest performances in recent history, as all five scorers were inside the top-19.
Girls Top 10
- Claire Shaha, Chugiak, 19:15
- Maddison Kukuk, Chugiak, 19:21
- Wren Spangler, Colony, 19:25
- Ashlyn Paynter, Eagle River, 19:32
- Aubrey Virgin, Colony, 19:38
- Kendall Barnett, West, 19:42
- Fiona Selvik, Service, 19:42
- Rylee Ruggles, Chugiak, 19:46
- Karley Tichenor, Palmer, 19:46
- Madeleine Lojewski, East, 19:48
Full results here.
Just two races into his senior season, Staples is as strong as ever. Photo courtesy of BDEAHS Track & Field and XC
On the boys side, East’s Katahdin Staples won in a blistering 15:54 to defend his title, recording the fastest season opener at the meet since 2018.
The senior and two-time defending state champion was all business in Soldotna, leading wire-to-wire and winning by 16 seconds a week after taking the 3K at the Eagle River Quad Meet. Last fall, Staples capped an undefeated season and became the first back-to-back champion in more than a decade.
Staples’ time is the fastest opener at Tsalteshi since Santiago Prosser’s 15:45 in 2018. Prosser, a Dimond High alum, later went on to compete at Northern Arizona, helping the Lumberjacks to the NCAA cross country title in 2022.
Mountain City Christian Academy’s Breyden Nottingham — the defending D2 state champion — took runner-up in 16:10.
West’s Atlin Frederick (16:26), Bethel’s Cole Iverson (16:35) and West’s Finn Dudley (16:38) rounded out the top-5. Iverson’s time is a 27-second personal best and the second-fastest in program history, just four ticks behind Ned Peters, who now runs for UAF.
Chugiak’s Joe Laudermilch and Bennett Hamm led the Mustangs to the team title with 62 points, putting all five scorers in the top-17. The Colony Knights finished runner-up with 86, led by Benjamin Aliberti in tenth, while the West Eagles (101) took third after placing a trio in the top-10.
Boys Top 10
- Katahdin Staples, East, 15:54
- Breyden Nottingham, MCCA, 16:10
- Atlin Frederick, West, 16:26
- Cole Iverson, Bethel, 16:35
- Finn Dudley, West, 16:38
- Joe Laudermilch, Chugiak, 16:40
- Peter May, South, 16:40
- Bennett Hamm, Chugiak, 16:42
- Arlo Jespersen, West, 16:44
- Benjamin Aliberti, Colony, 16:46
Full results here.
Around the state:
- West Valley’s Miriam Armstrong defended her title at the North Pole Classic in 20:01, winning by 49 seconds and leading the Wolfpack to a sweep of the team titles with perfect scores (15). Monroe Catholic’s Myles Werle took the boys race in 18:04, winning by 0.1 seconds.
- Wrangell’s Jenna Meissner — the defending D3 state champion — won the Sitka Invitational in 21:27 by 12 seconds. Sitka’s Derek Wilson collected his first career cross country victory in 17:16, winning by 31 seconds. Juneau-Douglas and Ketchikan took home the team titles.
