East’s Katahdin Staples won his third consecutive title at the CIC Region IV Championships. Photo by Urban Enkvist
Every time Katahdin Staples toes the line, history is at stake.
This time was no different.
The East High senior took control of the CIC Region IV Championships for the third year in a row, conquering the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 46 seconds, to become just the seventh boy to three-peat in meet history.
Running wire-to-wire, Staples led from the start and continued to increase his gap on the field throughout the two-loop course, winning by 30 seconds over West’s Atlin Frederick.
But for the sensational senior and two-time defending state champion, his victory meant more to him than just winning, becoming the first boy to three-peat since Chugiak’s Ty Jordan from 2013-15 and becoming the first East High boy to three-peat since Don Clary from 1972-74. In fact, history was also being re-written as the final state qualifiers filed across the finish line.
CIC Region IV Boys Individual Three-Peats
Katahdin Staples, East, 2024-26
Ty Jordan, Chugiak, 2013-15
Aaron Fletcher, South, 2006-08
Jesse Cherry, Chugiak, 2002-04
Miguel Gomez, West, 1991-93
Doug Herron, Bartlett, 1982-84
Don Clary, East, 1972-74
This time, Staples qualified with two of his training partners — teammate Holden Aquino and Elliott Drake of Bartlett, the lone Golden Bear in the varsity race. Both were pulled to history, in part by the three-time region champ’s strong pace.
“I’m so happy that my teammate Holden Aquino qualified to state as well,” said Staples. “And one of our closest friends, Elliott Drake, also qualified from Bartlett. East’s and Bartlett’s programs have always been kind of like interconnected, and just to have all of us three make it to state — it really feels so special for us.”
Aquino, a junior, will join Staples at the state meet for his debut, marking the first cross country state championships that the T-birds have qualified more than one boy since 2008.
Elliott, a senior, will also make his debut at the state meet, which fittingly doubles as his home course, as he became the first Bartlett athlete — boy or girl — to qualify for the championships since 2017.
“We are not Chugiak, we’re not South, so to have more than one person on our East side of Anchorage qualify — it just means so much,” said Staples, who remains undefeated.
Staples’ training partners — Bartlett’s Elliott Drake and East’s Holden Aquino — also qualified for the state meet in historic fashion. Photo courtesy of Bettye Davis East High Track & XC
Staples also adds to the T-birds’ individual title collection with No. 11, alongside John Farr (2012), Sean McMahon (2000), Seth Chappell (1998-99), Robin Rader (1975) and Don Clary (1972-74).
“I like to remember that I’ve earned this,” said Staples, of winning the penultimate race as a T-bird. “I’ve worked hard, I’ve put in the work, and this is it just paying off. It’s so bittersweet.”
In the team race, Chugiak freshman Bennett Hamm (16:33) led the Mustangs to their first team title since 2018 with a third-place showing, followed closely by teammates Joe Laudermilch (16:43) and Henry Ivary (16:45) in sixth and seventh. With five scorers in the top-17, the Mustangs cruised to the team title with 45 points.
Chugiak’s boys region title is its fifth in CIC history (1986, 2000, ’03, ’18 & ’26).
South (72) edged West (73) by one point, while Eagle River (100) rounded out the top-4.
Boys Top 10
- Katahdin Staples, East, 15:46
- Atlin Frederick, West, 16:16
- Bennett Hamm, Chugiak, 16:33
- Jack Leveque, Service, 16:35
- Peter May, South, 16:39
- Joe Laudermilch, Chugiak, 16:43
- Henry Ivary, Chugiak, 16:45
- William McMahan, West, 16:47
- Beck Harth, West, 16:47
- Zachary Vedros, Eagle River, 16:49
Full results here.
Chugiak’s Claire Shaha won her first region title, leading the Mustangs to their sixth-consecutive CIC team title. Photo by Urban Enkvist
In the girls race, Claire Shaha led from the gun and never looked back.
The Chugiak High freshman put a small gap on the field early on and only increased her margin as the race progressed, crossing the line in 18:48 to lead the Mustangs to their sixth straight region title.
“I’m really proud of how the race went,” said Shaha. “All my teammates are doing amazing — we put the work in together and it really is just showing.”
Shaha also added her name to the history books, joining her older sister Hannah, who won the region title as a sophomore in 2023. The pair are the first sisters to win CIC titles and first family with multiple titles since Dimond’s Santiago Prosser, who won in 2017 and 2019, joining his mother Maylen Prosser (1990-91), late uncle Laird Prosser (1994) and father Miguel Gomez (1991-93).
Shaha also became the first freshman to win the girls region title since South’s Robyn Miller in 2019.
And just as Hannah did for the Mustangs, the region streak has continued with title No. 6, extending their current win streak to 16.
“My team has just always been there for me,” said Shaha. “The seniors have been cheering me on; everyone’s been cheering me on. I know it’s a race, but at the end of the day, it just feels like a family to me.
“I think how the family does is more important than how I do because we’re all there for each other.”
Behind Shaha were West’s dynamic duo of Chloe Hayner (19:05) and Kendall Barnett (19:11), while teammate Maddison Kukuk (19:14) and Service’s Fiona Selvik (19:31) rounded out the top-5.
With all five scorers in the top-16, the Mustangs stormed to their sixth straight region title with 40 points. They also became the first team to sweep the region titles since Service in 2019.
The Mustangs’ string of six consecutive CIC titles is the longest title streak in girls Region IV history, while their region title collection now sits at 13 total (1990-’92, ’94, ’01, ’15-’16 & ’21-’26).
Service took runner-up with 65 points, followed by East (84) and West (85).
Girls Top 10
- Claire Shaha, Chugiak, 18:48
- Chloe Hayner, West, 19:05
- Kendall Barnett, West, 19:11
- Maddison Kukuk, Chugiak, 19:14
- Fiona Selvik, Service, 19:31
- Nina Varnell, East, 19:36
- Ashlyn Paynter, Eagle River, 19:42
- Rylee Ruggles, Chugiak, 19:47
- Ellie Stull, Dimond, 20:03
- Cora Neroda, Service, 20:04
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.
- Region III – Colony’s Josiah Herrick (16:35) and Wren Spangler (19:10) led the Knights to a sweep of the team titles, collecting their seventh consecutive (boys) and eighth consecutive (girls) team titles. MCCA’s Breyden Nottingham (16:22) won his second D2 region title, while Homer’s Ariela Garvey (20:04) won the D2 girls race; Grace Christian collected the team titles.
- Region V – Juneau’s Erik Thompson (17:06) and Kaia Mangaccat (18:29) became two-time region champs, while leading the Crimson Bears to a sweep of the team titles — their 37th consecutive (boys) and 13th consecutive (girls) title. Sitka’s Lola Hitchcock (21:22) won her second D2 region title, while Derek Wilson (17:32) won the boys D2 title; the teammates led Sitka to their eighth consecutive (girls) and 14th consecutive (boys) titles. Wrangell’s Jenna Meissner (20:32) won the girls D3 title for the second year in a row, while Craig’s Aulis Nelson (16:31) won the D3 boys race; Petersburg girls and Wrangell boys claimed the team titles.
- Region VI – West Valley’s Miriam Armstrong (19:06) collected her second region title, while Reid Merrill (17:12) won the boys race; the teammates led the Wolfpack to a sweep of the team titles. Monroe Catholic’s Myles Werle (17:24) won his second D2 region title, while Delta Junction’s Abbigail Skywatcher (21:09) won the D2 girls race; Galena girls and Hutchison boys captured the team titles.
- Region I Bering Strait – Unalakleet’s Dane Johnson (19:30) and Turi Busk (23:49) led the Wolfpack to a sweep of the team titles — their fifth consecutive (girls) and second consecutive (boys) title.
- Region I Aleutians East – Sand Point’s Ryu Vizcocho (18:41) and Whitney Smith (24:36) became two-time region champs, leading the Eagles to a sweep of the team titles.
- Region I Greater Yukon Delta – Chevak’s Parker Atchak (20:55) and Scammon Bay’s Paula Tunutmoak (24:20) claimed region titles, while leading their teams to region titles as well.
- Region I Greater Kuskokwim – Akiachak’s Seth Jackson (20:13) and Tuluksak’s Kaitlyn Napoka (24:12) each collected region titles, while leading their teams to region titles as well.
- Region I Big West – Bethel’s Jackson Iverson (17:11) became a two-time region champ, while Maya Iverson (22:30) won the girls race; the teammates led the Warriors to a sweep of the region titles — their sixth consecutive (girls) and fifth consecutive (boys) title.
- Region I Southwest Sockeye – Dillingham’s Gus Fonkert (18:09) led the Wolverines to a sweep of the team titles, while Autumn Oettinger of Tanalian (Port Alsworth) took the girls race (21:34).
- Region I Lower Kuskokwim – Kwethluk’s Dwayne Maxie (21:04) and Claire Tom of Chaputnguak (Chefornak) collected region titles (27:40).
The ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cross Country Running State Championships are slated for Oct. 3 at Bartlett High School Trails.
Unalakleet swept the individual and team titles at the Bering Strait Region Championships. Photo courtesy of Thurman Jack
Scammon Bay’s Paula Tunutmoak won the Greater Yukon Delta Region Championships. Photo courtesy of Scammon Bay School
Aleutians East Region Meet. Photo courtesy of Aleutians East Borough School District
Big West Region top 8 finishers. Photo courtesy of Kotzebue Huskies Cross Country
The Tuluksak Wolverines won the Greater Kuskokwim Region Championships. Photo courtesy of Tuluksak School
The Galena Hawks won the Region VI Championships (Division 2). Photo by Arctic Action School Sports
The Colony Knights swept the individual and team titles at the Region III Championships. Photo courtesy of Colony High School
Runners compete at the Lower Kuskokwim Region Championships in Nightmute. Photo courtesy of Nuniwarmiut School
Dillingham’s Gus Fonkert won the Southwest Sockeye Region Championships. Photo courtesy of Dillingham XC/Track & Field
Craig’s Aulis Nelson and Juneau-Douglas’ Erik Thompson won titles at the Region V Championships. Photo courtesy of Craig Panther XC & Track
