Athletes from the Kenai Peninsula competed in the 2023 Native Youth Olympics (NYO) Games, with competition running April 20-22 at the Alaska Airlines Center on the UAA campus in Anchorage.
The NYO Games included athletic competition in: Scissor Broad Jump, Seal Hop, Eskimo Stick Pull, Indian Stick Pull, One-foot High Kick, Two-foot High Kick, Wrist Carry, Alaskan High Kick, Kneel Jump, Toe Kick, and One-hand Reach.
Top-5 finishes by peninsula athletes included:
Leah Evans, of Homer 1st Place in the Indian Stick Pull
Emilee Wilson, of Kenai (Salamatof) 2nd Place in Seal Hop with distance of 123’ 6 ½’’
Charity Gordon of Homer, 4th in Two-Foot High Kick with distance of 66’’
Elijah Gordon of Homer 2nd in One-Foot High Kick height of 104″
Elijah Gordon of Homer 5th in Two-Foot High Kick height of 86″
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Colton Paul dominated the senior boys competition with five individual championships including top finishes in the Kneel Jump, Alaska High Kick, Scissor Broad Jump (38’ 7’’ New World Record), Two-Foot High Kick ( 101’’ Ties State Record) and One Foot High Kick.
The Senior Games are open to all in-state students with a maximum age of 19. Participation is limited to one boy and one girl athlete per event, per team.
According to the NYO program, “Today, athletes competing in NYO Games carry on the tradition of sharing their knowledge with their teammates and others. Native Games are the only sporting events in the world where athletes from different teams help each other to be successful in the games and in life.”
The purpose of the Native Youth Olympics (NYO) Games is to promote: • Healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem, and leadership skills • Appreciation of Alaska Native traditions • Good sportsmanship through friendly athletic competition • Cross-cultural understanding
Since 1986, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC) has proudly hosted the NYO Games Alaska in cooperation with communities throughout the state. CITC looks forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating the rich cultural history of Alaska though Native sports.
