Soldotna dominated the Region 3 Track and Field Championships at Service High, sweeping the Division I boys and girls team titles while breaking multiple records and posting several all-time state marks. The Stars boys claimed 10 event wins and the girls matched that total, setting or resetting six school records in the process.
Tyce Escott’s 100-meter dash time of 10.80 seconds ranks fourth in Alaska high school history. He also won the 200 and helped the boys 400-meter relay team post the fastest time ever run on Alaskan soil at 43.05 seconds. The Soldotna boys also set meet records in the 1,600 relay (3:28.67) and the 3,200 relay (8:09.81), narrowly missing the win in that event.
For the SoHi girls, the 1,600 relay team of Sophia Jedlicki, Shiloh Zichko, Annie Burns and Sasha Brott ran 4:02.30—the third-fastest time ever recorded by an Alaska high school. They also swept all four relay events and saw record-breaking individual efforts from Samantha Piscoya (100 hurdles), Anaulie Sedivy (300 hurdles), and long jump winner Greyson Henry (15-8.25). Kathryn DeBardelaben won the triple jump (33-9.5) and added a top-three in the 3,200. Burns also won the 800 and placed in the 1,600.
Kenai Central’s Gage Ivy set a Division II meet record in the triple jump (42-11.5). The Kenai boys 400 relay finished second, and Delen Byrd took second in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles. Sophie Tapley took second in the long jump and Selah Coots placed sixth in the triple jump. Kenai’s 400 girls relay team also placed second.
For the Homer girls, the Mariners captured the Division II title with 10 event wins, including school and meet records in the 400 and 800 relays. Molly Evans won the 200, Vera Bates won the 400, Etta Bynagle won the 800, and Reilly Sue Baker took the long jump. Homer’s relay teams swept all four events. Despite an ankle injury, Gracie Miotke came back to win the 100-meter dash.
Homer’s boys placed third in Division II, highlighted by Tait Ostrom’s victory in the 300 hurdles and Joe Gordon’s runner-up finish in the 200. The Nikiski boys were seventh, with Ryder Maguire taking sixth in both the 800 and 1,600, and Ethan Ellis placing fifth in the long jump.
The meet saw a flurry of state and meet records amid ideal weather conditions and sets the stage for this weekend’s state championships at Dimond High School in Anchorage.
Cover photo credit: Soldotna Track & Field Facebook.
