State qualifiers for the ASAA 2020 State Cross Country Running Championships were determined at the Region III South Championships.
A recap of Region III meet, state qualifiers, and state championship information contained in running review.
In a fall sports season that is all about adjustments, the Region III Cross Country Running Championships were split into North, South and Kodiak races, individual state qualifiers were determined based on the one-day results and no Region III team championships were awarded.
The Region III South running championships were held on the Tsalteshi Trails with a combined Division I and II varsity girls and combined Division I and II varsity boys races. Soldotna High School competed as the only DI program with Kodiak holding a qualifying event on Kodiak Island. Kodiak’s island isolation will continue with the Kodiak Bears top two qualifiers not participating at the state championships due to travel restrictions.
Kenai, Homer, and Seward competed in the DII South races for 16 individual positions, eight girls and eight boys, to the upcoming state championships.
SoHi automatically earns two girls and two boys berths to the DI state championships and based on results from the Region III North races also qualify two additional girls.
Girls Region III Race Results
Division II Girls
Kenai Central’s sophomore Jayna Boonstra posted the fastest time in the varsity girl race with a time of 20:05 over the 5-kilometer course and was the top finisher in the Division II competition. SoHi’s Jordan Strausbaugh placed second overall with a time of 20:39 and was the top Division I finisher.
State Qualifiers for the ASAA Division II Girls Championships include: Kenai’s Jayna Boonstra, Seward’s Hailey Ingalls, Seward’s Lena Jagielski, Homer’s Eryn Field, Seward’s Maranatha Brueckner, Homer’s Frida Renner, Kenai’s Emilee Wilson and Homer’s Elena Badajos.
Division I Girls
In the Region III Division I girls competition Jordan Strausbaugh lead a SoHi group which qualifies four athletes to the Division I state championships. Erika Arthur finished second in 21:22 and receives an automatic berth to state. Katie Delker and Jordan Ruffner in 21:39 and 21:43 qualify to state as at-large selections (replacing Kodiak’s two qualifiers).
Individual Girls Race Results: By Division
Division II: 1. Jayna Boonstra, Ken, 20:05; 2. Hailey Ingalls, Sew, 21:11; 3. Lena Jagielski, Sew, 21:32; 4. Eryn Field, Hom, 21:34; 5. Maranatha Brueckner, Sew, 21:35; 6. Frida Renner, Hom, 21:58; 7. Emilee Wilson, Ken, 22:00; 8. Elena Badajos, Hom, 22:28; 9. Gariella Tews, Ken, 22:40; 10. Hana Cooney, Sew, 22:46; 11. Leah Fallon, Ken, 22:47; 12. Aly Guernsey, Sew, 23:15; 13. Kara Super, Hom, 23:21; 14. Adelyn McCorison, Hom, 23:21; 15. Alexi Walker, Sew, 23:29; 16. Summer Foster, Ken, 23:31; 17. Emily Moss, Ken, 23:42; 18. Syliva Clemens, Hom, 23:46; 19. Keira Schrock, Sew, 23:58; 20. Maddox Berg, Hom, 24:01; 21. Lynnea Hack, Ken, 24:06; 22. Emily Hufford, Nik, 29:40.
Division I: 1. Jordan Strausbaugh, Sol, 20:39; 2. Erika Arthur, Sol, 21:22; 3. Katie Delker, Sol, 21:39; 4. Jordan Ruffner, Sol, 21:43; 5. Sonia Montague, Sol, 22:37; 6. Lucy Dammeyer, Sol, 22:51; 7. Kaidence Schaeffer, Sol, 23:59.
Boys Region III Race Results
Division II Boys
Maison Dunham of Kenai ran-out to an early lead and held-off Seward’s Max Pfeiffenberger for the Region III South boys individual title. Dunham finished second in 2019 to ACS Tristian Merchant (Merchant won the Region III North race on Saturday and holds the third fastest time in the nation in 2020). Dunham finished the Tsalteshi course in 17:14, followed by Pfeiffenberger in 17:20. Kenai’s Joe Hamilton placed third and Homer’s Seamus McDonough placed fourth.
State Qualifiers: Kenai’s Gregory Fallon, Homer’s Lance Seneff, Kenai’s Jack Laker and Seward’s Levi Deboard all qualify to the Division II ASAA State Cross Country Championships.
Division I Boys
In the Region III Division I boys competition (SoHi 0nly), Nathanael Johnson and Maleda Denbrock finish one-two and earn SoHi’s two berths to the ASAA state tournament. Johnson posted a time of 17:37, nearly a :30 second personal best; Maleda Dembrock finished the 5-kilometer course in 17:54. The remaining at-large berths were awarded to the Region III North.
Individual Boys Race Results: By Division
Division II 1. Maison Dunham, Ken, 17:14; 2. Max Pfeiffenberger, Sew, 17:20; 3. Joe Hamilton, Ken, 17:32; 4. Seamus McDonough, Hom, 17:36; 5. Gregory Fallon, Ken, 17:45; 6. Lance Seneff, Hom, 18:02; 7. Jack Laker, Ken, 18:03; 8. Levi Deboard, Sew, 18:09; 9. Samuel Koster, Sew, 18:15; 10. Trey Ingalls, Sew, 18:18; 11. Tyler Hippchen, Ken, 18:25; 12. Austin Cline, Hom, 18:33; 13. Ky Calvert, Ken, 19:09; 14. Damon Weisser, Hom, 19:15; 15. Adams Veldstra, Hom, 19:23; 16. Clayton Petersen, Sew, 19:33; 17. Trevor Guernsey, Sew, 19:40; 18. Cody Bryden, Sew, 19:55; 19. Nathan Haakenson, Ken, 19:56; 20. Jonah Mershon, Hom, 20:07; 21. Garrett Briscoe, Hom, 23:57; 22. Boden Quiner, Nik, 25:46.
Division I: 1. Nathanael Johnson, Sol, 17:37; 2. Maleda Denbrock, Sol, 17:54; 3. Jeren Nash, Sol, 18:20; 4. Avery Willets, Sol, 18:22; 5. Quinn Cox, Sol, 18:55; 6. Tytus Gilbert, Sol, 19:10; 7. Sean Babitt, Sol, 19:30.
2020 Region III South Most Valuable Runner Award
Girls: Jayna Boonstra Boys: Maison Dunham
2020 Region III South Coach Of The Year Award
Boys: Bob Ostrom, Homer Girls: Krista Arthur, SoHi
2020 ASAA State Cross Country Running Championships
The ASAA State Cross Country Running Championships are scheduled for Saturday, October 10th at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. Mitigation measures will be enforced with limited participation and limited spectators.