Bartlett’s A’Lante Owens-Player at the 2023 Russ Edwards Big C Relays. Photo by The Alaska Running Academy.
A’Lante Owens-Player proved why he is the king of the jumps at the Region IV Championships, as the Bartlett High senior leapt to the top of the podium in both the long jump and triple jump.
Owens-Player pulled off the rare sweep, soaring to a region record of 22 feet, 10 inches in the long jump and becoming the No. 3 known performer in Alaska prep history.
The Bartlett High senior has been a perennial performer in the triple jump, having won the past two state titles and placing runner-up as a freshman and flying to the second-best known performance (47-1.25) in Alaska prep history.
He’s no slouch in the long jump either, as he’s the defending champion and two-time state medalist. However, this year Owens-Player took his long jumping to a whole new level, flying over 20 feet in all five competitions and surpassing 22 feet for the first time in his career.
At the region meet, the jump specialist bettered the previous region record of 22-1.5 by Dimond’s Tim Smith in 1996 on five of his six attempts.
Not to mention Owens-Player had company in West’s Ariel Sanchez, the eventual runner-up (22-00.75) and former state leader. Sanchez’s mark would rank just outside the all-time top-10 had he not already leapt to 22-4.75 at the Anchorage Invite two weeks ago, which now ranks as the No. 6 known performer in Alaska prep history.
Some might say diamonds are formed under pressure, but for Owens-Player, he’s just getting started.
Because most of the marks are unaccompanied by wind readings, the list represents an all-time all-conditions catalog initially compiled by track and field historian Marcus Dunbar.
Alaska Boys All-Time Long Jump
- Bruce Jackman, Kenai, 23-11.5 (1987)
- Derrek Ladson, West Valley, 23-0 (1997)
- A’Lante Owens-Player, 22-10 (2024)
- Chateau Reed, Lathrop, 22-9.25 (2018)
- Brandon Nicholson, Colony, 22-6.75 (2017)
- Ariel Sanchez, West, 22-4.75 (2024)
- Brandon Buckley, Palmer, 22-4.25 (1997)
- David Registe, Colony, 22-4.25 (2006)
- Vincent Barnett, Lathrop, 22-4 (2011)
- Terrel Johnson, West Valley, 22-3.5 (2019)
Owens-Player was joined by teammates Deuce Alailefaleula (shot put) and Tyler Drake (110 hurdles), who also netted region titles, leading Bartlett to the team title with 127 points. The Golden Bears showcased depth, scoring in 14 out of 17 events, with five athletes placing in the top-7 for the long jump and three placing in the top-4 for the triple jump.
South Anchorage’s Vebjørn Flagstad emerged as a triple winner, capturing the 1,600 (4:31.32) and 3,200 (9:39.77) and running a leg on the 4×800 relay, which set a school record and state-leading time of 8:13.73. The sophom*ore led a strong contingent in the individual events, as the Wolverines placed five athletes in the top-9 for the 1,600 and three in the top-4 for the 3,200.
South Anchorage’s Vebjørn Flagstad leads the 1600-meter race at the Region IV Championships. Photo by Clint Henrie.
Other winners included West’s Beckett Stolp in the 100 (11.30), Eagle Rivers’s AJ Szewczyk in the 200 (23.26) and 300 hurdles (41.01), Dimond’s Ethan Stiller in the 400 (52.22), Chugiak’s Owen Hayes in the 800 (2:00.60), West’s Sone Falealo in the discus (155-10) and Service’s Phoenix Perkins in the high jump (5-8). Chugiak also won the 4×100 and 4×400 relays, while West clinched the 4×200.
On the girls side, Chugiak ran away with the team title, scoring 184 points, after winning all of the running events from the 100-meter dash to the 3,200, along with three of the relays.
Freshman Jihsana Williams continued her winning ways in the 100 (12.92) and 200 (26.61), while Alliyah Fields won the 400 (58.92), going 1-2 with Petra Knox, while Ryleigh Ervin led the Mustangs to a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 800 (2:21.71). Sophom*ore Hannah Shaha swept the distance races, winning the 1,600 (5:17.57) and 3,200 (11:26.53).
The Mustangs also won the 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800 to close out the meet with 9 titles and 17 top-3 finishes.
Fellow freshman phenom, Nevaeh Watkins of Dimond High, came away with three individual titles in her region debut, capturing the 100 hurdles (15.86), 300 hurdles (48.88) and high jump (5-0).Teammate Sarah Dittman won the long jump (17-10), breaking the region record, while the Lynx also netted the 4×200 relay. Dittman’s jump also ties her with Juneau’s Kristie Ely, the No. 5 performer in Alaska prep history. Only Eielson’s Janay DeLoach, Petersburg’s Izabelle Ith, Sitka’s Kelsea Johnson and Chugiak’s Emma Nelson have jumped further during their prep careers.
Other winners included West’s Leileanah Toleafoa (shot put & discus) and Eagle River’s Gabrielle Okorodudu (triple jump). Toleafoa’s throw in the shot put (41-05) surpassed the previous region record held by Dimond’s Alissa Pili and ranks No. 9 all-time among known performers in Alaska prep history.
Region V
At the Region V Championships, the Ketchikan girls (74) took top honors, winning the program’s first girls region title, while Ketchikan and Juneau-Douglas (65) tied for the win on the boys side.
Kayhi track and field athletes pose after winning the program’s first girls region team title in program history. Photo by Clara Odden.
Ketchikan’s Linnea Loretan led the Kings as a quadruple-winner. The senior won the 100 hurdles (17.68), 300 hurdles (49.37) and ran legs on the victorious 4×100 and 4×400 relays, both of which resulted in school records. Teammate Julia Biagi swept the throwing events, while Carol Frey took the long jump and Clara Odden won the 400 (1:02.04) and contributed to the winning 4×100 and 4×200 relays.
Juneau-Douglas’ Ida Meyer was a triple winner, securing the 1,600 (5:18.49) and 3,200 (11:21.79) and running a leg on the 4×800. The junior led the Crimson Bears to a 1-2-3 finish in the 1,600 and helped sweep the top four spots in the 3,200. Teammate Kate Schwarting won the 800 (2:34.56) while Siena Farr won the triple jump (29-4.25).
Thunder Mountain’s Hayden Loggy-Smith collected the 100 and 200 titles, while Molly Johnson won the high jump.
On the boys side, Ketchikan’s Jason Lorig was unstoppable in the 100 (10.89), after clocking 10.84 seconds in the prelims — the No. 2 known performer in Alaska prep history. Only East’s Colton Herman has officially run quicker, clocking 10.76 in 2019.
The Kings also earned wins from Jozaiah DelaCruz in the 110 hurdles (17.86), Jared Rhoads in the discus (116-06.75), Trey Colbert in the high jump (5-10), and the 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
Juneau-Douglas’ Wilder Dillingham put on a show, medaling in all three sprinting events and winning the 200 (22.30) and 400 (49.36) in state-leading times. The senior’s time in the 400 ranks No. 6 among known performers in Alaska prep history. Not to mention Dillingham also dominated the prelims a day prior, clocking 11.18, 22.85 and 49.91 seconds respectively.The Crimson Bears also earned wins from Edgar Jesus Vera Alvarado in the 1,600 (4:39.31) and 3,200 (9:58.97), Nick Iverson in the 800 (2:00.46) and the 4×800 relay.
Thunder Mountain’s Johnathyn Kestel outdistanced his competitors in the long jump (20-0) and triple jump (40-09), while also running a leg on the winning 4×100 relay. The Falcons amassed wins from Finley Hightower in the 300 hurdles (43.88) and Sione Tupou in the shot put (41-10).
Region III
The Soldotna Stars swept the team titles at the Region III championships, but it was four athletes who emerged with triple crowns.
Colony’s Ella Hopkins made a statement in the distance events, running wire-to-wire in the 800 (2:23.04), 1,600 (5:23.57) and 3,200 (11:47.37). The junior looks to upgrade her state hardware, as the two-time runner-up in the 1,600 and one of the top returners in the 800. Teammate Denali Anderson-Berghoff won the 100 (12.99) and ran a leg on the winning 4×100 relay, while Malia Matthews won the high jump (4-8).
Colony’s Ella Hopkins nears the finish line at the Region III Championships. Photo by Pete Pounds.
Palmer freshman Leila Petersen captured the 200 (26.85) and 400 (59.80) titles, while Kodiak’s Jisselle Blanco was a double winner in the 100 hurdles (16.87) and triple jump (33-7).
Other winners included Wasilla’s Caelynn Carter in the 300 hurdles (48.42) and McKinley Hafen in the long jump (15-3.25), Palmer’s Abby Pettit in the shot put (35-03.25) and Soldotna’s Juliet Innes in the discus (108-8). The Stars also won the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relays.
On the boys side, Kodiak’s Elias Litzow scored wins in the 800 (2:00.79) and 3,200 (9:48.68) while also running a leg on the winning 4×800 relay. The Bears also collected titles from Miles Grimes in the 400 (51.43) and Manuel Silva in the 110 hurdles (15.20).
Colony’s Trevor Jamison completed the jumps triple crown, nabbing the high jump (5-8), long jump (19-6.50) and triple jump (41-11.25). Teammate Kenton Phelps won the discus (146-9), while Tobias Buchanan narrowly won the 1,600 (4:25.67) by one-hundredth of a second.
Soldotna’s Wyatt Faircloth led the Stars by winning the 300 hurdles (40.55) and running legs on the winning 4×100 and 4×200. SoHi also won the 4×400 and accumulated wins from Andon Wolverton in the 100 (11.38), Tyce Escott in the 200 (23.51) and Kevin Stager in the shot put (47-9).
Region VI
The Lathrop girls (98.5) and West Valley boys (96) took top honors at the Region VI Championships, with a handful of athletes collecting multiple wins.
Lathrop freshman Solveig Finstad concluded the meet with four gold medals, winning the 800 (2:34.60), 1,600 (5:39.82), 3,200 (12:27.19) and running a leg on the 4×800. The Malemutes also received wins from Annebelle Foster in the 300 hurdles (50.55) and triple jump (32-5.25), Ruby Tansy in the high jump (5-0), Havilah Walker in the long jump (16-5.75), Lilly Davidge in the shot put and discus, and the 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
West Valley’s Layla Fields swept the short sprints, winning the 100 (12.86) and 200 (27.43), while the Wolfpack also won the 4×800.
North Pole’s Raegan Kingry won the 100 hurdles.
West Valley’s Curtis Beck was a quadruple winner on the boys side, netting the 200 (22.84), 400 (49.85), and running legs on the 4×200 and 4×400 relays. The Wolfpack also received wins from Corin Baranoski in the 100 (11.21), Logan Reinheller in the 800 (2:12.06), Cirdan Vonnahme in the 1,600 (4:39.83), Nicholas Hecht in the 3,200 (10:15.16), Alex Emers in the high jump (6-4) and Emanuel Bostwick in the triple jump (39-1). West Valley also won the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relays.
North Pole’s Jackson Mollenhauer secured the 300 hurdles (45.03), while teammate Braeden Smith won the discus (131-9) and the Patriots nabbed the 4×100.
Lathrop’s Luke Skinner won the 110 hurdles, while teammate Gabe Guffey won the shot put and Wilson Lawson won the long jump.
The ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Track & Field State Championshipsare slatedfor May 24-25 at Dimond High School.
Kodiak’s Miles Grimes and Colony’s Tobias Buchanan battle to the line in the 1600m at the Region III Championships. Photo by Pete Pounds.
