This story has been updated with additional information.
After placing runner-up in the 3,200 meters one year ago at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Track and Field State Championships, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Etta Eller was on a mission to upgrade to gold.
The senior filed behind the leaders for a majority of the race on Saturday, while teammate Ida Meyer eventually took the lead. Eller unleashed a lethal kick to surge past Meyer in the final lap to collect her first state title in 11:09.22, a personal best by 11 seconds. Meyer placed runner-up (11:12.79) to earn her highest state finish.
In the 1,600, Eller showcased a similar strategy, running a tactically-sound, yet quick race. Eagle River’s Ashlyn Paynter led most of the four-lap race and made a fast break from the field with a lap to go. Eller kept her eye on Paynter and narrowly edged the freshman at the line to clock another personal best in 5:11.93, winning by a mere 0.05 seconds — a margin significantly smaller than the separation between the top two finishers in the 100-meter dash.
Another first-place JDHS finisher at the meet was Wilder Dillingham, who won the 200 meters with a time of 22.2 seconds. He also finished second in the 100 meters, and went head-to-head in a photo finish against West Valley High School’s Curtis Beck in the 400, with Dillingham coming off the curve as the early leader. Beck closed hard to match the Crimson Bear’s speed, which ended in a photo finish, with Beck taking top honors in 49.36 seconds — 0.02 seconds ahead of Dillingham. Coincidentally, Beck’s time ties Dillingham’s personal best from earlier in the season; both are tied for No. 6 among known performers in Alaska prep history.
The Juneau girls’ team finished seventh overall among the 17 teams, while the boys finished fifth among 18 teams.
The Chugiak High School Mustangs won their third consecutive overall team title, collecting seven individual titles. Led by freshman Jihsana Williams and junior Alliyah Fields, the duo combined for four individual titles, sweeping the sprints and middle-distance events, while contributing to three relay titles.
Full results are available at https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/550422/results.
West Valley’s Curtis Beck and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Wilder Dillingham run stride-for-stride in the 400 at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Track and Field State Championships on Saturday. (Pete Pounds / Alaska Sports Report)
