Overachieving freshmen.
It’s something you find on the Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High School cross country teams this season.
From the Falcons’ Hannah Deer finishing second overall in her first-ever high school cross country meet to the Crimson Bears’ Jasmin Holst breaking the 21-minute barrier in just three tries, there have been a number of remarkable feats by ninth graders this season.
Now, it might just come down to one or two freshmen to win the 4A Region V cross country girls championship this coming Saturday in Ketchikan.
Both Deer and Holst finished in the top-5 of Saturday’s Sitka Invitational at the flat and curvy Totem Park course. JDHS sophomore Sadie Tuckwood won the girls 5-kilometer race in a 18 minutes, 32 seconds — over two minutes faster than second-place finisher Maia Cowan of Petersburg (20:34). Coming in right behind Cowan was Deer (20:39), Holst (20:45) and Anna Iverson (20:58).
The JDHS girls finished with 25 points — their best (lowest) score of the season yet. Petersburg edged Thunder Mountain for second place with 64 points. The Falcons’ score of 67 still managed to be the highlight of TMHS coach Scott May’s day.
“I mapped out some things that had to happen for us to even have a shot at regions, and they’re happening,” May said with a laugh. “So I’m super excited. I’m kinda afraid we showed our cards here with Reece (Bleakley) pulling up the way she did and moving up into where she ended up.”
Bleakley led the next wave of girls’ runners across the line and finished in 21:53. Bleakley had not run her best races in the two prior meets, and was nervous that trend would continue in Sitka.
But everything clicked for the sophomore this time. Bleakley took nearly two minutes off her time from the week before in Wrangell.
“I felt so good this race and I had no pain whatsoever,” said Bleakley, who has already had to navigate injuries in her young career.
The piece missing for TMHS in Sitka was Erin Wallace. She will be one of many “X” factors for May in the Region V meet this Saturday at the Ward Lake Recreational Area in Ketchikan.
“It’d take a little miracle, but I think the kids are up to it,” May said of winning the meet. “They just need to be smart with everything else that they’re going to be doing this week.”
Taking first overall in the boys race was the host team Sitka Wolves, a 3A school, with 37 points. The JDHS boys tallied 42 points for second place. Thunder Mountain fell to sixth place with 154 points.
Arnie Ellefson-Carnes (16:56) won his third meet of the season for JDHS. The Crimson Bears’ Clem Taylor-Roth (17:29), Shadrach Stitz (17:48), Tim McKenna (18:19) and Tim Degener (18:27) also logged solid races.
“It’s fun to be going back and forth with Shadrach,” said Taylor-Roth, who took back the No. 2 spot on the boys team this meet from Stitz, “he really pushes me every race to try to do better and try to beat him.”
Girls Teams Scores
1. Juneau-Douglas 25
2. Petersburg 64
3. Thunder Mountain 67
4. Ketchikan 91
5. Sitka 144
6. Mt. Edgecumbe 152
Girls Results
1. Tuckwood, Sadie, Juneau Douglas 18:32.74
2. Cowan, Maia, Petersburg 20:34.99
3. Deer, Hannah, Thunder Mountain 20:39.57
4. Holst, Jasmin, Juneau Douglas 20:45.51
5. Iverson, Anna, Juneau Douglas 20:58.09
6. Bleakley, Reece, Thunder Mountain 21:53.20
7. Stitz, Miriam, Juneau Douglas 21:55.86
8. Monsef, Sosan, Juneau Douglas 22:03.15
9. Elerding, Morgan, Ketchikan 22:03.35
10. Thompson, Sally, Thunder Mountain 22:03.57
11. Knapp, Elizabeth, Thunder Mountain 22:09.99
12. Knight, Elizabeth, Ketchikan 22:16.21
13. Coonrad, Kendra, Petersburg 22:16.42
14. Chase, Melanie, Petersburg 22:23.31
15. Murph, Julia, Petersburg 22:23.77
16. McKenna, Katie, Juneau Douglas 22:24.61
17. Cyr, Ashley, Ketchikan 22:45.83
18. Lubin, Ella, Sitka 22:47.51
19. Charlie, Brystel, Mt Edgecumbe 22:59.18
20. Pfundt, Erin, Petersburg 23:05.10
21. Lentfer, Linnea, Juneau Douglas 23:08.83
22. Zellhuber, Sable, Sitka 23:12.88
23. Bell, Marianna, Juneau Douglas 23:13.12
24. Knight, Rachel, Ketchikan 23:39.16
25. Lenhard, Eva, Petersburg 23:39.64
26. Bartoloba, Haley, Sitka 23:45.95
27. Ekada, Laura, Mt Edgecumbe 23:48.03
28. Gregoire, Sidra ,Juneau Douglas 23:48.80
29. McNeilley, Ayla, Sitka 24:00.53
30. Boron, Hannah, Haines 24:03.23
31. Skeek, Avery, Petersburg 24:04.79
32. Gentry, Breanna, Ketchikan 24:09.43
33. Goering, Eva, Juneau Douglas 24:09.76
34. Stout, Cassandra, Ketchikan 24:10.03
35. Larrabee, Skylar, Wrangell 24:10.29
36. Beer, Jade, Kake 24:13.76
37. Duran, Wolf Star, Mt Edgecumbe 24:17.35
38. Kelly, Codi, Gustavus 24:18.68
39. Rexford, Linda, Mt Edgecumbe 24:21.79
40. Evenden, Marirose, Haines 24:23.72
41. Zahnow, Atlin, Haines 24:26.24
42. Salter, Veronica, Thunder Mountain 24:27.03
43. Hanna, Bella, Thunder Mountain 24:48.90
44. Caspersen, Jocelyn, Metlakatla 24:51.31
45. Bolling, Mary, Craig 24:59.46
46. Sage, Alice, Mt Edgecumbe 25:02.14
47. Smith-Turpn, Malory, Klawock 25:03.19
48. Cox, Madison, Skagway 25:12.84
49. Wegand, Hannah, Craig 25:28.16
50. Dyment, Adeline, Mt Edgecumbe 25:34.91
51. Nichols, Sydney, Ketchikan 25:36.81
52. Mikkelson, Mercy, Wrangell 25:49.85
53. Woods, Jasmine, Mt Edgecumbe 25:52.70
54. Andrews, Agatha, Mt Edgecumbe 25:56.00
55. Frazier, Anna, Thunder Mountain 25:56.49
56. Martinez, Jaylin, Mt Edgecumbe 25:58.29
57. White, Liliana, Metlakatla 26:00.41
58. Bohlke, Scherion, Gustavus 26:02.39
59. Seay, Baily, Gustavus 26:02.60
60. Romanoff, Katelynn, Mt Edgecumbe 26:15.37
61. Zahnow, Tulsi, Haines 26:15.57
62. Zaczkowski, Kate, Mt Edgecumbe 26:16.83
63. Martin, Lydia, Petersburg 26:21.68
64. Willow, Jackson, Kake 26:21.94
65. Sunny, Catherine, Mt Edgecumbe 26:24.19
66. Steeves, Sara, Thunder Mountain 26:24.41
67. Fajardo, Irati, Klawock 26:30.77
68. O’Brien, Jing, Wrangell 26:36.15
69. James, Courtney, Kake 26:40.97
70. Ponce Moran, Yajaira, Klawock 26:41.79
71. Yliniemi, Marissa, Metlakatla 26:46.43
72. Prince, Andrea, Mt Edgecumbe 26:54.37
73. Decker, Helen, Wrangell 26:57.57
74. Trousil, Melia, Lu Thunder Mountain 27:01.09
75. Parker, Madisyn, Petersburg 27:05.79
76. Danielson, Zofia, Sitka 27:08.17
77. Briggs, Azure, Thunder Mountain 27:20.12
78. Boron, Haley, Haines 27:22.10
79. Torvend, Kira, Wrangell 27:32.51
80. Booker, Robyn, Wrangell 27:37.83
81. Johnson Duncan, Savannah ,Metlakatla 27:44.60
82. Madden-Wood, Willa, Thunder Mountain 28:05.45
83. Woods, Sunset, Mt Edgecumbe 28:11.62
84. Lawlar, breckon, Thunder Mountain 28:16.41
85. Lahrman, Mocha, Skagway 28:18.10
86. Carrillo, Nina, Thunder Mountain 28:18.48
87. Larrabee, Adriana, Wrangell 28:49.63
88. Andriesen, Lydia, Haines 28:51.45
89. Gerald, Abigail, Wrangell 28:53.40
90. Myers, Eliza, Skagway 29:07.96
91. Bannerman, Gwenn, Thunder Mountain 29:10.52
92. Hansen, Ashley, Craig 29:17.30
93. Smith, MaKenna, Sitka 29:29.85
94. Whitehead, Kara, Skagway 29:42.39
95. Murray, Haylee, Thunder Mountain 29:48.02
96. Salazar, Mariana, Thunder Mountain 29:48.21
97. Sebwenna-Painter, Kaitly, Mt Edgecumbe 29:51.26
98. Wade, Samantha, Mt Edgecumbe 29:53.30
99. Coopchiak, Tessa, Mt Edgecumbe 30:07.24
100. Lowe, Royale, Mt Edgecumbe 30:22.75
101. Whitehead, Jessica, Skagway 30:23.07
102. Philemonof, Carmen, Mt Edgecumbe 31:20.59
103. Jimmie, Brittney, Mt Edgecumbe 32:02.24
104. Derendoff, Naya, Mt Edgecumbe 32:21.58
105. Booth, Ewa, Metlakatla 33:25.56 64
106. George, Raquel, Mt Edgecumbe 33:42.63
107. Connor, Jessie, Mt Edgecumbe 34:19.49
Boys Team Scores
1. Sitka 37
2. Juneau-Douglas 42
3. Ketchikan 84
4. Haines 118
5. Petersburg 130
6. Thunder Mountain 154
Boys Results
1. Ellefson-Carnes, Arne, Juneau Douglas 16:56.30
2. Baciocco, Dominic, Sitka 17:16.85
3. Pate, Joe, Sitka 17:26.28
4. Coss, John, Ketchikan 17:28.68
5. Taylor-Roth, Clem, Juneau Douglas 17:29.71
6. McIntyre, Skyler, Sitka 17:42.15
7. Stitz, Shadrach, Juneau Douglas 17:48.22
8. Knudsen, Bryce, Kake 17:48.8
9. Buxton, Tabor, Sitka 18:02.30
10. Stephens, Leif, Ketchikan 18:13.37
11. Allmendinger, Paul, Ketchikan 18:13.68
12. George, Siyel Haines, 18:14.44
13. McKenna, Tim Juneau, Douglas 18:19.92
14. Brady, Danny Skagway, 18:22.08
15. Faverty, Kirby Haines, 18:24.10
16. Kelly, Tucker Thunder, Mountain 18:25.69
17. Eddy, Tolin Petersburg, 18:25.99
18. Degener, Tim Juneau Douglas, 18:27.70
19. Bartlett, Derek Sitka, 18:29.12
20. Suzuki, Shafer Thunder Mountain, 18:30.56
21. Belisle, Wyatt, Skagway 18:32.50
22. Sperl, Kole Petersburg, 18:44.37
23. Weiland, Kobi, Sitka 18:44.60
24. Smith, Phillip, Ketchikan 18:46.37
25. Skeek, Brennan, Petersburg 18:46.60
26. Culbeck, Carver ,Haines 18:49.22
27. Marker, Andrew, Craig 19:05.08
28. Kline, Isaiah, Mt Edgecumbe 19:12.16
29. Davies, Ronan, Juneau Douglas 19:15.53
30. Barratt, Jonathan, Dakota Wrangell 19:17.6
31. Norman, Connor, Thunder Mountain 19:23.66
32. Dapcevich, Max, Juneau Douglas 19:24.34
33. Ulroan, Jeremy, Mt Edgecumbe 19:25.75
34. Sperl, Koren, Petersburg 19:26.06
35. Davis, Mark, Haines 19:28.60
36. Olsen, Trever, Hydaburg 19:28.89
37. Cunningham, Patrick, Haines 19:29.89
38. Martin, Kahliel, Mt Edgecumbe 19:32.92
39. Durkin, Thomas, Petersburg 19:33.22
40. Clark, Henry, Ketchikan 19:33.62
41. Wright, Josh, Hoonah 19:42.54
42. Hopson, Aidan, Juneau Douglas 19:43.57
43. Crager, Carson, Haines 19:47.21
44. King, Jacob, Ketchikan 19:48.02
45. Friday, Simon, Kake 19:48.80
46. Almenzor, Gabriel, Craig 19:50.25
47. Collins, Max, Ketchikan 19:50.47
48. Merry, Shawn, Kake 19:52.08
49. West, Elias, Thunder Mountain 19:53.38
50. Jacobson, Odin, Haines 19:53.68
51. King, Dwight, Ketchikan 19:54.63
52. Bahnken Barkou, Hahlen, Sitka 19:56.65
53. Matthews, Hunter, Ketchikan 19:57.99
54. Sikes, Riley, Thunder Mountain 19:59.99
55. Anderson, Emmitt, Sitka 20:04.25
56. Myers, Silas, Skagway 20:04.50
57. Brown, Jonah, Thunder Mountain 20:07.59
58. Blust, Aaron, Juneau Douglas 20:13.01
59. Heppe III, James, Klawock 20:22.61
60. Evon, Leon, Mt Edgecumbe 20:22.85
61. Mcknight, Steaven, Skagway 20:23.30
62. Jackson, Samuel, Ketchikan 20:25.72
63. Lambert, Jeffrey, Ketchikan 20:30.08
64. Bahnke, Brayden, Mt Edgecumbe 20:30.66
65. Ivanoff, Karl, Mt Edgecumbe 20:31.48
66. Congdon, Jacob, Thorne Bay 20:32.43
67. Comstock, Jonah, Wrangell 20:38.71
68. Barron, John, Ketchikan 20:39.38
69 Ranniger, Benjamin, Ketchikan 20:39.62
70. Williams, Dylan, Metlakatla 20:43.39
71. Beam, Bradey, Thunder Mountain 20:49.91
72. Goebel, Gavin, Skagway 20:53.31
73. Arnold, Brandal, Mt Edgecumbe 20:57.01
74. Hoblet, Dayton, Mt Edgecumbe 20:57.31
75. Valley, Navin, Metlakatla 20:57.56
76. Leach, Michael, Sitka 20:58.88
77. Eppers, Cameron, Thunder Mountain 21:04.03
78. Bahnke, Reese, Mt Edgecumbe 21:04.38
79. Ronquilo, Adrian, Ketchikan 21:10.08
80. Macaulay, Ben, Thunder Mountain 21:11.43
81. Hilder, Aaron, Craig 21:12.52
82. Davis, Jonah, Kake 21:14.50
83. Solovyov, Julian, Sitka 21:21.61
84. Palmieri, Keegan, Haines 21:21.90
85. Watkins, Tyler, Hoonah 21:24.10
86. Sullivan, Noah, Petersburg 21:26.89
87. Schwab, Stockton, Thorne Bay 21:36.95
88. Evan, Alexie, Ketchikan 21:37.18
89. Dobson, Eric, Thunder Mountain 21:40.39
90. Taylor, Aaron, Craig 21:41.81
91. Galaktianoff, Moses, Klawock 21:42.68
92. Rice, Austin, Mt Edgecumbe 21:43.77
93. Brusell, William, Metlakatla 21:51.40
94. Ripke, Yugissaq, Mt Edgecumbe 21:53.01
95. Trout, Roger, Hydaburg 21:58.41
96. Hoppe, Ruben, Klawock 21:58.62
97. Hanson, Jesse, Mt Edgecumbe 22:02.93
98. Mason, Derek, Thunder Mountain 22:07.10
99. Mead, Elijah, Thunder Mountain 22:08.10
100. Hayes, Josh, Klawock 22:09.88
101. Hilder, Wyatt, Craig 22:22.13
102. Eagle, Kellan, Wrangell 22:23.18
103. Arnold, Lucas, Mt Edgecumbe 22:24.01
104. Samuelson, Shelby, Mt Edgecumbe 22:27.57
105. Dormido, Christopher, Skagway 22:27.98
106. Lowe, Roman, Mt Edgecumbe 22:31.35
107. Wegand, Luke, Craig 22:32.60
108. Heath, Calvin, Craig 22:38.57
109. Greist, Frank, Craig 22:38.75
110. DeAsis, Joshua, Mt Edgecumbe 22:39.88
111. Cumps, Julian, Petersburg 22:42.90
112. White, Jerry, Hoonah 22:43.31
113. Heppe, Jonas, Klawock 22:55.65
114. Gemmill, Daniel, Mt Edgecumbe 22:56.75
115. Danielson, Levi, Sitka 23:12.92
116. Marsden, Travis, Metlakatla 23:22.47
117. White, Caleb, Metlakatla 23:36.50
118. Williams, Tim, Metlakatla 23:37.64
119. Ali, Omar, Sitka 24:05.92
120. Buxton, Tobin, Metlakatla 24:09.37
121. Normandy, Sam, Klawock 24:28.64
122. Guthrie, Brandon, Hoonah 24:32.84
123. Nix, Herbert, Hydaburg 24:38.50
124. Kohler, Esias, Hoonah 24:42.04
125. Mahoney, Zane, Mt Edgecumbe 24:55.32
126. Gibbens, Kodie, Mt Edgecumbe 25:16.64
127. Ross, Cooper, Hoonah 25:27.50
128. Dilts, Brayde, Klawock 25:29.76
129. Hayes, Ashtyn, Wrangell 25:33.80
130. Commack, Harry, Metlakatla 25:57.21
131. Osborne, Aiden, Mt Edgecumbe 25:58.15
132. McClenahan, Jonah, Mt Edgecumbe 25:59.43
133. Devlin, Jeff Hoonah, 26:03.78
134. Charlie, David, Mt Edgecumbe 26:04.22
135. Johnson, Maximus, Sitka 26:27.53
136. Byrer, Jack, Petersburg 26:48.55
137. Dock, Tray, Mt Edgecumbe 26:59.19
138. Kairaiuak, Taylor, Mt Edgecumbe 27:25.59
139. Eaglestaff, Michael, Hydaburg 27:39.26
140. Rasmus, Noah Hydaburg 28:52.08
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Arne Ellefson-Carnes crosses the finish line in first place for the Juneau-Douglas High School cross country team. (James Poulson | Sitka Sentinel)
Sadie Tuckwood crosses the finish line in first place for the Juneau-Douglas High School cross country team. (James Poulson | Sitka Sentinel)
