It’s been 21 years since the Juneau-Douglas boys’ team last missed the state track and field championships.

That streak is in serious jeopardy.

The Region V Track & Field Championships begin at 1 p.m. today at Thunder Mountain High School, and it’s the host Falcons who are threatening to break the Crimson Bears’ 4A Southeast stranglehold over Ketchikan, which has run longer than any seniors competing in the weekend’s 2A/3A and 4A events have been alive.

The Juneau-Douglas boys’ and girls’ soccer teams tested their mettle in Anchorage last week against some of the top competition in the state of Alaska.

Now the Bears know what they’re capable of doing.

The girls went 2-2 on their road trip, while the boys took three of four matches. Both teams played the same schools: Wasilla, Chugiak, Dimond and West Anchorage.

It’s been a long two weeks for a girls’ team that has played a lot of games recently, but coach Matt Dusenberry said this road trip gave his side confidence going forward.

This weekend’s event in Haines served as a final tuneup for most Southeast runners with the Region V track meet quickly approaching, but it also saw the Falcons boys’ team once again dominate the competition.

Thunder Mountain took first place on the boys’ side with 137 points, while the girls placed fourth overall with 61 points.

Falcons coach Scott May said the result surprised him given the numbers his boys were facing.

The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears took care of business Saturday morning, defeating Palmer 13-1 in a game that was called in the third inning.

“We were able to stay focused and play some pretty good ball,” manager Dave Massey said. “We suited up roughly 18 kids and I’m happy that we were able to get everybody in, and get everybody some playing time at the varsity level. Overall, our hitting and defense went well and I was pretty happy with our pitching both days.”