Four contingents of elementary school students participated in the Junior Native Youth Olympics Friday night.
Riverbend Elementary, the host of the annual gathering of around 100 young athletes, posted an event-best 20 top-six finishes over the course of the competition. Riverbend, Glacier Valley, Harborview and Mendenhall River students competed in the 1-foot high kick, 2-foot high kick, Alaska high kick, scissor broad jump, seal hop and stick pull.
[Young athletes show off strength at Native Olympics]
Riverbend’s Haddie Vohs was the only double winner with her first-place medals in the 1-foot high kick and scissor broad jump. Vohs out kicked 25 participants in the 1-foot high kick and out jumped 19 in the scissor broad jump.
Other event winners included Mendenhall River’s Eliot Welch (2-foot high kick), Riverbend’s Malcolm Fuette (Alaska high kick), Glacier Valley’s Skylar Oliva (seal hop) and Riverbend’s Precious Aitaoto (stick pull).
Riverbend Elementary boasts the all-time records in the 1-foot and 2-foot high kick. Lynniah Sagrado set both the records in 2017.
2019 Jr. Native Youth Olympics Top 6 finishers
One-foot high kick — 1, Haddie Vohs, Riverbend, 65 inches. 2, Cassie Lumba, Riverbend, 63”. 3, Eliot Welch, MRCS, 63”. 4, Taylor Mesdag, Riverbend, 60”. 5, Peyton Wheeler, MRCS, 59”. 6, Skylar Oliva, Glacier Valley, 55”.
Two-foot high kick — 1, Eliot Welch, MRCS, 47”. 2, Noah Ault, Riverbend, 46”. 3, Reynaldo Domingo, Riverbend, 43”. 4, Tomio Nomura, Riverbend, 41”. 5, Julianna Carranza, Riverbend, 39”. 6, Noah Lewis, MRCS, 36”.
Alaska high kick — 1, Malcolm Fuette, Riverbend, 48”. 2, Isaac Phelps, MRCS, 48”. 3, Raiden Smith, Riverbend, 47”. 4, Brandon Casperson, Glacier Valley, 47”. 5, Anberline Tingey, Glacier Valley, 42”. 6, Sam Mazon, Glacier Valley, 37”.
Scissor broad jump — 1, Haddie Vohs, Riverbend, 18’ 3”. 2, Raiden Smith, Riverbend, 18’ 1”. 3, Jude Rogers, Harborview, 17’ 4”. 4, Ellis Gottschlich, Riverbend, 16’ 6”. 5, Tyler Decker, Riverbend, 16’ 4”. 5, Sarenadee San Nicolas, Riverbend, 16’ 4”
Seal hop — 1, Skylar Oliva, 82’ 2”. 2, Chase Mesdag, Riverbend, 50’ 5”. 3, Anberline Tingey, Glacier Valley, 50’. 4, Taylor Mesdag, Riverbend, 49’ 1”. 5, Ty Smith, MRCS, 47’ 4”. 6, Cooper Blackgoat, Riverbend, 40’ 2”.
Stick Pull — 1, Precious Aitaoto, Riverbend. 2, Riley Mulkey, MRCS. 3, Ivan Shockley, Riverbend. 4, Molly Joca, Harborview. 5, Marcus Mendoza, MRCS. 6, Damian Marvin, Riverbend.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
