Heading into this weekend’s first home meet for the Thunder Mountain High School track and field team, the Sitka Wolves had the Falcons’ number.
After the Falcons boys won by a wide margin at the Ketchikan Invitational April 21-22, the Wolves thumped TMHS by eight points last weekend at the Sitka Invitational.
The Falcons girls team is still adjusting to life post-12-time-state-champion Naomi Welling. They fell by 55 points in Ketchikan and 101 points in Sitka to the Lady Wolves.
“These early meets, we’re just putting some people in different places and see how they are doing,” TMHS Coach Scott May said.
On the Juneau-Douglas High School side, coach Janette Gagnon will have 40 of her athletes in action this weekend. Thus far in the season, the highest either JDHS team (boys or girls) has placed is third. Still, coach Gagnon says her team is a cohesive bunch.
“It’s fun to see them supporting each other even as they are doing their workouts on the track — they’re cheering each other on,” Gagnon said. “Sometimes it feels like distance is their (own) group, sprinters are their (own) group, and throwers are their (own) group, but this year there’s a lot more cheering on of everybody.”
The meet starts Friday at noon with the girls high jump, and ends Saturday at 1:15 p.m. with the boys 4×400 meter relay.
TMHS boys
There are plenty of reasons for Coach May to be optimistic this weekend at the Capital Invite.
For one, Aiden Hildebrand joins the team. According to Coach May, Hildebrand is a “top-three hopeful” in the 100 meter dash at the state championships May 25-27 in Palmer.
In addition, several other of his runners are hitting their strides. Senior captain Gabe Crawford, who specializes in the long jump, won the 100-meter dash in Sitka with in a blazing 11.83 seconds time. He also helped the 4×100 relay team to first place in last week’s meet.
“I’d say Gabe Crawford was big suprise for us because he was on the fence of making this really crazy, super competitive, 4×100 relay … Well, Gabe ended up winning the 100, we swept it: first, second and third.”
If Coach May inserts Crawford on the 4×100 relay with fellow standout sprinters Hildebrand and Ezekiel Keller, they’ll be next to unstoppable.
In the distance events, look out for freshman James Burger and junior Jonah Penrose. Penrose ran an inspring 1600 in Sitka last weekend, finishing right behind first-place finisher Ethan Goebel of Skagway with a time of 5 minutes flat.
“He came from way back in the pack and motored his way up to second place,” May said of the Sitka race. “He ran a really smart race and did well there.”
TMHS girls
The Falcons will be without one of their strongest runners this weekend in Erin Wallace. The runner-up in the 1600 at the state meet last year experienced what Coach May called “something really wrong with her foot” at the Sitka Invitational. Wallace only ran one out her typical four events in Sitka: the 800 meter. She still managed to win the event in 2 minutes, 35 seconds.
The 4×100 meter relay, after coming in second last weekend to Sitka without Aly Heaton, should be able to reclaim the top spot this weekend. At the Ketchikan Invitational, the team of Heaton, Mary Landes, Audrey Welling and Tzadi Hauck tied the school record in that event with a 54.30-second finish.
JDHS boys
The JDHS boys team is strong in the distance and throwing events. Arne Ellefson-Carnes can run a sub-five minute mile, which only a few runners can do in the region. Head coach Janette Gagnon says Shadrach Stitz is a natural at the hurdles, one of the events the Crimson Bears typically lose out on a lot of points. Coach Gagnon is also encouraged by many of her throwers, including Cody Weldon and Lance Fenumiai.
JDHS girls
The JDHS girls have two of the top milers in the state. When she’s not playing soccer, Sadie Tuckwood has been unbeatable in both the 1600 and 3200 meter events. Behind Tuckwood in these two events is Anna Iverson and Elizabeth Ramseth. Still the Crimson Bears girls don’t have the depth of the Falcons’ team, and will have a difficult time keeping up with their crosstown rivals.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Arne Ellefson-Carnes Team: JDHS Class: Sophomore Featured Events: 3200, 1600, 4×800 relay
Name: Ezekiel Keller Team: TMHS Class: Sophomore Featured Events: 100, 200, 4×100 relay
Justin Sleppy (Captain) Team: TMHS Class: Senior Featured Events: 3200, 1600, 4×400
Shadrach Stitz Team: JDHS &
0010;Class: Sophomore Featured Events: 3200, 1600, 300 hurdles
Lance Fenumiai Team: JDHS Class: Sophomore Featured Events: 4×100 relay, 100, shot put, discus
Leilani Eshnaur Team: TMHS Class: Sophomore Featured Events: 400
Erin Wallace Team: TMHS Class: Senior Featured Events: 3200, 1600, 800
