Sports

Runners ascend the old ski hill on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the start of the 2015 Equinox Marathon. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Running over the same old ground

Oh my, it’s that time again. The Equinox Marathon starts with a cannon blast on the third Saturday of September here at the University of… Continue reading

Runners ascend the old ski hill on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the start of the 2015 Equinox Marathon. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Juneau Huskies players and coaches storm the field in celebration after Hayden Aube runs for a touchdown in double overtime to win 55-49 at Washington’s Auburn State on Friday night. It was the first win of the season for Juneau, which returns home after a three-game road trip for another night game next Friday. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football video)

Friday night northern lights: Huskies win 55-49 shootout classic in Washington in 2OT

Juneau gets first win as replacement QB Hayden Aube overcomes goal-line fumbles, scores winning TD.

Juneau Huskies players and coaches storm the field in celebration after Hayden Aube runs for a touchdown in double overtime to win 55-49 at Washington’s Auburn State on Friday night. It was the first win of the season for Juneau, which returns home after a three-game road trip for another night game next Friday. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football video)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Athletes practice new moves while wrestling during a Labor Day weekend clinic at the Juneau Youth Wrestling Club’s new building on Monday.

New wrestling club building means more gym time for aspiring athletes

Nearly 60 youths flocked to building to partake in first weekend clinic since its opening.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Athletes practice new moves while wrestling during a Labor Day weekend clinic at the Juneau Youth Wrestling Club’s new building on Monday.
A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Runners compete in a men’s 5,000-meters heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Disappointing World Championships track finish for Ketchikan’s Isaac Updike

Last-place finish in first global competition will serve as experience entering Olympic year.

Runners compete in a men’s 5,000-meters heat during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Senior captains Edgar Vera and Etta Eller lead the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School cross-country team in a warmup jog during a rainy day practice near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

JDHS runners return to Juneau’s roads and trails with big ambitions

Cross-country coaches and captains share early season goals ahead of joint race with TMHS.

Senior captains Edgar Vera and Etta Eller lead the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School cross-country team in a warmup jog during a rainy day practice near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Robin Welling, a Juneau resident, sprints to the finish line to win the Nifty Fifty 50K race Saturday afternoon with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 55 seconds.

Runners dominate slippery trails for annual Nifty Fifty races amid rain storm

The 50K, 25K and 10K races were a success despite weather, race director says.

Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Robin Welling, a Juneau resident, sprints to the finish line to win the Nifty Fifty 50K race Saturday afternoon with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 55 seconds.
Players collide during the second quarter of the Juneau Huskies’ season opener against East Anchorage Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Players collide during the second quarter of the Juneau Huskies’ season opener against East Anchorage Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Volunteers work on the intermediate-level trail for the new Thunder Mountain Bike Park on Saturday. The new park, scheduled to be ready to ride early next week, will also initially feature a beginner’s trail. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Volunteers ramping up for new Mendenhall Valley mountain biking trails

Two trails at new Thunder Mountain Bike Park expected to open during coming week.

Volunteers work on the intermediate-level trail for the new Thunder Mountain Bike Park on Saturday. The new park, scheduled to be ready to ride early next week, will also initially feature a beginner’s trail. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau catcher Isaac Kirsch looks to catch a pop-up foul against Dimond West in the deciding fifth game of the Alaska Little League Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Gastineau Channel Little League video of game)

Juneau all-stars defeated 14-7 in state Little League championship game

Anchorage’s Dimond West breaks away from earlier close games to win best-of-five series

Juneau catcher Isaac Kirsch looks to catch a pop-up foul against Dimond West in the deciding fifth game of the Alaska Little League Majors Baseball State Tournament in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Gastineau Channel Little League video of game)
Golfers test their skills at the “chip shot challenge” during the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

It’s not easy being on the green

88 participants brave heat, go clubbing on “fast” turf during annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic.

Golfers test their skills at the “chip shot challenge” during the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Riley Morehouse pitches to a Washington state player in the bottom half of the fourth inning in an elimination game Monday during the Little League World Series Northwest Region majors softball tournament in San Bernardino, California. Juneau’s team, representing Alaska after winning the statewide tournament, rallied to a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning after falling behind early, but Washington would take the lead at the end of the inning and go on to win 13-6. (Screenshot from recap video by littleleague.org)

Juneau girls eliminated from Little League World Series regional softball tournament

After dominating statewide tournament, team goes 0-2 at Northwest Region in California

Juneau’s Riley Morehouse pitches to a Washington state player in the bottom half of the fourth inning in an elimination game Monday during the Little League World Series Northwest Region majors softball tournament in San Bernardino, California. Juneau’s team, representing Alaska after winning the statewide tournament, rallied to a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning after falling behind early, but Washington would take the lead at the end of the inning and go on to win 13-6. (Screenshot from recap video by littleleague.org)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Nicole Adair, a 2001 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé, pitches for the Antiques as teammate Tania Hansen, a 1998 graduate, plays first base and Angi Thibodeau, a 1999 graduate, awaits an opportunity to advance as a member of the Classics during the fourth annual JDHS Softball Alumni Game on Sunday at Melvin Park. (Photo courtesy of JDHS softball)

Annual JDHS alumni softball game results in classy matchup

Closest-ever finish goes down to the wire as participation opened to public for first time.

Nicole Adair, a 2001 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé, pitches for the Antiques as teammate Tania Hansen, a 1998 graduate, plays first base and Angi Thibodeau, a 1999 graduate, awaits an opportunity to advance as a member of the Classics during the fourth annual JDHS Softball Alumni Game on Sunday at Melvin Park. (Photo courtesy of JDHS softball)
Players line up during the final quarter of Juneau Alumni Football game on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Friday night lights: Alumni game provides memories and funds for Huskies football

The night raised approximately $13,000 to go toward the upcoming season.

Players line up during the final quarter of Juneau Alumni Football game on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Athlete Tammy Birch carries the torch with help from Branden Horst during the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run at Twin Lakes Park Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Annual fundraiser run torches last year’s total

Around $15,000 was raised to go toward athletes on the Special Olympics Alaska Juneau team.

Athlete Tammy Birch carries the torch with help from Branden Horst during the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run at Twin Lakes Park Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Junior guard Sean Oliver pushes through a crowd of players for a layup during the third period during Thursday night’s game against South Anchorage High School during the first night of the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears teams secure victories at 2nd night of tournament

JDHS girls and boys keep the momentum at Princess Cruises Capital City Classic

Junior guard Sean Oliver pushes through a crowd of players for a layup during the third period during Thursday night’s game against South Anchorage High School during the first night of the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mile runners takeoff from the starting line during the ninth annual Turkey Trot on Thursday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

And they’re off: Turkey Trot draws hundreds

Fun in the briefly shining sun.

Mile runners takeoff from the starting line during the ninth annual Turkey Trot on Thursday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau senior Sam Sika is seen in this photo joining the huddle for coach Sjoroos’ pep talk during practice. Sika and the rest of Huskies defense came up big on Saturday’s season opener against the Dimond Lynx in Anchorage. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Juneau finds the weak Lynx in Anchorage

Huskies defeat Dimond in 37-0 shut out. Next up is Bartlett at home.

Juneau senior Sam Sika is seen in this photo joining the huddle for coach Sjoroos’ pep talk during practice. Sika and the rest of Huskies defense came up big on Saturday’s season opener against the Dimond Lynx in Anchorage. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Runners pound up Fish Creek Road towards the ski area during the Eaglecrest Road and Ridge Race on July 2, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Runners pound up Fish Creek Road towards the ski area during the Eaglecrest Road and Ridge Race on July 2, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)