These Alaskan high schoolers continue to set new personal bests and advance their overall ranks in the state. Keep an eye on these athletes as the postseason quickly approaches.
Boys
Luke Shaw bested his state lead 1600m time by over 20 seconds during the Quad 1 Meet. In two weeks, the senior from Eagle River High School improved his 4:49.53 to 4:25.70, taking the victory and securing a new personal best.
Boomchain Loucks remains the only athlete in the state to break 2 minutes in the 800m. From Wrangell High School, the senior clocked a 1:58.89 to finish runner-up at the BC, CPC, Heritage Ketchikan, K, SW @ GF Meet while also setting a new lifetime best in the two-lap race.
A junior out of Colony High School, Josiah Herrick took the 3200m victory at the MSBSD Mini Meet A in a new PR, 10:23.06, to move himself up to #4 in Alaska.
Benjamin Hiestand of Chugiak continues his reign in the throws by claiming the top spots in both the shot put and discus. This past weekend at the Quad 1 Meet, the junior threw a lifetime best 52-3 in the shot put to secure the win. Hiestand later returned to the ring to win the discus with a throw of 167-3 for a new season's best.
Senior Luke Poland rounds out this group of boys with a lifetime best in the long jump at the Quad 1 Meet. Competing for Chugiak, Poland leaped 20-1.25 to take second and improve his state ranking to second overall after his impressive performance.
Girls
Olivia Sandoval won both the 400m and 1600m to showcase her range at the Quad 1 Meet. From Chugiak, Sandoval ran 1:00.26 in the quarter mile and 5:13.31 in the mile to set new personal bests in each event. The sophomore is ranked #2 in both events in the state, while ranked #1 in the 800m from her earlier performances.
On the other end of the track, Finley Moffett of Chugiak claimed the long jump title at the Quad 1 Meet. The senior leaped 16-11.25 to take the win, improve her personal best, and claim the top mark in the state.