Crimson Bears sweep cross-country team titles
- Klas Stolpe
- Sep 21, 2025
- 11 min read
Craig’s Nelson top male, Wrangell’s Meissner top female
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé swept the team titles on their home course Saturday at Sandy Beach, while Craig junior Aulis Nelson and Wrangell freshman Jenna Meissner won the individual boys and girls bragging rights for the final conference meet of the season before the region championships next weekend in Sitka.
Nelson ran 17 minutes flat over the 5-kilometer distance in a field of 130 boys and Meissner 20:18 to top 85 girls. JDHS junior Logan Fellman was the top Crimson Bears boy, placing third in the boys’ race with 17:35.36 and JDHS junior Kaia Mangaccat placed second in the girls race with 20:36.
“On the first loop, on the steep hill coming down by the old building, I just kind of let gravity take me as much as gravity could, I guess,” Nelson said. “And I passed the top two runners, Derek (Wilson of Sitka) and Carter (Phillips of Ketchikan) and I just held on to my lead from there.”
The first loop featured a large mud puddle, and runners splashed fans who cheered on the corner.
“I dug as hard as I could because I knew that they would be right on my tail,” Nelson said. “When the end came I just tried to hang on with all I had left. I saw my coach and just tried to give it my all. I am really hoping I broke 17, it was really close. My goal this season was to be sub-17 on every course so I am hoping I could have broken it for this one.”
Sitka junior Derek Wilson kept the pressure up through the twists and turns on the course with a more mental strategy.
“Just run, I don’t know, just keep out of my head,” Wilson said. “I just say, ‘I can and I will,’ and I say that over and over, and when I get tired I just say that and it keeps me going. I think I was nine seconds behind him (Nelson), keeping track of him the whole way, just like I did in Ketchikan. And I tried to stay with him again. I lost him the last mile but kept him in my eye vision. Going into regions, this means I can push harder because I felt good this race. I felt really good. Definitely at regions I am just going to push harder, especially because it is going to be at home and everyone that I know is going to be watching.”
Fellman came out of the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail on a mission and ran past Ketchikan senior Carter Phillips on the grass field to the finish.
“I didn’t feel too good from the beginning,” Fellman said. “So I took my foot off the gas for the first lap and a half and then started picking off Petersburg (senior Gaje Ventress) and then Ketchikan (sophomore Ezra Roskam), and that really helped me. And then at the end I was able to out-sprint the Ketchikan kid, so my strategy was just not go that fast from the beginning and just keep progressively putting more effort in during the race.”
Fellman kept in sight the top two finishers, a strategy that worked for him.
“It means I am going to start out faster going into regions,” he said. “Just stay with them for the whole race and if I can just pick them off. Key has been just building strength and workouts, and putting good effort in every week, making sure the leg strength is there, the cardio is there, just putting it on the race table when you race.”
Nelson appeared comfortable crossing the finish line.
“I think that is a good sign going into regions,” he said. “I think I could have dug a little harder if I’m being honest with myself, but I feel like it was a good race and I am pretty happy with how I did…Sitka is really flat and a lot of kids get their PB (personal best) on that course so I am hoping I can do the same. The last time I ran on the Sitka course I didn’t do very well. I ended up taking a wrong turn my freshman year. I got 23 minutes because I had to retrace my steps, so I am hoping I can do better this year.”
Nelson’s PB this season is 16:21 on the Wrangell course.
Wrangell’s Meissner led the girls’ race from start to finish with JDHS’ Mangaccat a few paces behind the entire course.
“My strategy was when you go up the hills, is to kick really hard and then just flow down them,” Meissner said. “Don’t go slow down the hills, keep on going. Having my team behind me means a lot. I love cross-country. It is really cool to be out here and race in high school now.”
Mangaccat followed Meissner into the trails, around the mud curves, and up and down the hills.
“My strategy was to just try and stay focused,” Mangaccat said. “Smile and have a good time. I think I am going to try and go faster in Sitka. I am going to try and PR again.”
She credited her team for her performance, saying, “I think it is really motivating. It gives me a reason to push. Yeah, I really appreciate my team.”
Petersburg sophomore Arielle Tucker and Ketchikan junior Ryan Elerding placed third and fourth, with JDHS sophomores Sigrid Eller and Nevah Lupro crossing the finish in pursuit.
“We are trying to figure out who is on our region team heading into next weekend,” JDHS co-coach Abby Jahn said. “We will be deciding that roster over the weekend. We are also just practicing racing, like continuing that journey on how to prep for a race, learning how to just go out there and do your best, and try new things. Just really use all that training that we have been doing, both the physical and the mental training, and just go out there and have some good races.”
Saturday’s race was just one of the factors for determining the seven boys and seven girls representing the Crimson Bears next weekend.
“We also consider how the kids have been doing the entire season and their participation in practice, if they have been showing up and doing the fundraisers and all those things. It is not just based on performance,” Jahn said. “We really try to honor the whole picture.”
The Southeast Region V Cross Country championships are Saturday at Sitka’s Totem Park.
Saturday also featured an elementary school race of one lap through the course.
Girls winner Lucia Panzich said she likes running because “It is hot and tiring. I like it. I like getting hot.”
Boys winner Calder Taintor said, “I like getting exercise.”
Capital City Invitational
Team Scores
Boys
1. Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé 42; 2. Sitka 70; 3. Ketchikan 77; 4. Petersburg 94; 5. Wrangell 131; 6. Skagway 176; 7. Mt. Edgecumbe 198; 8. Craig 201; 9. Hoonah 238; 10. Metlakatla 310.
Girls
1. Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé 25; 2. Sitka 52; 3. Petersburg 66; 4. Ketchikan 102; 5. Mt. Edgecumbe 136; 6. Craig 138.
Individual Results
Boys
1. Aulis Nelson (CRG) 17:00; 2. Derek Wilson (SIT) 17:18; 3. Logam Fellman (JDHS) 17:35.36; 4. Carter Phillips (KTN) 17:35.80; 5. Zach Bos (JDHS) 17:44; 6. Owen Mork (SIT) 17:50; 7. Jackson Carney (WRG) 17:58; 8. Gaje Ventress (PSG) 18:01; 9. Angus Andrews (JDHS) 18:12; 10. Alex Holmgrain (PSG) 18:15.55; 11. Elias Schane (JDHS) 18:15.77; 12. Francis Myers (SIT) 18:20; 13. Nathan Kerr (PSG) 18:22; 14. Carson Kautz (JDHS) 18:27; 15. Miezen Deraimer (JDHS) 18:28.33; 16. Ezra Roskam (KTN) 18:28.77; 17. Logan Rupprecht (SKG) 18:34; 18. Henry Vail (KTN) 18:36.30; 19. Scott Johnson (KTN) 18:36.55; 20 Maxton Glover (KTN) 18:53; 21. Richard Evison (KTN) 18:55; 22. Noah Robbins (KTN) 18:57.39; 23. Austin Huang (JDHS) 18.57.58; 24. Calder Prussian (SIT) 18:58; 25. Camden Johnson (PSG) 19:01; 26. Andrew Mullin (SIT) 19:03.14; 27 Silas Todd (SIT) 19:03.36; 28. Dane Hubert (JDHS) 19:06; 29. Justin Hames (SIT) 19:07.45; 30. Carter Howell (WRG) 19:07.77; 31. Anderson Murray (JDHS) 19:08; 32. Emmett Hightower (JDHS) 19:10.24; 33. Ryder Ritchie (WRG) 19:10.39; 34. Brett Ross (SIT) 19:14; 35. Blaine Garlick (KTN) 19:15; 36. Daniel Degener (JDHS) 19:16; 37. Atagan Hood (JDHS) 19:34; 38. Silas Marley (SIT) 19:37; 39. Jesper Bennetsen (JDHS) 19:38.58; 40 Zane Coughran (SKG) 19:38. 99; 41. Jackson Powers (WRG) 19:39; 42. Max Webster (JDHS) 19:40.42; 43. Ian Nelson (WRG) 19:40.92; 44. Sam Buttner (JDHS) 19:41; 45. Finnan Kelly (JDHS) 19:43; 46. Gerred Garrison (HNH) 19:49; 47. Taan Moll (MEHS) 19:54; 48. Jonah Ivanoff-Gray (MEHS) 19:55.11; 49. Arthur Aribam (SKG) 19:55.42; 50. Ben Kandoll (PSG) 20:00; 51. Ben Houser (WRG) 20:01; 52. Landon Kirkness (SIT) 20:05; 53. Ian Bagley (SIT) 20:09; 54. Isaac Evison (KTN) 20:13.24; 55. Donald Olson (MEHS) 20:13; 56. Tank Tyler (HNH) 20:14; 57. Cedar Starbuck (SIT) 20:19; 58. Lucas Nelson-Vallejo (JDHS) 20:20; 59. Reece Howard (SIT) 20:23; 60. Waylon Jones (PSG) 20:27; 61. Kaden Kulukhon (MEHS) 20:28.24; 61. Gordon Lie (MEHS) 20:28.86; 63. Dane Ames (SKG) 20:29; 64. Luca Tronrud (SKG) 20:40; 65. Nolan Fithian (CRG) 20:41; 66. Hayden Fithian (CRG) 20:45; 67. Caleb Schane (JDHS) 20:52; 68. Yeshey Galindo-George (HNS) 20:59; 69. Wesley Durst (PSG) 21:00.11; 70. Nathaniel Olson (PSG) 21:00.30; 71. Calvin Strong (SIT) 21:00.89; 72. Allen Trimmer (CRG) 21:01; 73. Dietrich Lewis (HNH) 21:08; 74. Brenden Moncibaiz (SKG) 21:22 75. Bryden Roberts (JDHS) 21:23; 76. Porter Goudie (JDHS) 21:31; 77. Brooks Pinney (JDHS) 21:33; 78. Lawrence Howland (HNH) 21:42; 79. Robert Ridley (MET) 21:52; 80. Gavin Sebastian (JDHS) 21:56; 81. Ethan Bertagnoli (PSG) 21:57.30; 82. Cooper Smith (SIT) 21:57.30; 83. Jack Conatser (CRG) 21:57.49; 84. Logan Weter (MEHS) 21:58; 85. Quincy Rice (PSG) 22:03; 86. Gavin Alderson-Bell (KTN) 22:10; 87. Boyd Branch (SIT) 22:14; 88. Luke Bell (HNS) 22:20; 89. Rylan Clark-Pruitt (MEHS) 22:34; 90. Lucas Wyatt (JDHS) 22:36; 91. Spencer Baumgartner (HNS) 22:41; 92. Ben Blackgoat (JDHS) 22:42; 93. Isaiah Miller (KTN) 22:49; 94. Kaeden Ganey (HNS) 22:54; 95. David Friday (KLW) 22:57.33; 96. Parker Swanson (PSG) 22:57.49; 97. Camden Lawson (SKG) 23:02; 98. Riley Neal (HNH) 23:05.74; 99. Paul Lingley (KLW) 23:05; 100. Haydn McMahon (KTN) 23:19; 101. Alex Trimmer (CRG) 23:24; 102. Samuel Munson (SKG) 23:25.17; 103. Tymur Tkachenko (JDHS) 23:25.61; 104. Sea Hawk Sanford (MET) 23:36; 105. Joshua Bennett (CRG) 23:37; 106. James Erickson (HNH) 23:40; 107. Ethan Buchheit (JHDS) 23:41; 108. Oscar Lamb (JDHS) 23:43; 109. Kalin Hudson (MET) 23:45; 110. D’artagnan Peele-Guthrie (HYD) 23:50; 111. Santino Travasso (JDHS) 24:10; 112. Jack Mickelson (SIT) 24:12; 113. Parker Hagan (KTN) 24:29; 114. Tullitsiaq Reimer (JDHS) 24:31; 115. Xavier Olsen (MET) 25:19; 116. Sam Charles (MET) 25:21; 117. Craig Thorsteinson (JDHS) 25:32.24; 118. James Ward (SIT) 25:32.95; 119. Tyrone Carleson (HYD) 25:37.83; 120. Giorgi Jajanidze (SIT) 25:37; 121. Bryce Olin (MET) 25:48; 122. Nolan Calhoun (SIT) 26:12; 123. Raymond Fairbanks (KLW) 26:21; 124. Wyatt Crosiar (SIT) 26:54; 125. Jacob Newlun (PSG) 27:07; 126. Benjamin Ridley (MET) 27:38; 127. Payton Dreisbach (PSG) 28:35; 128, Vincent Milligrock (MET) 29:41; 129. Russell Peele (KLW) 31:56; 130. Eli Wyatt (JDHS) 34:38.
Girls
1. Jenna Meissner (WRG) 20:18; 2. Kaia Mangaccat (JDHS) 20:36; 3. Arielle Tucker (PSG) 20:54; 4. Ryan Elerding (KTN) 21:07; 5. Sigrid Eller (JDHS) 21:21; 6. Nevah Lupro (JDHS) 21:41; 7. Bella Ritchie (WRG) 21:41; 8. Alana Harrison (WRG) 21:43; 9. Lola Hitchcock (SIT) 21:52; 10. Della Mearig (JDHS) 21:55; 11. Maya Mothershead (JDHS) 22:12; 12. Opal Carter (SIT) 22:13; 13. Marina Marley (SIT) 22:38; 14. Natalie Hall (SIT) 22:44; 15. Cadence Flint (PSG) 22:47; 16. Gabrielle Whtiacre (PSG) 22:56; 17. Maria Toth (PSG) 23:00; 18. Sunna Schane (JDHS) 23:10; 19. Grace Hall (SIT) 23:20; 20. Emmalynn LaPlante (JDHS) 23:23; 21. Shandiin Frommherz (JDHS) 23:32; 22. Jadelynn Kubik (SIT) 23:34; 23. Easton Ross (HNH) 23:40; 24. Jayla Edenshaw (CRG) 24:01; 25. Sarah Kleeman (KTN) 24:01; 26. Johanna Hotch-Mattson (MEHS) 24:03; 27. Des Bos (JDHS) 24:08; 28. Madelyn Gass (KTN) 24:09; 29. MaryKay Evon (MEHS) 24:43; 30. Sophia Hedden (HNS) 24:51; 31. Chelsea Thompson (CRG) 24:54; 32. Ellie Jo Wall (JDHS) 25:00; 33. Zia Hulebak (PSG) 25:06; 34. Adele Fanning (JDHS) 25:12; 35. Taylor McCarty (SIT) 25:19; 36. Audrina Dull (MEHS) 25:37; 37. Chloe Beach (KTN) 25:38; 38. Piper Caskey (KTN) 25:39; 39. Zoe Tydingco (SIT) 25:42; 40. Ashlynn Smith (CRG) 25:47; 41. Camille Huntington (MEHS) 25:51; 42. Zoe Lessard (JDHS) 26:03; 43. Emilia Shelton-Walker (JDHS) 26:08; 44. Sabrina Nelson (CRG) 26:14; 45. Saranne Stonecipher (CRG) 26:16; 46. Kira English (JDHS) 26:29; 47. Emry Ward (MEHS) 26:29; 48. Aurelia Field (JDHS) 26:31; 49. Miranda Stichert (JDHS) 26:32; 50. Siena Farr (JDHS) 26:33; 51. Melanie Schrader (JDHS) 26:36; 52. Khloe Woods (SKG) 26:38; 53. Kaycee Parady (JDHS) 27:03; 54. Angela Bahna (SIT) 27:04; 55. Keira Sanderson (KLW) 27:09; 56. Leighton Zararzua (JDHS) 27:12; 57. Koby Yturbe (JDHS) 27:26; 58. Piper Blackgoat Diehl (JDHS) 27:26; 59. Breana Nelson (MEHS) 27:32; 60. Mackenzie Mixon (SKG) 27:56; 61. Eleanor Peterson (JDHS) 28:05; 62. Kalee Herman (WRG) 28:08; 63. Lauren Tucker (KTN) 28:20; 64. Madison Conatser (CRG) 28:29; 65. Lillian Fernandez (KTN) 28:33; 66. Ikalyn Brower (MEHS) 28:36; 67. Leilynn Swain (SIT) 28:39; 68. Grace Gazdig (JDHS) 28:40; 69. Elyzsa Sapinoso (JDHS) 28:41; 70. Sloan Christensen (JDHS) 28:45; 71. Harlee Brown (HNH) 28:54; 72. Anna Bell (HNS) 29:14; 73. Mary Bell (HNS) 29:24; 74. Lucy Wall (JDHS) 29:37; 75. Elizabeth Olsen (MET) 29:51; 76. Jillian Levy (JDHS) 29:54; 77. Mackenzie Williams (MET) 30:16; 78. Alli Demmert (CRG) 30:20; 79. Mina Yee (SKG) 30:39; 80. Anna Reiter (JDHS) 30:54; 81. Raegan Adams (JDHS) 31:27; 82. Millie Bass (SKG) 33:06; 83. Alivia Martin (KLW) 34:34; 84. Alyssa Jeffrey (KLW) 39:06; 85. Olivia Kato (KLW) 45:13.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
