JDHS girls, Sitka boys win team titles at Ketchikan track meet

Skagway senior Royce Borst sets meet’s only record, but many earn all-time top 10 placings

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Kaia Mangaccat competes in the finals of the girls' 3,200-meter run, winning the event with a time of 12:02.17 during the first day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls scored 212 points to capture the team title on the Esther Shea Fawn Mountain oval at Saturday’s Ketchikan Invitational track and field meet over seven rivals, while the Sitka Wolves boys nipped the Kayhi Kings 179-132 for the boys’ team title with JDHS third out of eight teams with 96 points.

JDHS junior Kaia Mangaccat swept the distance events with first-place finishes, and personal best times, in the 800 meters in 2:32.42, 1,600 in 5:34.53 and 3,200 in 12:02.17.

Craig junior Aulis Nelson won the 3,200 in 10:26.55, placed second in the 1,600 in 4:47.07 and third in the 800 in 2:14.88. Wrangell senior Boomchain Loucks won the 1,600 in 4:30.46 and Sitka senior Derek Wilson the 800 in 2:13.03. JDHS junior Zachariah Bos placed third in the 3,200 with 10:54.53 and seventh in the 1,600 with 5:08.40. JDHS sophomore Anderson Murray placed sixth in the 800 with 2:18.35.

JDHS sophomore Bella Connally did not run her best 100 meters ,but still won in 12.77 seconds, and then ran a season-best 200 meters to win in 26.85.

Connally also anchored the girls' 4x100 relay with classmates Mya Hayes, Addie Hartman and Shandiin Frommherz that blazed to a 52.55 first-place finish over Sitka seniors Emma Heuer, Jadelynn Kubik, Leilynn Swain and Adalyna Moore who ran 54.10.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Bella Connally leads the pack, winning the girls' 100-meter dash finals with a time of 12.77 during the second day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Sophomore Sigrid Eller took second in the 800 with a season-best time of 2:38.29. Eller also joined classmates Nevah Lupro, Sunna Schane and junior Ellie Jo Wall to nearly upset Sitka’s senior-laden 4x400 relay team of Natalie Hall, Kubik, Swain and Moore. Sitka hit 4:44.82 and JDHS 4:47.42.

JDHS sophomore Addie Hartman was edged at the finish of the 100-meter hurdles, taking second in 18.13 to Sitka senior Emma Heuer in 18.12. Sitka senior Natalie Hall won the 300 hurdles in 51.76.

Kayhi junior Henry Vail won the 400 meters in 52.08. Vail ran a season-best time of 51.51 in the prelims. Vail also placed second in the 200 meters in 23.68, behind Sitka senior Calder Prussian in 22.89.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Addie Hartman and Ketchikan sophomore Claire Ruaro compete in the prelims of the girls' 100-meter hurdles, both advancing to Saturday’s finals during the first day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Kayhi sophomore Claire Ruaro ran a personal best 13.87 for fifth place in the 100-meter prelims and a 29.29 PB for fourth place in the 200 prelims, but did not race in the finals. She also hit season best times in the preliminary races of the 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles, 18.28 and 52.19, respectively, but did not race the finals.

JDHS dominated the throwing events with senior Meliame Tupou winning the girls’ shot put with a personal best 31-01.50 and the discus with a personal best 91-02.25. Senior Isabelle Martin was second in discus with 77-06.50 and fifth in shot with 26-04.50.

JDHS sophomore Leonidas Taualo-Tasi won the boys’ shot with a 41-03.25, with senior Richard Tupou third at 39-06.50. Tupou won the discus with 127-08.25.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Richard Tupou throws a discus. He won the event with a distance of 127-08.25 during the second day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Sitka’s Heuer won the girls’ high jump with 4-06.00 and Sitka senior Jadelynn Kubik won the girls' long jump with 14-01.50

Haines sophomore Wade Lloyd won the boys’ triple jump with 38-01.50 and Sitka senior Taylor Cushing won the girls’ with 35-09.00.

Sitka senior Cole McLaughlin won the boys' long jump with 19-06.50.

Skagway senior Royce Borst set the only meet record with a boys’ high jump of 6-02.00, but many other athletes joined Kayhi’s Esther Shea Fawn Mountain Track and Field all-time top 10.

JDHS’ Connally has the meet record for the 100 meters with 12.4, set in 2025. This weekend her 12.77 time gives her fourth place as well.

Others joining the top ten include JDHS junior Kai Mangaccat (9th all time girls 800 meters 2:32.2); JDHS sophomores Mya Hayes, Addie Hartman, Shandiin Frommherz and Connally (2nd all time girls 4x100 relay 52.55); JDHS sophomore Leonidas Taulo-Tasi (10th boys shot put 41’ 3.25”); JDHS senior Meliame Tupou (9th girls shot put 31’1.5” and 8th discus 91’ 2”); Wrangell senior Boomchain Loucks (2nd boys 800 meters 2:01.16); Sitka senior Taylor Cushing (2nd girls triple jump. 35’ 9”); Sitka senior Calder Prussian (5th boys 200 meters 22.89); Sitka senior James Nellis (5th boys 110 meter hurdles 16.90 and 10th 300m hurdles 44.07); Sitka seniors Emma Heuer, Jadelynn Kubik, Leilynn Swain and Adalyna Moore (6th girls 4x100 relay 54.10); Sitka junior Ashton Peterson (7th boys high jump 5’8”); Sitka senior Cole McLaughlin (7th long jump 19’ 6.5”); Sitka freshman Zander Sudnikovic-Remington (10th boys long jump 19’ 3”).

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Leonidas Taualo-Tasi competes in the boys' shot put finals, winning the event with a distance of 41 feet 3.25 inches during the first day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

KETCHIKAN INVITATIONAL TEAM SCORES

Girls - JDHS 212; Sitka 155; Petersburg 105; Haines 43; Ketchikan 36; Craig 28; Skagway 8.

Boys - Sitka 179; Ketchikan 132; JDHS 96; Petersburg 67; Skagway 46; Craig 32; Haines 28; Wrangell 20.

EVENT WINNERS (and/or JDHS placings)

100 Meters

Girls - 1. 1. Bella Connally (10) JDHS 12.77;  3. Shandiin Frommherz (10) 13.71; 6. Mya Hayes (10) 14.13; 14. Lydia Goins (10) 15.11; 18. Melanie Shrader (12) 15.60; 20. Kaylee Koelsch (12) 15.66; 30. Lucy Wall (9) 16.56.

Boys - 1. Calder Prussian (12) SIT 11.38; 2. Andrew Mullin (10) SIT, Orion Paden (11) JDHS 11.71; 11. Krew Ridle (11) 12.18; 19. Gavin Sebastian (11) 12.54; 20. Sylvion Washington (10) 12.60; 23. William Westmoreland (9) 12.92; 27. Jarry Maghinay (10) 13.06; 29. Zach Prather (12) 13.16; 34. Isaiah Carrillo (11) 13.29; 42. Cassius King (9) 14.34; DNS - Maximus Sean Sangster (9).

200 Meters

Girls - 1. Connally JDHS 26.85; 11. Goins 32.03; 14. Shrader 32.93; 15. Koelsch 33.13; 24. Harper Larkyn Woltring (10) 34.36; Hayes DNS.

Boys - 1. Prussian SIT 22.89; Paden 23.72; 15. Ridle 25.61; 29. Carrillo 27.97; 32. King 28.33; Sebastian DNS.

400 Meters

Girls - Addie Hartman (10) JDHS 1:06.57; 3. Frommherz 1:07.32; 6. Shrader 1:15.30; 7. Woltring 1:16.00; 10. Moira Bahn (11) 1:18.90.

Boys - Henry Vail (11) KTN 52.08; 8. Austin Huang (11) 59.57; 13. Westmoreland 1:01.76.

800 Meters

Girls - 1. Mangaccat 2:32.42; 2. Eller 2:38.29; 4. Della Mearig (12) 2:54.46; 5. Nevah Lupro (10) 2:54.83; 7. Sunna Schane (10) 2:58.79; 11. Isabella Batty (12) 3:04.40; 12. Eleanor Peterson (9) 3:06.54; 16. Kaycee Parady (11) 3:06.53.

Boys - 1. Boomchain Loucks (12) WRG 2:01.16; 6. Anderson Murray (10 2:18.36; 8. Emmett Hightower (10) 2:19.33; 16. Brooks Pinney (9) 2:35.26.

1,600 Meters

Girls - 1. Mangaccat 5:34.53; 6. Lupro 6:15.22; 7. Mearig 6:15.68; 10. Schane 6:27.60; 11. Dezerae Bos (9) 6:32.18; 16. Batty 6:51.50; 18. Ellie Jo Wall (11) 6:58.42; 19. Peterson 7:06.26; 20. Parady 7:08.14; Eller DNS.

Boys - 1. Loucks WRG 4:30.46; 7. Zacheriah Bos (11) 5:08.40; 8. Carson Kautz (10) 5:12.23; 9. Huang 5:14.81; 10. Hightower 5:19.22; Pinney DNS, Lucas Nelson-Vallejo (10) DNS, Murray DNS.

3,200 Meters

Girls - 1. Mangaccat 12:02.17; 7. Bos 14:31.76; 9. Wall 14:49.89.

Boys - 1. Aulis Nelson (11) CRG 10:26.55; 3. Z. Bos 10:54.53; 5. Kautz 11:31:35; 10. Nelson-Vallejo 11:58.14.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Zacheriah Bos leads the pack at the start of the finals of the boys 3,200-meter run during the first day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Hurdles

Girls 100M - 1. Emma Heuer (12) SIT 18.12; Hartman 18.13.

Boys 110M - 1. James Nellis (11) SIT 16.90. 

Girls 300M - 1. Natalie Hall (12) SIT 51.76.

Boys 300M - 1. Nellis SIT 44.07. 

Relays

Girls 4x100 - 1. JDHS “A” Hayes, Hartman, Frommherz, Connally 52.55; 6. JDHS “B” Shrader, Koelsch, Wall, Goins 1:01.29.

Boys 4x100  - SIT “A” Marc Tomas (11), Andrew Mullin (10), Zander Sudnikovich-Remington (9), Zander Dumag (12) 45.92; 2. JDHS “A” Rdile, Washington, Sebastian, Paden 46.66; DQ JDHS Vince Nizich (9), Jarry Maghinay (10), Sangster, Westmoreland.

Girls 4x200 - 1. SIT “A” Hall, Yareli Calhoun (9), Leila Sands (9), Zoe Tydingco (11) 2:03.84; 4. JDHS Freyja Shelton-Walker (10), Wall, Koelsch, Woltring 2:15.07.

Boys 4x200 - PSG “A” Brayden Tucker (12), Nolan Lutomski (11), Noah Pawuk (12), Ben Kandoll (11) 1:38.54.

Girls 4x400 - 1. SIT “A” Hall, Kubik, Swain, Moore 4:44.82; 2. JDHS “A” Eller, Lupro, Wall, Schane 4:47.42.

Boys 4x400 - 1. SIT “A” Cole McLaughlin (12), Prussian, Andrew Mullin (10), Owen Mork (9) 3:47.88; 2. JDHS “A” Kautz, Nizich, Sebastian, Washington 4:08.82.

Girls 4x800 - 1. SIT “A” Grace Hall (9), Lola Hitchcock (9), Novah Schmidt (9), Marina Marley (12) 11:44.24; 2. JDHS “A” Bos, Mearig, Batty, Parady 12:26.06.

Boys 4x800 - 1. JDHS “A” Murray, Z. Bos, Hightower, Huang 9:14.18.

Shot Put

Girls - 1. Meliame Tupou (12) JDHS 31-01.50; 5. Martin 26-04.50; 19. Eva Goertzen (12) 17-03.00; Keira Jenkins (10) ND.

Boys - 1. Taualo-Tasi JDHS 41-03.25; 3. R. Tupou 39-06.50; 6. Walter Haube-Law (12) 36-07.25; 7. Heleman AitaotoTelea (10) 34-10.50; 9. Ames Patterson (12) 34-07.75; 20. Jonah Mahle (12) 29-01.00; 25. Zach Prather (12) 24-08.50.

Discus

Girls - 1. M. Tupou JDHS 31-01.50; 2. Martin 77-06.50; 15. Goertzen 51-03.50; Jenkins DNS.

Boys - 1. R. Tupou JDHS 127-08.25; 5. Haube-Law 85-11.25; 7. AitaotoTelea 92-08.25; 9. Mahle 88-04.75; 12. Patterson 84-03; 25. Prather 62-00; Taualo-Tasi DNS.

High Jump

Girls - 1. Heuer SIT 4-06.00; 5. Adeline Janson (9) 4-00.00; 6. Woltring 4-00.00; Moira Bahn (11) 3-10.00.

Boys - 1. Borst SKG 6-02.00; Ridle, Nizich, Sangster NH.

Long Jump

Girls - 1. Jadelyn Kubik (12) SIT 14-01.50; 3. Janson 12-06.00; 4. Shelton-Walker 11-09.50; 5. Goins 11-07.50; 13. Bahn 9-06.50; Hayes DNS.

Boys - 1. McLaughlin SIT 19-06.50; 6. Paden 17-08.00; 11. Nizich 16-09.00; 14. Maghinay 15-06.50; 20. Kautz 13-11.50; 21. Westmoreland 13-10.00; 28. Sangster 12-01.00; Washington DNS.

Triple Jump

Girls - 1. Taylor Cushing (12) SIT 35-09.00; 4. Eleanor Peterson (9) 25-11.00; 5. Shelton-Walker 25-08.00.

Boys - 1. Wade Lloyd (10) HNS 38-01.50.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Orion Paden competes in the long jump during the second day of the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.