Sitka harriers sweep boys’, girls’ Division II Region V team titles

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Wilson wins individual boys’ championship, Hitchcock tops the girls’ field

Sitka senior Derek Wilson wins the Division II portion of the combined DI and DII race during the Region V Cross Country Running Championships at Juneau's Treadwell Historic Mine Trail on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. DI and DII racers were scored separately. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe

Juneau Independent

The Sitka Wolves swept the podiums and a bit more as they crushed the Southeast Region V Cross Country running championships Saturday at Juneau’s Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, winning both the boys’ and girls’ Region V team championships and individual titles. The DI and DII racers ran together, but were scored separately.

Wolves senior Derek Wilson led sophomores Owen Mork and Silas Marley to the top three DII finishes with a time of 17 minutes 32 seconds. Mork hit 18:04 and Marley 18:44.

“It is pretty cool, my senior year,” Wilson said. “I have wanted to do it and it feels pretty cool to do it. I just tried to keep an eye on one of the Juneau kids the whole time, even though we don’t compete against them. I was in my head, okay, I am competing against them and I am going to race them, and that was all I did. Those hills are pretty brutal. But I love the little bit of rain, that kept me cool and I was just racing and doing my thing, that is all I was doing. This team is scary. We have some young people. I don’t think any are 16. I am the only senior, and it is crazy and scary because all our young guys are going to be really fast. And I know they were coming for me all season, pushing me every practice.”

Sitka sophomore Lola Hitchcock wins the Division II girls' portion of the combined DI and DII Region V Cross Country Running Championships at Juneau's Treadwell Historic Mine Trail on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. DI and DII racers were scored separately. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

Sitka sophomore Lola Hitchcock led a girls’ youth surge for the Lady Wolves, hitting 21:22 for the title, just ahead of classmates Novah Schmidt in 21:28, Mari Fujioka in 21:42, freshman Ruby Richter in 21:58, sophomore Grace Hall in 22:07 and freshman Elizabeth Crosiar in 23:40.

“I was very excited,” Hitchcock said. “I am really honored. I have been able to work with a lot of my teammates this year and they really pushed me to strive to do better. This was just a good race for me and the circumstances were right, and I had a good mindset.”

The circumstances were moderate rain, accumulating pools, muddy turns and a series of hearty hills and slippery descents. It was something her brother Conner (2025 Sitka graduate and St. Olaf College sophomore) had mastered.

Runners start the combined girls' Division I and II race during the Region V Cross Country Running Championships at Juneau's Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. DI and DII racers were scored separately. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

“My brother always loved to run in the rain,” Lola Hitchcock said. “That was his favorite type of race. And it was pouring rain today and I was like, you know what? I am excited. Because he always got excited to run in the rain so I just kind of embraced it and it turned out great. I am just so proud of all of our girls, honestly. We have a really really special relationship and connection, just an environment that is really empowering to be around. We always build each other up. I feel like through all our ups and downs I know they are there for me and I am there for them. We are all a really young team so we get to grow together for the next few years. I am really excited.”

Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves junior MaryKay Evon broke up the Sitka runners with a seventh place time of 24:59. Lady Wolves sophomore Cedar Bethune placed eighth in 25:00 and MEHS grabbed the final two placings for state with senior Ilana Kalke ninth in 26:07 and sophomore Audrina Dull 10th with 27:36. Lady Braves junior Anya Tinker hit 31:11 for 11th and Ursula Mangrobang 31:14 for 12th.

The top 10 individuals and all seven members of the top team earn entry into the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cross Country Running State Championships next Saturday at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School Trails.

“Conditions were rough,” Sitka coach Shasta Smith said. “Given the rain and the mud, the kids leaned into the mess and gave their best effort. Things look great going into state. A lighter load this week and I think kids will be ready to go. Extremely happy with the girls' side. We only have two girls that have raced high school cross country before. Two freshmen and five sophomores on the team. The future is very bright.”

Runners start the combined boys' Division I and II race during the Region V Cross Country Running Championships at Juneau's Treadwell Historic Mine Trail on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. DI and DII racers were scored separately. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

The Wolves boys put all seven of their runners across the course for a perfect team score before Mt. Edgecumbe junior Connor Hamilton crossed in eighth position with 19:54.

Wolves junior Silas Todd ran 18:50, classmate Andrew Mullin 18:56, sophomore Cedar Startuck 19:09 and junior Calvin Strong 19:41, for places fourth through seventh.

MEHS junior Arthur Barr placed ninth in 20:14 and MEHS senior Gordon Lie grabbed the last state qualifying placing in 10th with 20:15.

MEHS freshman Duke Walcott placed 11th in 20:16, junior Jeremy Fernandes 12th in 21:10.4, senior Benjamin Balluta 13th in 21:10.6 and junior Theodore Westlake 14th in 21:48.

The Sitka boys outscored MEHS 15-50 and the Sitka girls outscored MEHS 15-49.