Thompson is sixth, Mangaccat 19th as Juneau’s top finishers at state cross country championships

A day of "pouring rain" leading up to the race makes for "really, really muddy" finale, Crimson Bears leaders say

Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Erik Thompson takes on the muddy 5K course at the Alaska School Activities Association Cross Country Division I State Championships in Palmer on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Jacob Dye / For the Juneau Independent)

By Jacob Dye

For the Juneau Independent

Erik Thompson and Kaia Mangaccat landed the top finishes for Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kalé on Saturday at the Alaska School Activities Association Cross Country Division I State Championships in Palmer.

Thompson came sixth among Division I boys, finishing a muddy five-kilometer run in 17 minutes and 8.35 seconds. Mangaccat was 19th among the girls at 20:50.07.

Thompson and teammate Elias Schane, who placed 43rd, said Saturday that it had been challenging to stay on their feet during the race. When they practiced the course the day before it had been dry, but Thompson said that the “pouring” rain had changed the conditions significantly.

“You’ve just gotta slow down and make sure you’re digging in your spikes and be careful,” Schane said. “Falling takes your rhythm out.”

“Really, really muddy” was how Mangaccat, too, described Saturday’s race. Though the mud and a cramp left her feeling there was more she could have brought to the trail this year, she said she had fun competing alongside her teammates. 

The Juneau athletes rose to the challenge, coach Zach Bursell said. 

“We’re putting together everything we learned this season and it culminates in a high-pressure, intense race,” he said. “This time it was muddy, it was wet…They did pretty well.”

Kaia Mangaccat runs the fastest girls time among Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kalé participants in the 5K at the Alaska School Activities Association Cross Country Division I State Championships in Palmer on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Jacob Dye / For the Juneau Independent)

Bursell said he encourages his athletes to think of every race as an opportunity to learn — even graduating seniors may take something away for their next race. 

Mangaccat said this weekend’s championship had been a chance to learn and prove that she can push through challenges on the trail. As a junior, she’ll get another chance to compete and another chance to grow alongside a team with many young athletes expected to return for the next season. 

Freshman Maya Mothershead, Bursell said, had chased down several competitors on her way to a 34th-place finish. She’s got years ahead to keep growing. 

Despite the unexpected hazard posed by the mud, Thompson — a junior — said he was satisfied by Saturday’s result.

“I think this was my best race of the season,” he said. “I’m, personally, pretty proud of that.” 

Schane, a senior, said he was sad to see his last season close, but said that he wouldn’t get much chance to slow down because he’d be competing at another meet in Oregon soon. 

The Juneau cross-country team is “all about athlete development,” Bursell said. 

“Hopefully we can raise up both of these crews and look to get closer to a state title one day,” he said.

2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Division I Cross Country Championships

GIRLS

Top 10 individual 5K finishers

1. Hailee Giacobbe, Wasilla, 19 minutes, 18.84 seconds; 2. Rosie Conway, East Anchorage, 19:30.81; 3. Maddison Kukuk, Chugiak, 19:33.87; 4. Miriam Armstrong, West Valley, 19:36.03; 5. Hannah Shaha, Chu, 19:44.19; 6. Rylee Ruggles, Chu, 19:57.10; 7. Fiona Selvik, Service, 20:01.47; 8. Sophia Jedlicki, Soldotna, 20:03.69; 9. Olivia Sandoval, Chu 20:03.69; 10. Ellie Stull, Dimond, 20:11.73

Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kalé finishers 

19. Kaia Mangaccat, 20:50.07; 24. Sigrid Eller, 21:11.61; 32. Nevah Lupro, 21:43.44; 34. Maya Mothershead, 21:52.44; 55. Della Mearig, 22:29.58; 58. Siena Farr, 22:35.97; 61. Lua Mangaccat, 22:41.40

BOYS

Top 10 individual 5K finishers

1. Katahdin Staples, East Anchorage, 16:33.16; 2. Vebjorn Flagstad, South Anchorage, 16:36.37; 3. Trygve Vang-Thompson, Colony, 16:46.69; 4. Weston Roberts, Kodiak, 16:51.44; 5. Ethan Elliot, Sou, 17:07.87; 6. Erik Thompson, Juneau-Douglas, 17:08.35; 7. Bodie Miller, Palmer, 17:08.83; 8. Arlo Jespersen, West Anchorage, 17:12.64; 9. Owen Tracy, Chu, 17:13.57; 10. Gabriel Black, Col, 17:16.66

Other Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kalé finishers 

39. Logan Fellman, 18:25.27; 43. Elias Schane, 18:29.26; 48. Angus Andrews, 18:37.00; 72. Zach Bos, 19:18.07; 77. Carson Kautz, 19:26.26; 81. Austin Huang, 20:06.31

• Contact Jacob Dye via editor@juneauindependent.com.

Other photos from the Alaska School Activities Association Cross Country Division I State Championships

(all by Jacob Dye for the Juneau Independent)