Youth runners attack cross-country club meet

9 hours ago

6 min read

Elementary school runners warm up the high school championships

Harborview second graders Jasper Lombardo-Brown (1138) and Beck Percy (1190) sprint to the finish of the Elementary school 1.5K race at the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe

Juneau Independent

Elementary runners from around Juneau led off last Saturday’s high school Region V Cross Country Championships, showing they will be the future in town as nearly 100 took to the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail course for a cross-country club meet.

"Hilary and I started track and field and cross-country running clubs at Sayeik Gastineau and Harborview/TCLL, respectively, two years ago as a partnership between Lynn Canal Adventures — of Lynn Canal Running Camp fame — and the Juneau School District,” co-race director Tristin Knutson-Lombardo said. “This was our biggest elementary cross-country race yet with over 90 Juneau students participating.”

Youth runners came from Harborview; the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program; Sayéik Gastineau, Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley, Montessori Borealis and IDEA homeschool.

Second grade and younger runners did a 1.5-kilometer race, fourth through sixth grades completed a 3-kilometer race, and third grade runners got to choose their distance.

Young runners start the Elementary school combined 1.5K and 3K races at the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

“Getting to share running with elementary-aged students has been really special,” Hilary Young said. “We try to incorporate games and running on different trails to make running fun. Our hope is that students develop courage, feel a sense of community and get introduced to competition. This year we focused on teaching students about pacing, mental strength — positive affirmations, being supportive teammates and being brave. Getting to see so many students participate in the race and feel proud of their efforts was a real highlight. We want to give a special thanks to all of the coaches/parents who volunteer their time to help support the club and to Alaska Tales Whale Watching for supporting us.”

Times were not kept for the racers. Instead emphasis was placed on learning to enjoy the run and understanding that any finish can contribute to a team.

Note on scoring: Traditional high school cross-country counts the first five runners on a team, with each runner’s points equal to their finishing place. The sixth and seventh runners' places do not count towards their team score, but they do have the potential to finish ahead of another team's scoring five, thus increasing the score of an opposing team. Like golf, lowest score wins, with the sixth runner breaking a tie. For the purposes of making cross-country scoring easily digestible for the elementary runner and family, and to help Hilary and Tristan, teams were organized by school for each distance. Schools with an excess of runners were split into two teams. Race directors then scored the most runners they could based on the smallest team, which ended up being six. The goal was not to see who won, but to give as many students as possible a chance to see the positive impact they had on their team.

Sayéik Gastineau Community School Pre-K runner Ellis Pilcher (1150) sprints to the finish of the Elementary school 1.5K race at the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

RACE FINISHES (K-3rd Grade)

1.5K (Name, School, grade):

1. Calder Taintor, SGCS, 2nd; 2. Beck Percy, HBV, 2nd; 3. Jasper Lombardo-Brown, HBV, 2nd; 4. Lita Luchini, MB, 2nd; 5. Toren Davis, MB, 1st; 6. Audrey Pilcher, SGCS, 2nd; 7. Charlie Parr, TCLL, 1st; 8. Clark Zeppelin, SES-GV, 2nd; 9. Grey Wilson, SGCS, 2nd; 10. Eirik Davis, MB, 1st; 11. Miles Muse, SGCS, K; 12. Adelyn Paul, MB, 2nd; 13. Rozina Strong, HBV, 2nd; 14. Odin Howard, HBV, 1st; 15. Colton Morlas, HBV, 1st; 16. Skil Yates, SGCS, K; 17. Ember Gress, HBV, 2nd; 18. Sam Krapek, MB, 1st; 19. Rory Vrabec, SGCS, 1st; 20. Russell Phillips, HBV, 2nd; 21. Lillian Still, HBV, 2nd; 22. Emilia Hinderberger, HBV, 1st; 23. Vivianna Carpeneti-Winfree, MB, 2nd; 24. Ellis Pilcher, SGCS, PreK; 25. August Elliott, HBV, K; 26. Nia Conway, SES-GV, 3rd; 27. Elouise Scott, TCLL, 2nd; 28. Darius Heumann, TCLL, 2nd; 29. Braxton Whiteley, SES-GV, 3rd; 30. Skye Foss, SGCS, 1st; 31. Benny Palomino, SGCS, 1st; 32. Eastman Voelckers, HBV, K; 33. Henry Hinderberger, HBV, PreK; 34. Esben Anderson, SGCS, 2nd; 35. Rylee Paul, MB, K; 36. Wayne Tolles, SGCS, 1st; 37. Samuel LS, HBV, 2nd; 38. Trysten Orendorff, HBV, 2nd; 39. Frances Kiesel, HBV, 2nd; 40. Calla Fylpaa, SGCS, 1st; 41. Annetta Carpeneti-Winfree, MB, K; 42. Henry Waid, TCLL, K; 43. Victoria Bay, SES-GV, 2nd; 44. Ruth Scott, TCLL, K; 45. Isla Ewing, SGCS, K.

Sayéik Gastineau Community School first grader Skye Foss sprints to the finish of the Elementary school 1.5K race at the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

1.5K TEAM SCORES (name, grade, place):

Team MB 72 -

Lita Luchini, 2nd, 4; Toren Davis, 1st, 5; Eirik Davis, 1st, 10; Adelyn Paul, 2nd, 12; Sam Krapek, 1st, 18; Vivianna Carpeneti-Winfree, 2nd, 23; Rylee Paul, K, 35; Annetta Carpeneti-Winfree, K, 41.

Team SGCS Green 154 -

Grey Wilson, 2nd, 9; Skil Yates, K, 16; Rory Vrabec, 1st, 19; Benny Palomino, 1st, 31; Esben Anderson, 2nd, 34; Isla Ewing, K, 45.

Team SGCS Pink 108 -

Calder Taintor, 2nd, 1; Audrey Pilcher, 2nd, 6; Miles Muse, K, 11; Ellis Pilcher, PreK, 24; Skye Foss, 1st, 30; Wayne Tolles, 1st, 36; Calla Fylpaa, 1st, 40.

Team HBV Yellow 130 -

Jasper Lombardo-Brown, 2nd, 3; Ember Gress, 2nd, 17; Russell Phillips, 2nd, 20; Lillian Still, 2nd, 21; Eastman Voelckers, K, 32; Samuel LS, 2nd 37; Frances Kiesel, 2nd, 39.

Team HBV Orange 91 -

Beck Percy, 2nd, 2; Rozina Strong, 2nd, 13; Odin Howard, 2nd 14; Colton Morlas, 1st, 15; Emilia Hinderberger, 1st, 22; August Elliott, K, 25; Henry Hinderberger, PreK, 33; Trysten Orendorff, 2nd, 38.

Team TCLL/SES-GV 125 -

Charlie Parr (TCLL) 1st, 7; Clark Zepp (SES-GV) 2nd, 8; Nia Conway (SES-GV) 3rd, 26; Elouise Scott (CLL) 2nd 27; Darius Heumann (TCLL) 2nd, 28; Braxton Whiteley (SES-GV) 3rd, 29; Henry Waid (TCLL) K, 42; Victoria Bay (SES-GV) 2nd, 43; Ruth Scott (TCLL) K, 44.

Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley fourth grader Cailea Weiss finishes the Elementary school 3K race at the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

RACE FINISHES (3rd-6th grade)

3K (Name, School, grade):

1. Finn Taintor, SGCS, 4th; 2. Otto Klein, SGCS, 6th; 3. Bramble Pothier, SGCS, 6th; 4. Lynden Richardson, SES-GV, 6th; 5. James Dorn, SGCS, 6th; 6. Tadzio Lesh, SGCS, 4th; 7. Porter VanLandingham, SES-GV, 6th; 8. Sky Pothier, SGCS, 4th; 9. Sophie Barker, MB, 4th; 10. Avery Davis, MB, 3rd; 11. Kira Bell, SGCS, 5th; 12. Elsa Barker, MB, 4th; 13. Henrik Olson, HBV, 3rd; 14. Dylan Still, HBV, 5th; 15. Lorna Olds, MB, 4th; 16. Graham Ewing, SGCS, 3rd; 17. Sebastian Taylor-Manning, HBV, 3rd; 18. Cal Scott, HBV, 3rd; 19. Silas Tice, SGCS, 3rd; 20. Cedar Percy, HBV, 4th; 21. Nathan Rodriguez, HBV, 4th; 22. Adelaide Johnson, MB, 3rd; 23. Silas Muse, SGCS 3rd; 24. Matilda Higdon, MB, 6th; 25. Leonora Johnson, MB, 6th; 26. Mandy Wright, HBV, 6th; 27. Dhillon Gasper, SGCS, 4th; 28. Ida Seidman, MB, 5th; 29. McKenna Ekis, SES-GV, 4th; 30. William Hartman, IDEA, 5th; 31. Callahan Shanley, SGCS, 4th; 32. Luca Foss, SGCS, 3rd; 33. Aubrey Villa, SGCS, 4th; 34. Whittier Hildebrand, HBV, 5th; 35. Isla Strickland, SGCS, 4th; 36. Molly Dorn, SGCS, 4th; 37. Sayler Williams, SGCS, 4th; 38. Ilea Zura, HBV, 5th; 39. Isaac Ball, SGCS, 4th; 40. Jeffrey Swinton, SGCS, 5th; 41. Wally Seidman, MB, 3rd; 42. Cailea Weiss, SES-GV, 4th; 43. Nayak’aq Yates, SGCS, 3rd; 44. Jason Klawonn, SES-GV, 6th; 45. Alma Hauser, SGCS, 3rd; 46. Charlotte McIntyre-Coble, SGCS, 3rd; 47. In Daniel Lee, SES-GV, 5th.

Montessori Borealis fourth grader Sophie Barker (1176) is directed to the correct side of the course at the finish of the Elementary school 1.5K race at the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

3K TEAM SCORES (name, grade, place):

Team MB 92 -

Sophie Barker, 4th, 9; Avery Davis, 3rd, 10; Elsa Barker, 4th, 12; Lorna Olds, 4th 15; Adelaide Johnson, 3rd, 22; Matilda Higdon, 6th, 24; Leonora Johnson, 6th, 25; Ida Seidman, 5th, 29; Wally Seidman, 3rd, 41.

Team SGCS White 49 -

Finn Taintor, 4th, 1; Bramble Pothier, 6th, 3; James Dorn, 6th, 5; Tadzio Lesh, 4th, 6; Kira Bell, 5th, 11; Silas Muse, 3rd, 23; Dhillon Gasper, 4th 26; Luca Foss, 3rd, 32; Aubrey Villa, 4th 33, Sayler Williams, 4th 37; Alma Hauser, 3rd, 45; Charlotte McIntyre-Coble, 3rd, 46.

Team SES-GV 172 -

Lynden Richardson, 6th, 4; Porter VanLandingham, 6th, 7; McKenna Ekis, 4th, 28; Cailea Weiss, 4th, 42; Jason Klawonn, 6th, 44; In Daniel Lee, 5th, 47.

Team HBV 103 -

Henrik Olson, 3rd, 13; Dylan Still, 5th, 14; Sebastian Taylor-Manning 3rd, 17; Cal Scott, 3rd, 18; Cedar Percy, 5th 20; Nathan Rodriguez, 4th, 21; Mandy Wright, 6th, 27; William Hartman (IDEA) 5th, 30; Whittier Hildebrand, 5th 34; Ilea Zura, 5th, 38.

Team SGCS Red 111 -

Otto Klein 6th, 2; Sky Pothier, 4th, 8; Graham Ewing, 3rd, 16; Silas Tice, 3rd, 19; Callahan Shanley, 4th, 31; Isla Strickland, 4th, 35; Molly Dorn, 4th, 36; Isaac Ball, 4th, 39; Jeffrey Swinton, 5th, 40; Nayak’aq Yates, 3rd, 43.