Homer girls, boys cross-country sweeps regions; Seward’s Jordan repeats as individual champ

Published 9:01 pm Thursday, September 25, 2025

The Homer girls and boys cross-country teams swept the Division II team titles Friday at the Region 3 cross-country meet at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.

In addition to both Mariners squads, the Soldotna girls, Seward girls, and Kenai Central girls and boys all qualified for the state cross-country meet Saturday, Oct. 4, at Palmer High School.

Soldotna’s Ollie Dahl and Seward’s Luke Elhard also qualified as individuals.

In the Division II girls team race, Homer won with 33 points, while Grace Christian had 45, Seward had 46 and Kenai Central had 114.

The Mariners snapped the Seahawks’ two-year reign atop the region and won for the second time in four years. The Homer girls go to state for the 13th straight time, while Seward goes for a fourth straight time. The Kardinals girls go for the first time since 2021.

Sophomore Olive Jordan ran 5 kilometers in 19 minutes, 58 seconds, to win for the second straight season and give the Seahawks four straight individual champions.

Homer put all five of its scoring runners in the top 15 for the victory — Etta Bynagle in second at 20:02, Ariela Garvey in third at 20:05, Claira Booz in fifth at 20:47, Morgan Harness in eighth at 21:05 and Myra Kalafut in 15th at 22:03.

Seward had four in the top 14 — Juniper Ingalls in fourth at 20:06, Tirzah Brueckner in 10th at 21:29 and Selah Brueckner in 14th at 21:56.

Teresa Fallon led Kenai in 13th at 21:51.

The Homer boys scored 25 for the Division II win, while Grace was second at 49 and Kenai was fourth at 117.

The Mariners ended the Grizzlies seven-year run atop the region by winning for the first time since back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. Homer also will go to state for a fifth straight year.

Kenai will return to state for the first time since 2023.

Sophomore Breyden Nottingham of Mountain City Christian Academy crossed the tape at 16:18 for his first region victory.

Homer senior Johannes Bynagle then started the parade of Mariners runners in the top eight by taking runner-up at 16:27. Also, Caleb Bunker was third in 16:32, Tait Ostrom was fifth in 17:08, Rio Waltenbaugh was seventh in 17:19 and Landon Tinsley was eighth in 17:28.

Elhard finished 11th in 17:40 to qualify as an individual, while Chase Laker was 15th in 18:02 to lead the Kardinals’ state-qualifying effort.

The Colony girls scored 37 points to top the 44 of runner-up SoHi and win regions for the seventh straight time. The Stars also qualify for state for a seventh-straight year.

Wasilla junior Hailee Giacobbe ran 19:19 to win regions for the second straight season. SoHi’s Sophia Jedlicki, the 2022 region champ, was second at 19:41.

Also scoring for the Stars were Tania Boonstra in fourth at 19:52, Katie DeBardelaben in sixth at 20:32, Naomi Keller in 12th at 21:33 and Shiloh Zichko in 20th at 22:08.

The Colony boys scored 35 points to top the 52 of runner-up Kodiak. The Knights won regions for a sixth straight time.

Palmer senior Bodie Miller collected his first region title by dropping a time of 16:12. Dahl secured his spot at state by taking ninth in 17:20.

Region 3 cross-country meet

Friday, Sept. 26

at Kincaid Park, Anchorage

Division II

GIRLS

Team scores: 1. Homer, 43; 2. Grace Christian, 45; 3. Seward, 46; 4. Kenai Central, 114; 5. Mountain City Christian Academy, 138.

Top 10 individual 5K finishers

1. Olive Jordan, Sew, 19 minutes, 58 seconds; 2. Etta Bynagle, Hom, 20:02; 3. Ariela Garvey, Hom, 20:05; 4. Juniper Ingalls, Sew, 20:06; 5. Claira Booz, Hom, 20:47; 6. Sydney Mondeel, Gra, 20:55; 7. Ashlyn Elliot, Gra, 21:02; 8. Morgan Harness, Hom, 21:05; 9. Hazel Tulip, Gra, 21:27; 10. Tirzah Brueckner, Sew, 21:29.

Other peninsula finishers: 13. Teresa Fallon, Ken, 21:51; 14. Selah Brueckner, Sew, 21:56; 15. Myra Kalafut, Hom, 22:03; 16. Abigail Ostrom, Hom, 22:08; 17. Lucy Bamford, Sew, 22:10; 18. Blakeley Norvell, Sew, 22:24; 19. Ruby Davis, Ken, 22:30; 22. Ahnali Cook, Hom, 22:50; 23. Maddie Haas, Sew, 23:09; 26. Sofia Tews, Ken, 24:45; 27. Emily Taylor, Ken, 25:42; 32. Caroline Karpik, Ken, 27:14.

BOYS

Team scores: 1. Homer, 25; 2. Grace Christian, 49; 3. MCCA, 69; 4. Kenai Central, 117; 5. Seward, 119.

Top 10 individual 5K finishers

1. Breyden Nottingham, MCCA, 16:18; 2. Johannes Bynagle, Hom, 16:27; 3. Caleb Bunker, Hom, 16:32; 4. Grant Eldridge, Gra, 17:08; 5. Tait Ostrom, Hom, 17:08; 6. Owet Crotts, Gra, 17:09; 7. Rio Waltenbaugh, Hom, 17:19; 8. Landon Tinsley, Hom, 17:28; 9. Ryan Annett, Gra, 17:29; 10. Diego Marquez, MCCA, 17:35.

Other peninsula finishers: 11. Luke Elhard, Sew, 17:40; 12. Jai Badajos, Hom, 17:42; 13. Jude Rozeboom, Hom, 17:50; 15. Chase Laker, Ken, 18:02; 22. Sampson Antrim, Sew, 18:30; 23. Corbyn Crisp, Ken, 19:18; 24. Levi Strong, Ken, 19:28; 25. Noah Flowers, Sew, 19:29; 26. Brock Ala, Ken, 19:36; 30. Noah Pancoast, Ken, 20:02; 32. Alejandro Sanchez, Sew, 20:24; 33. Olin Liljemark, Sew, 20:29; 34. Alex Fink, Sew, 20:34; 35. Frank Antrim, Sew, 20:52; 36. Leif Laker, Ken, 20:55; 38. Luke Karpik, Ken, 21:11.

Division I

GIRLS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 37; 2. Soldotna, 44; 3. Wasilla, 67; 4. Palmer, 102; 5. Kodiak, 126.

Top 10 individual 5K finishers

1. Hailee Giacobbe, Was, 19:19; 2. Sophia Jedlicki, Sol, 19:41; 3. Aubrey Virgin, Col, 19:44; 4. Tania Boonstra, Sol, 19:52; 5. Karley Tichenor, Pal, 20:19; 6. Katie DeBardelaben, Sol, 20:32; 7. Clara Sensabaugh, Col, 20:39; 8. Kiysa LeCount, Col, 20:49; 9. Isela Austin, Col, 20:55; 10. Jayda Iniguez, Col, 21:00.

Other peninsula finishers: 12. Naomi Keller, Sol, 21:33; 20. Shiloh Zichko, Sol, 22:08; 25. Afton Luck, Sol, 22:24; 26. Kylie Dickson, Sol, 22:26.

BOYS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 35; 2. Kodiak, 52; 3. Wasilla, 59; 4. Palmer, 105; 5. Soldotna, 111.

Top 10 individual 5K finishers

1. Bodie Miller, Pal, 16:12; 2. Trygve Vang-Thompson, Col, 16:24; 3. Weston Roberts, Kod, 16:31; 4. Gabriel Black, Col, 16:45; 5. Henry Pysher, Kod, 16:47; 6. Justin Dalitsch, Was, 16:52; 7. Theodore Stamoolis, Col, 17:15; 8. Raven Spangler, Col, 17:15; 9. Ollie Dahl, Sol, 17:20; 10. Gabriel Carey, Was, 17:25.

Other peninsula finishers: 21. Parker Richards, Sol, 18:09; 25. Paul Wertanen, Sol, 18:25; 27. Tom Schwartz, Sol, 18:37; 29. Paxton Roach, Sol, 18:51; 32. JJ Abel, Sol, 19:00; 34. John Holt, Sol, 21:04.