Kenai Peninsula track and field athletes enter the state track meet with 17 of the state’s top times and marks, according to athletic.net.
The Division I and Division II state track meets are Friday and Saturday at Dimond High School in Anchorage.
Friday, field events start at 9 a.m., while running starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, field events start at 9 a.m. and the running finals start at 10:30 a.m.
The Soldotna boys come into the meet with four of the top times, according to athletic.net.
Tyce Escott has the top times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
In the 100, Escott takes on a talented field led by Ketchikan’s Jason Lorig, who won the state title last year in setting the state meet record. Escott has been timed at 10.80 seconds this season, while Lorig’s fastest this season is 10.91.
In the 200, Escott’s 22.29 leads the pack, while Beckett Stolp of West is next at 22.64.
Soldotna’s 400 relay ran the fastest time on Alaska soil Saturday at the Region III meet, so it’s no surprise the Stars lead that event at 43.05. North Pole is next at 43.46.
The Stars boys also lead the 1,600 relay at 3:28.67, with Chugiak next at 3:30.91.
James Innes enters second in the 400, while Luke Miller is second in the shot put.
Athletic.net includes all performances this season, while state seeding just takes into account region meets. Innes enters as the top seed by that metric.
The SoHi boys 800 and 3,200 relays also enter second.
Like the boys, the SoHi girls are fresh off a Region 3/Division I team title over the weekend.
However, fierce competition from around the state, particularly Anchorage, has Soldotna’s 1,600 relay as the lone athletic.net top time. The Stars, who ran 4:02.30 at regions for the second fastest prep time in Alaska history by runners from the same school, lead that event by nearly two seconds.
At Division II, the Homer girls have a chance for a big meet despite misfortune.
Gracie Miotke has the top athletic.net times in the 100 and 300 hurdles, but will not compete in those events at state.
At regions, injury and disqualification kept Miotke from qualifying in either event.
The Mariners still have the top time in the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relays. Molly Evans is second in the 100, while Reilly Sue Baker is second in the long jump.
For the Homer boys, Joe Gordon leads the 200, while Tait Ostrom leads the 300 hurdles. Gordon ran his time in the region prelims, so he didn’t even win a region title.
The Homer boys also lead the state in the 3,200 relay.
Kenai has a shot at the top spot in the jumps. Gage Ivy leads boys triple jumpers, while Sophie Tapley leads girls long jumpers.
For Seward, Olin Liljemark has the top high jump, while teammate Luke Elhard is second. Ronan Bickling also enters second in the 100 and 200.
Kenai Peninsula State qualifiers
Homer — Joe Gordon (100, 200); Jai Badajos (400, 800, 1,600); Johannes Bynagle (800, 1,600, 3,200); Gracie Miotke (100); Molly Evans (100, 200); Jaelynn Kennon (100, 300 hurdles, high jump); Immi Im (200, 400); Vera Bates (400, 300 hurdles); Maddy Miotke (400, long jump, triple jump); Brightly Thoning (400, high jump, long jump); Etta Bynagle (800, 1,600, 3,200); Beatrix McDonough (800); Claira Booz (800, 1,600, 3,200); Caleb Bunker (1,600, 3,200); Jude Rozeboom (1,600, 3,200); Maxwell Herndon (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Tait Ostrom (300 hurdles); Jaela Marchbanks (3,200); Abigail Ostrom (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Girls 400 relay; Boys 400 relay; Boys 800 relay; Girls 800 relay; Boys 1,600 relay; Boys 3,200 relay; Girls 1,600 relay; Girls 3,200 relay; Brayden McClenning (shot put); Dayten Van Ostrand (shot put, discus); Reilly Sue Baker (high jump, long jump, triple jump); Gryffyn Linder (triple jump); Javan Weisser (triple jump).
Nikiski — Ryder Maguire (400, 800, 1,600); Rex Wittmer (shot put); Ethan Ellis (long jump, triple jump).
Kenai — Aidan Jackman (200); Gage Ivy (200); Sophie Tapley (100, long jump); Delen Byrd (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Matthew Krol (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Boys 400 relay; Girls 400 relay; Daniel Bettis (discus); Gage Ivy (triple jump); Selah Coots (triple jump).
Seward — Ronan Bickling (100, 200); Oliver Trobaugh (400); Hannah Leatherman (100, 200); Regan Seibert (200, 400); Olive Jordan (400, 800, 1,600); Katie Van Buskirk (800, 1,600, 3,200); Juniper Ingalls (800, 1,600, 3,200); Indigo Leslie (1,600, 3,200); Maddie Haas (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Boys 1,600 relay; Girls 1,600 relay; Girls 3,200 relay; Olin Liljemark (high jump, long jump); Luke Elhard (high jump); Van Shank (high jump, triple jump); Esme Wilder (shot put).
Soldotna — Tyce Escott (100, 200); Lokeni Wong (100); Cy Garcia (100); Brenden Jones (200); James Innes (400); Ethan Anding (800); Ollie Dahl (3,200); Wyatt Faircloth (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump); Jayden Yeager (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles); William Klein (110 hurdles); Boys 400 relay; Boys 800 relay; Boys 1,600 relay; Boys 3,200 relay; Luke Miller (shot put, discus); Theo Huff (shot put, discus); Kenai Lepule (shot put); Zack Kemp (triple jump); Sarah Brown (100, long jump); Sophia Jedlicki (100, 200, 400); Shiloh Zichko (200, 400); Lucy Uhlir (200); Annie Burns (800, 1,600); Sasha Brott (800); Kathryn Cox (800); Kathryn DeBardelaben (1,600, 3,200, triple jump); Samantha Piscoya (100 hurdles); Anaulie Sedivy (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Hallie Fischer (100 hurdles, high jump, long jump, triple jump); Girls 400 relay; Girls 800 relay; Girls 1,600 relay; Girls 3,200 relay; Juliet Innes (shot put, discus); Greyson Henry (long jump, triple jump).
