Area track athletes punch early tickets to state

A few area athletes wrapped up automatic berths to the state track and field meet Friday at the Region 3 meet at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School.

Kenai is hosting the Region 3 meets for both Division I and II. Friday, a few of the field event finals and the running preliminaries were held.

Saturday, field events start again at 10 a.m. and the running finals commence at 2 p.m.

Automatic berths go to individuals and relays that win events at the region meet. Other athletes have the chance to qualify once times across the state are compared.

At the Division I level, Dylan Dahlgren and Adarra Hagelund earned automatic state berths for Soldotna.

Dahlgren won the shot put with a heave of 53 feet, 10 inches. At least for now on a busy weekend for track and field across the state, Dahlgren has the top state mark in the shot put. It’s also the No. 3 mark in Soldotna history.

Hagelund won the high jump at 5—0, setting a new personal best and tying the top Division I mark in the state.

Also placing in the top six for the Stars on Friday were Ethan Sewell in second in the long jump, Kevin Steger in sixth in the shot put, Jordan Strausbaugh in third in the 3,200 meters, Annie Burns in fourth in the 3,200, Jordan Ruffner in fifth in the 3,200, Katelyn Morrison in second in the high jump, Gracie Bras in second in the long jump, Morrison in third in the long jump, Angelina Chavarria in fourth in the long jump, Ashlee Anderson in third in the discus, Madalyn Morris in fifth in the discus and Abriella Werner in sixth in the discus.

In Division II, Homer’s Seamus McDonough, Seward’s Tommy Cronin, Seward’s Hailey Ingalls and Seward’s Robin Cronin earned automatic berths.

McDonough won the 3,200 in 9 minutes, 31.25 seconds. That lowers his previous Division II state best of 9:36.24.

Tommy Cronin won the triple jump in 39—3.5. Cronin’s Division II state best is 40—.25. Also in the triple jump, Homer’s Lance Seneff was third, Nikiski’s Dwight Mullins was fifth and Homer’s Joe Gordon was sixth.

Ingalls won the 3,200 in 11:44.59. Her Division II state best is 11:35.64. Also in that event, Kenai’s Jayna Boonstra was fourth and Kenai’s Emily Moss was sixth.

Robin Cronin won the triple jump in 32—9.75. Her Division II state best is 33—3. Also in the event, Kenai’s Emilee Wilson was second, Kenai’s Malerie Nunn was third and Nikiski’s Zoey Ellis was sixth.

Nikiski’s Braeden Porter was fourth in the shot put. Homer’s Brightly Thoning was third in the high jump, while Kenai’s Malena Grieme was fifth. In the discus, Homer’s Auden Cress was third and Seward’s Hailey Anderson was fourth.