The Soldotna and Kenai Central track and field teams got together for the Soldotna Mini Meet on Tuesday at Soldotna High School.

The Stars won nine of the 10 events on both the girls and boys sides, but coaches from both programs said piling up event wins was not the point of the meet.

“For any track program right now, it’s early in the season in Alaska,” Kenai head coach Jesse Settlemyer said. “An opportunity like this, to get some times in, to get some early season jumps in and just create a place where you can start building, is really important.”

In the boys running events, the Stars got wins from James Innes in the 100-meter dash at 11.89 seconds, Tyce Escott in the 200 at 24.03, Ethan Anding in the 800 at 2:12.13, Ollie Dahl in the 1,600 at 5:03.63, Jayden Yeager in the 300 hurdles at 47.00, and the 1,600 relay of Parker Richards, Dahl, Anding and Michael Davison in 3:48.00.

In the girls running events, SoHi got victories from Sophia Jedlicki in the 100 at 12.96 and the 200 at 27.33, Annie Burns in the 800 at 2:32.33, Kate Cox in the 1,600 in 5:51.46, Hallie Fischer in the 300 hurdles at 54.36 and the 1,600 relay of Kathryn DeBardelaben, Anna Bailey, Cox and Kylie Smith won at 4:48.52.

In the boys field events, the Stars received wins from Luke Miller in the shot put at 45 feet, 4.5 inches, Theo Huff in the discus at 125—9 and Wyatt Faircloth in the long jump at 19—3.

In the girls field events, Soldotna’s victories came from Juliet Innes in the shot put at 28—11, Sarah Brown in the long jump at 15—8.25 and DeBardelaben in the triple jump at 32—5.5.

For the Kardinals, Gage Ivy won the triple jump at 38—3.5 and Willow Graham won the discus at 93—0.

Soldotna assistant coach Krista Arthur, also the head coach for cross-country, said there are 120 athletes out for the team.

“Running in the last couple of years has just really grown,” she said. “I had 74 in cross-country, and we’ve had over 100 on the track team the past couple of years.

“It’s pretty exciting. We have seniors that have never done a sport in their entire life, and they’re doing it now just to be involved in activities.”

Arthur said the team got off to a great start earlier this month 14th annual Russ Edwards Big C Relays due to athletes putting in work over the winter. Being able to get on the track early also helped with working on relays.

The problem was entries are limited at the Big C Relays. So Arthur said Tuesday allowed more kids to compete, and allowed athletes to try out different events.

“Some of our kids really haven’t competed yet,” Soldotna assistant Eric Pomerleau said. “The Big C’s limits their entries, and we’ve had weather issues.

“So it was like, we have to do something. We have to get these kids out here, get some times and let them enjoy a track meet.”

Pomerleau said putting on a meet is never easy, but the team helped out with whatever was needed.

“This is one of the nicer groups we’ve had,” he said.

Settlemyer is back as the head track coach after leading the girls to the Division II state track title in 2019, his only previous year at the helm.

“It was all about the athletes,” he said. “We just had a really great group of athletes that year.”

Settlemyer said there are 35 athletes out for the team. He said, as usual, the team will count on seniors and upperclassmen for leadership.

The coach thanked SoHi head coach Phil Leck and his staff for the opportunity.

“It’s great we were able to work with Phil and Krista so we can get an idea of where everybody’s at,” he said.

Both programs will compete at the Homer Invitational on Friday, April 18. Field events start at 9:30 a.m., while running events start at 11 a.m.

Soldotna Mini Meet

Tuesday at Soldotna High School

MEN

100 meters — 1. James Innes, Sol, 11.89 seconds; 2. Aidan Jackman, Ken, 11.90; 3. Lokeni Wong, Sol, 12.23; 4. Cy Garcia, Sol, 12.26; 5. Dax Walden, Sol, 12.33; 6. Gage Ivy, Ken, 12.63.

200 — 1. Tyce Escott, Sol, 24.03; 2. James Innes, Sol, 24.36; 3. Brendon Jones, Sol, 24.66; 4. Wyatt Faircloth, Sol, 24.69; 5. Aidan Jackman, Ken, 24.83; 6. William Klein, Sol, 25.46.

800 — 1. Ethan Anding, Sol, 2:12.13; 2. Jayden Yeager, Sol, 2:25.23; 3. Chase Laker, Ken, 2:18.53; 4. Noah Crabtree, Sol, 2:19.9; 5. Silvan Krieg, Ken, 2:32.60; 6. Jacob Ries, Sol, 2:32.60.

1,600 — 1. Ollie Dahl, Sol, 5:03.63; 2. Chase Laker, Ken, 5:04.43; 3. Michael Davidson, Sol, 5:06.86; 4. Isaiah Dickson, Sol, 5:28.60; 5. Banyan Joachim, Sol, 5:32.73; 6. Benjamin Roberts, Ken, 5:35.96.

300 hurdles — 1. Jayden Yeager, Sol, 47.00; 2. Elijah Kahle, Ken, 51.30; 3. Charlie Wang, Sol, 59.73.

1,600 relay — 1. Soldotna (Parker Richards, Ollie Dahl, Ethan Anding, Michael Davidson), 3:48.00.

Shot put — 1. Luke Miller, Sol, 45 feet, 4.5 inches; 2. Kenai Lepule, Sol, 43—6; 3. Theo Huff, Sol, 42—1.5; 4. Koda Lepule, Sol, 40—0; 5. Elias Brantley, Sol, 37—4.5; 6. Wyatt Earl, Sol, 37—3.

Discus — 1. Theo Huff, Sol, 125—9; 2. Luke Miller, Sol, 115—9; 3. Dalton Armstrong, Sol, 115—1; 4. Samuel Klein, Sol, 111—2; 5. Keegan Myrick, Sol, 109—8; 6. Koda Lepule, Sol, 107—0.

Long jump — 1. Wyatt Faircloth, Sol, 19—3; 2. Zack Kemp, Sol, 18—1; 3. Dax Walden, Sol, 17—9.25; 4. Aidan Jackman, Ken, 17—3.25; 5. Brendon Jones, Sol, 17—1.5; 6. Elliot Hanson, Ken, 16—4.25.

Triple jump — 1. Gage Ivy, Ken, 38—3.5; 2. Lokeni Wong, Sol, 37—4; 3. Oliver Fischer, Sol, 35—5.5; 4. Jax Nash, Sol, 33—4.

GIRLS

100 — 1. Sophia Jedlicki, Sol, 12.96; 2. Shiloh Zichko, Sol, 13.53; 3. Lucy Uhlir, Sol, 14.00; 4. Samantha Piscoya, Sol, 14.13; 5. Tristin Byrd, Sol, 14.23; 6. Naomi Zichko, Sol, 14.29.

200 — 1. Sophia Jedlicki, Sol, 27.33; 2. Shiloh Zichko, Sol, 28.03; 3. Sarah Brown, Sol, 28.69; 4. Anaulie Sedivy, Sol, 28.93; 5. Lucy Uhlir, Sol, 29.43; 6. Sasha Brott, Sol, 30.29.

800 — 1. Annie Burns, Sol, 2:32.33; 2. Ruby Davis, Ken, 6:13.93; 3. Ariana Cannava, Sol, 2:51.96; 4. Mya Taylor, Ken, 2:54.73; 5. Candice Craig, Ken, 3:19.36; 6. Shayla Smith, Sol, 4:00.86.

1,600 — 1. Kathryn Cox, Sol, 5:51.46; 2. Sasha Brott, Sol, 6:09.29; 3. Ruby Davis, Ken, 6:13.93; 4. Anna Bailey, Sol, 6:17.46; 5. Mya Taylor, Ken, 6:20.70; 6. Eva Abel, Sol, 6:30.96.

300 hurdles — 1. Hallie Fischer, Sol, 54.36; 2. Willow Langenbrunner, Sol, 56.00; 3. Samantha Piscoya, Sol, 56.13; 4. Naomi Zichko, Sol, 1:02.20.

1,600 relay — 1. Kenai (Kathryn DeBardelaben, Anna Bailey, Kathryn Cox, Kylie Smith), 4:48.52.

Shot put — 1. Juliet Innes, Sol, 28—11; 2. Hope Hillyer, Sol, 28—6; 3. Willow Graham, Ken, 25—3; 4. Gracelyn Altobelli, Sol, 23—7.5; 5. Adele Blanning, Sol, 22—4; 6. Annamarie Gist, Sol, 19—7.

Discus — 1. Willow Graham, Ken, 93—0; 2. Juliet Innes, Sol, 92—2; 3. Hope Hillyer, Sol, 90—2; 4. Adele Blanning, Sol, 70—3; 5. Gracelyn Altobelli, Sol, 60—4; 6. Annamarie Gist, Sol, 60—2.

Long jump — 1. Sarah Brown, Sol, 15—8.25; 2. Hallie Fischer, Sol, 14—8.75; 3. Mia Hannevold, Sol, 13—5.25; 4. Kylie Smith, Sol, 12—1; 5. Olivia Hays, Sol, 11—7; 6. Shayla Smith, Sol, 8—7.

Triple jump — 1. Kathryn DeBardelaben, Sol, 32—5.5; 2. Selah Coots, Ken, 30—11.5; 3. Tristin Byrd, Sol, 29—4.