4-peat: Wasilla senior caps career with 4th title in high jump

PALMER — Moments after the conclusion of the 4A girls’ high jump, Ceil Dunleavy was greeted with a big celebratory hug from her Wasilla High track and field coach, John Paramo.

The Wasilla senior had just capped her historic prep career with her fourth straight state title in the event. Standing at the edge of the high jump pit, tears began to trickle down Dunleavy’s cheeks.

“These are tears of joy,” she said.

Friends, family and fans gathered to watch Alaska’s most decorated athlete ever in the event jump for the historic feat.

“It’s a weight lifted off her shoulders,” Paramo said. “The four-peat was weighing on her mind. It was weighing on my mind.”

With her coach by her side, Dunleavy worked to describe the emotion.

“I’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now,” she said. “I feel really lucky, really blessed. I’m happy to come out and compete.”

Dunleavy — who set the state record with a jump of 5 feet, 6 ½ inches at the state meet last year — earned her fourth title with a mark of 5-6 Friday, the first day of the ASAA/First National Bank State Track and Field Championships at Palmer High School.

“It’s great. I’ve been high jumping for eight years. I never thought I’d be here,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy started her freshman season by setting a goal to improve by two inches every year. It’s a goal she’s accomplished. She earned her first state title in 2014 with a mark of 5-2. Earlier this month at the Palmer Invitational, Dunleavy hit a personal best with a jump of 5-8.

Her mark at the Palmer Invite is 1 ½ better than her state record, but state records can only be set at the state meet.

“We had her goals, and she got 5-8 a couple of weeks ago,” Paramo said.

Dunleavy is the only athlete in state history to have at least three titles in the girls’ high jump, and is the first two four-peat in either the girls’ or boys’ class. Last year, Dunleavy broke one of Alaska’s oldest prep track and field records, besting the prior mark of 5-6 set by Soldotna’s Renae Pickarsky in 1983.

Dunleavy, who will compete for Division I Portland State next year, was one of a pair of Valley athletes to earn gold in the high jump Friday. Colony senior Brandon Nicholson finished first in the 4A boys’ high jump. It was the first state title in the event for Nicholson, who is also the two-time defending state champion in the triple jump. Nicholson hit a season-best of 6-4 to win the event.

Nicholson was also second in the 4A boys’ long jump. Nicholson had taken a lead in the event with a leap of 21 feet, 7.25 inches. But Kenai senior Josh Jackman used his final jump in the event to earn the title with a jump of 21-10. Jackman earned his third straight title in the long jump.

ASAA/First National Bank State Track and Field Championships

Friday, Palmer High School

4A boys individual results

3,200 1. Keith Osowski, Kod, 9:49.34; 2. Jonah Penrose, TM, 9:56.58; 3. Daniel Bausch, Wes, 9:57.31; 4. Ethan Davis, Wes, 9:57.68; 5. Zephan Ozturgut, Eas, 9:59.80; 6. Josiah Alverts, Pal, 10:05.45.

Discus — 1. Wendell Tuisaula, Sol, 156—0; 2. Jake Foshee, WV, 147—9; 3. Ralph Toleafoa, Eas, 146—2; 4. Jonathan Pomrenke, Col, 136—3; 5. Forest Perish, Chu, 135—3; 6. Jarek Shultz, Col, 133—8.

High jump — 1. Brandon Nicholson, Col, 6—4; 2. Nathaniel Fromm, Ser, 6—4; 3. Alvin Ailey, TM, 6—1; 4. Joquarius Ward, WV, 6—0; 5. Terrell Johnson, WV, 5—10; 6. Dallas Tellef, Bar, 5—8.

Long jump — 1. Josh Jackman, Ken, 21—10 1-2; 2. Brandon Nicholson, Col, 21—7 1-4; 3. Nathaniel Fromm, Ser, 21—2 3-4; 4. Gabe Crawford, TM, 20—7; 5. Trevor Ortiz, Ket, 20—5; 6. Josh Cummings, WV, 20—3-4.

4A girls individual results:

3,200 1. Kendall Kramer, WV, 11:04.47; 2. Faith Widman, WV, 11:25.57; 3. Grace Fahrney, Ser, 11:37.89; 4. Jenna Difolco, WV, 11:41.34; 5. Peyton Young, ER, 11:50.64; 6. Riana Boonstra, Ken, 11:54.81.

Shot put — 1. Alissa Pili, Dim, 41—1; 2. Tava Fereti, Dim, 36—9 3-4; 3. Ituau Tuisaula, Sol, 35—6; 4. Abby Beck, Ken, 35—4 1-4; 5. Envy Pendergrass, WV, 35—2 3-4; 6. Victoria Malak, Wasilla, 34—8 1-4.

High jump — 1. Ceil Dunleavy, Was, 5—6; 2. Zoey Keene, Sou, 5—3; 3. Emma Nelson, Chu, 5—2; 4. Ann Gebauer, Ser, 5—0; 5. Eva Heinrichs, WV, 4–10; 6. Maris Soland, Sou, 4—10.

Long jump — 1. Emma Nelson, Chu, 16—8 3-4; 2. Madeline Ko, Pal, 15—11 3-4; 3. Lily Sessom, Col, 15—9 3-4; 4. Jocelyn Chanonto, Ser, 15—8; 5. Beatrix Brudie, Wes, 15—6 3-4; 6. Elaina Watson, Col, 15—5 1-2.

123A boys individual results:

3,200 meters1. Jacob Moos, Gal, 9:19.66; 2. Blake Bennett, ACS, 9:30.54; 3. Colin Baciocco, Sit, 10:02.46; 4. Hunter Kratz, Sew, 10:05.46; 5. Jack Matherly, Hut, 10:06.07; 6. Trent Fritzel, Gra, 10:08.33.

Discus — 1. Ryan Sheldon, Gra, 143 feet, 10 inches; 2. Alex Binder, Gra, 141—6; 3. Ian Johnson, Nik, 137—9; 4. Ben Bitler, Hou, 127—7; 5. Chris Kilpatrick, Eie, 123—7; 6. James Coulombe, Gra, 123—4.

High jump — 1. Joel Carroll, Hom, 6—0; 2. Brogan Nieder, Gra, 5—8; 3. Billy Mackinen, Eie, 5—6; 4. Dustin Woods, Val, 5—6; 5. Jonah Coats, Val, 5—4.

Long jump — 1. Antonio Griffith, Eie, 20—9; 2. Brogan Nieder, Gra, 20—1; 3. Jack Sullenger, Nik, 20—3-4; 4. Axel Vides, Pet, 19—6 3-4; 5. Divon Davis, Mon, 19—1; 6. Michael Lucas, HRA, 19—1-2.

123A girls individual results:

32001. Briahna Gerlach, Gle, 11:07.42; 2. Grace Gannon, Gra, 11:23.00; 3. Audrey Rosencrans, Hom, 11:23.84; 4. Ruby Lindquist, Sew, 11:27.85; 5. Lauren Kuhns, Hom, 11:42.05; 6. Mazzy Jackson, Gra, 12:10.53.

Shot put — 1. Anna Brock, Hom, 32—8; 2. Jenna Markel, Gra, 32—1 3-4; 3. Jessica Davis, Sit, 31—1; 4. Olivia Juhl, Tri, 30—5 1-4; 5. Mariah Taylor, Pet, 30—2 1-4; 6. Kaitlyn Johnson, Nik, 29—0.

High jump — 1. Coral Petrosius, Sew, 5—0; 2. Kassandra Howard, Val, 5—0; 3. Gavriella Stroemer, Sit, 4—10; 4. Karo Germain, SuV, 4—6; 5. Kriziel Sarmiento, Sew, 4—6; 6. Haley Loper, SuV, 4—4.

Long jump — 1. Izabelle Ith, Pet, 16—11 1-4; 2. Laura Ellis, Gra, 15—7; 3. Allison VanPelt, Hou, 15—1-4; 4. Tatum Bayne, Sit, 14—10 1-2; 5. Gloria Jacobsen, Gle, 14—7 1-4; 6. Cassidy Matthews, Gle, 14—1.