5 Valley athletes win gold on first day of region track meet

WASILLA — Brandon Nicholson entered the 2017 region meet with six gold medals in his prep career. Friday, Nicholson added to that list.

The Colony senior earned his first career conference title in the boys’ long jump during the first day of the Region III Championships in Homer. Nicholson — the three-time defending region champion in both the high jump and triple jump — hit 20 feet, 11 ½ inches to win the long jump.

Nicholson was one of five Valley athletes to win events on the first day of the meet. Wasilla senior Ceil Dunleavy earned her third title in the girls’ high jump. Dunleavy, who reached 5-4 Friday, is also the three-time state champion in the event.

Defending state champion discus Kristen Tennesen of Colony earned her first region title with a throw of 123-2. Tennesen was second in the region last year before winning the state crown.

Colony’s Jill Bowker earned her first individual gold, finishing first in the girls’ 3,200 meters with a time of 11 minutes, 51. 78 seconds.

Palmer’s Madeline Ko scored her first region crown with the Moose, finishing first in the girls’ long jump with a leap of 16-0.25.

Region III Championships

4A girls individual results:

3,200 — 1. J. Bowker, Col 11:51.78; 2. A. Himelbloom, Kod 12:00.29; 3. I. Bergholtz, Ken 12:04.63; 4. R. Boonstra, Ken 12:14.75 5. C. Powers, Col 12:36.46; 6. K. Arthur, Sol 12:57.36; 7. L. Ortiz, Pal 13:01.88; 8. N. Kalytiak, Pal 13:01.90.

Discus — 1. K. Tennesen, Col 123-2; 2. G. Looney, Col 109-3; 3. E. Pieh, Sol 107-4; 4. E. Uschmann, Pal 106-2; 5. A. Beck, Ken 103-10; 6. I. Tuisaula, Sol 97-0; 7. A. Quinn, Sol 94-4; 8. B. Leach, Sol 93-9.

High jump — 1. C. Dunleavy, Was 5-4; 2. A. Condio, Col 4-8; 2. A. Schmidt, Sol 4-8; 4. B. Kopsack, Sol 4-8; 5. D. Schmidt, Sol 4-8; 6. O. Schwenk, Sol 4-6; 7. D. Wurst, Sol 4-4; 8. K. Cruse, Col 4-2.

Long jump — 1. M. Ko, Pal 16-0.25 2. L. Sessom, Col 15-3.25; 3. C. Christiansen, Kod 15-3; 4. E. Watson, Col 15-0.5; 5. S. Johnson, Pal 15-0.25; 6. A. Condio, Col 14-11.5; 7. V. Malak, Was 14-11; 8. B. Kopsack, Col 14-8.5.

4A boys individual results:

3,200 — 1. K. Osowski, Kod 9:58.08; 2. E. VanPelt, Was 10:03.18; 3. J. Alverts, Pal 10:10.0; 4. J. Lautrup, Col 10:21.16; 5. G. Block, Col 10:23.79; 6. S. Vergin, Sol 10:30.71; 7. J. Shuler, Sol 10:30.87; 8. T. Steiner, Was 10:39.98.

Shot put — 1. W. Tuisaula, Sol 47-4; 2. B. Carr, Col 43-5; 3. J. Miranda, Kod 42-7.75; 4. C. Pead, Col 42-6.75; 5. J. Shultz, Col 42-2; 6. K. Marcusson, Sol 41-11; 7. T. Wheeler, Pal 41-5.75; 8. A. Ramirez-Nunn, Col 39-11.5.

Long jump — 1. B. Nicholson, Col 20-11.5; 2. J. Jackman, Ken 20-11; 3. N. Johnson, Pal 19-9; 4. L Schrader, Sol 19-3.25; 5. J. Caple Pal 18-9.25; 6. J. Francisco, Kod 18-8.5; 7. W. Helton, Was 18-5; 8. K. Vinson, Sol 18-4.5.