Colony senior wins three individual championships, helps lead Knights boys to DI boys state track and field title

Colony’s Matthew Rongitsch has enjoyed an unforgettable senior year.

In October, Rongitsch ran his way to a cross-country running state title and helped the Knights win the team crown. And over the weekend, in his final days wearing the Colony green, Rongitsch won three track and field state titles and helped his school earn another state championship banner.

Rongitsch swept the Division I boys distance events, winning gold in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter races. The senior standout also helped the Knights win the Division I boys state team title, their third in school history and first since 1999.

Rongitsch clocked personal best times in two of the events, a mark of 1 minute, 58.33 seconds in the 800 and 4:23.65 in the 1,600. His time in the 3,200 was 9:42.45.

The Knights finished with 73 points in the team standings, about 20 better than runner-up East Anchorage.

Junior Ethan McNulty also used a personal record to win an individual state title for the Colony boys. McNulty won the discus with a throw of 151 feet, 10 inches.

Rongitsch and McNulty were among five Valley athletes to win individual state titles. Wasilla had two champs in the throwing events.

Warriors senior Eric Kolomeychuk won the boys shot put with a throw of 52-8 ¾. This his second straight state title in the event.

Sophomore Layla Hays won the girls shot put with a mark of 37-2.

In the Division II meet, Redington’s Alexia Pike won the girls discus with a personal best throw of 119-9.

Juniors Jayce Underwood and Jack Nash also helped the Knights in the boys team standings. Underwood was second in the long jump and third in the high jump. Nash finished third in the triple jump.

Trevor Jamison (triple jump), Tobias Buchanan (fifth) and Kenton Phelps (shot put) placed fifth for the Knights.

Senior Deshawn Campbell was third in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the triple jump for the Wasilla boys, and Timothy Grisso was fourth in the 200.

Senior Parker Glastetter was fourth in the discus for the Palmer boys and Arthur Merritt was fifth in the 300 hurdles.

Sophomore Ella Hopkins led the Colony girls with a trio of top-four finishes. She was runner-up in both the 800 and 1,600, and fourth in the 3,200. Calista Ousley was also second in the shot put for the Knights,

Lydia Alverts was second in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump to lead the Palmer girls. Abby Pettit was third in the shot put.

In the Division II state meet, Redington junior had four top-four finishes in the girls events. She was second in the long jump, third in the 200 and triple jump, and fourth in the high jump. Saydi Carosco was fourth in the 3,200 for the Huskies.

Myles Campbell was third in the triple jump to lead the Redington boys.

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