NICK THE QUICK

TALKEETNA — Nick Nysewander-Kellard may have not been named the most outstanding athlete of the ASAA/First National Bank 1-2-3A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, but no one can deny the Susitna Valley junior’s claim as the fastest sprinter in three classes.

Nysewander-Kellard continued his reign as the king of the small schools sprints, winning three state titles during the championships at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks over the weekend. He won both the 100-meter dash and the 200 meters, and anchored the Rams’ title-winning 800-meter relay team.

In the 200, Nysewander-Kellard managed to secure himself a little school history. His time of 23.96 set a Susitna Valley program record.

“That was the best part of my day,” Nysewander-Kellard said by phone on Monday. “For me that was a big leap.”

With his three wins on Saturday, Nysewander-Kellard now has four state titles to his credit. He also won the 100 as a sophomore. He actually was just a one-hundreth of a second from going 4-for-4 at the 2010 state meet.

In the 400 relay, Seward used a time of 47.16 to finish slightly ahead of Su Valley’s time of 47.17.

Nysewander-Kellard, who will attend a six-week camp for sprinters at Auburn University this summer, was thrilled about winning three more state titles, but admitted he hoped his times would be a bit better this year.

Nysewander-Kellard wanted to hit 11.5 seconds in the 100 and fell just short at 11.78. He reached a goal in the 200, becoming the first Su Valley sprinter to ever break the 24-second mark in that event. Nysewander-Kellard said he’ll be very motivated to improve those times during his senior year.

“I’m really focusing on the speed and agility camps this summer,” Nysewander-Kellard said.

Nysewander-Kellard may be most proud of his school record-breaking, title-winning time in the 200. He also has his sights set on the school mark in the 100, the long-standing record of 11.4 held by Tom Allison.

“One thing that really pushes me is the records,” Nysewander-Kellard said. “I want to be the one on the record books as much as I can.”

Nysewander-Kellard said its sometimes hard to significantly improve his times racing in a small schools class that has a much smaller pool of talented sprinters. Sitka’s Chris Clement finished second at the state meet in the 100 with a time of 11.82. Nysewander-Kellard and Clement were the only runners to break 12 seconds in the race.

Nysewander-Kellard and his teammates occasionally have the opportunity to compete against 4A athletes throughout the year — the Rams hit large-schools meets such as the Big C Relays, Skyview Invitational and the Palmer Relays — but he’d like to have the chance more often. Nysewander-Kellard said tries to take a different approach when he’s racing athletes from the larger schools. Nysewander-Kellard concentrates simply on grabbing first place in the small schools events, but focuses on just improving his time during the 4A meets.

Nysewander-Kellard said he and his coaches started to see his potential in the sprints during his freshman season. As a sophomore, he took off.

“My sophomore year was my biggest year in high school sprints,” Nysewander-Kellard said. “My times exploded. They were just so much better.”

In addition to running on the Rams track team, Nysewander-Kellard has played hockey for about a dozen years. Hockey is still his favorite sport, but Nysewander-Kellard’s success on the track has him sprinting toward a chance at a possible college scholarship.

“Hockey’s a real big part of my life,” Nysewander-Kellard said. “I love hockey, but track can get me further.”

State track and field championships

Friday and Saturday, Fairbanks

Boys 1-2-3A

Team scores: 1. Grace Christian, 106; 2. Anchorage Christian, 77; 3. Su Valley, 48; 4. Sitka, 46; 5. Seward, 44; 6. Skagway, 36; 7. Hutchison, 34; 8. Haines, 29; 9. Delta Junction, 28; 10. Heritage Christian, 23; 11. Eielson, 17; 12. Nome, 10; 13. Glennallen, 7; 14. Ninilchik, 6; 15. Tri Valley, 5; 16. Monroe, 4; 17 (tie). CIA, Nikiski, 3.

100 meters — 1. Nick Nysewander-Kellard, SuV, 11.78 seconds; 2. Chris Clement, Sit, 11.82; 3. Ryan Hickok, Gra, 12.13; 4. BJ McKoy, ACS, 12.20; 5. Sayyid Parrish, Nik, 12.29; 6. Dillon Covey, Nin, 12.47.

200 — 1. Nick Nysewander-Kellard, SuV, 23.96; 2. Chris Clement, Sit, 24.23; 3. Ryan Williams, ACS, 24.40; 4. Bill Kelly, SuV, 24.58; 5. Quinton Metcalf, Gra, 24.64; 6. Sayyid Parrish, Nik, 24.69.

400 — 1. Mickey Wilson, Ska, 52.42; 2. Pete Hanks, Her, 53.16; 3. Joseph Dillon, Gra, 53.43; 4. Arnold Gillespie, Sit, 54.15; 5. Andrew Buchanan, Sew, 54.57; 6. Jeremy Head, Nom, 55.27.

800 — 1. Mickey Wilson, Ska, 1:59.29; 2. Jacob Kirk, Gra, 1:59.77; 3. Brett Chase, Sew, 2:01.38; 4. Andrey Ionashku, Del, 2:05.15; 5. Josh Holly, CIA, 2:06.77; 6. Andrew Arnold, Gra, 2:08.78.

1,600 — 1. Jacob Kirk, Gra, 4:22.76; 2. Andrey Ionashku, Del, 4:32.25; 3. Andrew Arnold, Gra, 4:37.11; 4. Quinn Weber, Ska, 4:38.31; 5. John Klein, Gra, 4:38.58; 6. Josh Holly, CIA, 4:39.83.

3,200 — 1. Jacob Kirk, Gra, 9:20.27; 2. Andrey Ionashku, Del, 9:52.08; 3. Quinn Weber, Ska, 10:03.84; 4. John Klein, Gra, 10:06.54; 5. Matt Baker, ACS, 10:23.67; 6. Jake Carter, TV, 10:26.77.

110 hurdles — 1. Antonio Hamilton, Eie, 16.16; 2. Jesse Piper, Hai, 16.23; 3. Keefer Dunn, Sit, 16.46; 4. Josh Carroll, Sit, 16.49; 5. Daniel Brandon, ACS, 16.77; 6. Dillon Covey, Nin, 16.95.

300 hurdles — 1. Quinton Metcalf, Gra, 42.64; 2. Daniel Brandon, ACS, 43.70; 3. Antonio Hamilton, Eie, 43.82; 4. Keefer Dunn, Sit, 43.82; 5. Luke Charters, ACS, 44.25; 6. Dillon Covey, Nin, 45.05.

400 relay — 1. Seward (Pullins, Atherton, Willis, Sorenson), 47.16; 2. Su Valley, 47.17; 3. Haines, 47.70; 4. Grace, 48.28; 5. Anchorage Christian, 48.89; 6. Eielson, 50.27.

800 relay — 1. Su Valley (Figley, Timmers, Kelly, Nysewander-Kellard), 1:37.75; 2. ACS, 1:39.30; 3. Grace Christian, 1:40.15; 4. Seward, 1:40.74; 5. Glennallen, 1:44.02; 6. Haines, 1:41.12.

1,600 relay — 1. Grace (Metcalf, Dillon, Arnold, Kirk), 3:38.22; 2. Sitka, 3:40.75; 3. Seward, 3:44.94; 4. Tri Valley, 3:47.05; 5. Delta Junction, 3:50.20; 6. Heritage, 3:51.50.

3,200 relay — 1. Seward (Chase, Gillespie, Lindquist, Buchanan), 8:26.50; 2. Grace, 8:36.69; 3. Delta, 8:42.52; 4. ACS, 8:54.82; 5. Sitka, 9:01.26; 6. Heritage, 9:24.71.

High jump — 1. Augustus Simmers, ACS, 5-6; 2. Jeremy Head, Nom, 5-4; 3. Dylan Figley, SuV, 5-4; 4 (tie). Jack Wheeler, Nin, Pete Hanks, Her, 5-4.

Long jump — 1. Pete Hanks, Her, 19-3 3-4; 2. Kevin Rima, Hut, 18-11; 3. Mickey Wilson, Ska, 18-10; 4. James Holmes, Mon, 18-6 3-4; 5. Gordon Reeder, Sit, 17-9; 6. Luke Charters, ACS, 17-8.

Triple jump — 1. Ryan Scott, ACS, 40-6 3-4; 2. Kevin Rima, Hut, 38-11; 3. Aaron Richwine, ACs, 38-6 3-4; 4. Nick Weimer, Gle, 38-3 1-4; 5. Luke Charters, ACS, 37-8 1-2; 6. Jeremy Head, Nom, 37-0.

Shot put — 1. Kevin Rima, Hut, 45-8; 2. Dane Walker, Gra, 41-8 1-4; 3. Aaron Richwine, ACS, 40-5 3-4; 4. Jesse Piper, Hai, 39-9 1-4; 5. Erik Johnson, Gra, 39-6; 6. Samisoni Finau, Gle, 37-5.

Discus — 1. Jesse Piper, Hai, 137-2; 2. Kevin Rima, Hut, 129-10; 3. Beau Crosby, Sew, 119-1; 4. Aaron Richwine, ACS, 115-5; 5. Andy Lu, Gra, 114-11; 6. Dane Walker, Gra, 113-8.

Girls 1-2-3A

Team scores: 1. Anchorage Christian, 98.5; 2. Grace, 84; 3. Monroe Catholic, 61; 4. Sitka, 41; 5 (tie). Seward, Yakutat, 36; 7 (tie). Kenny Lake, Nikiski, Haines, 30; 10. Cook Inlet Academy, 28; 11. Hutchison, 16; 12. Skagway, 13; 13. Eielson, 11.5; 14. Su Valley, 8; 15. Ninilchik, 7; 16. Heritage, 4.

100 meters — 1. Ellen Esbenshade, Yak, 13.44; 2. Sadie Arneson, CIA, 13.64; 3. Monica Clark, Mon, 13.7; 4. Jakeera Garrett, Hut, 13.72; 5. Chantell Bennett, ACS, 13.72; 6. Jazzmyn Williams, Eie, 14.05.

200 — 1. Gabriella Serventi, Gra, 28.04; 2. Ellen Esbenshade, Yak, 28.31; 3. Chantell Bennett, ACS, 28.58; 4. Jakeera Garrett, Hut, 28.62; 5. Sadie Arneson, CIA, 28.99; 6. Leisha Anderson, ACS, 29.06.

400 — 1. Gabriella Serventi, Gra, 1:01.47; 2. Megan Bauder, CIA, 1:02.84; 3. Debbiey Simmers, ACS, 1:03.05; 4. Kathryn Medinger, Sit, 1:04.24; 5. Maggie Herbert, Sew, 1:05.43; 6. Anna Tulip, Gra, 1:05.62.

800 — 1. Kailey Wilson, KL, 2:22.16; 2. Alison Barnwell, Sew, 2:22.26; 3. Lizzy Bennett, Mon, 2:26.58; 4. Kathryn Medinger, Sit, 2:27.55; 5. BethAnne Davis, Gra, 2:31.50; 6. Bailey Stevenson, SuV, 2:31.94.

1,600 — 1. Kailey Wilson, KL, 5:27.82; 2. Macala Fifield, Mon, 5:37.38; 3. Amanda Jensen, Ska, 5:37.63; 4. Monae Boyles, Gra, 5:39.00; 5. Mariah Applegate, Gra, 5:41.86; 6. Kaitlyn Surdyk, Ska, 5:43.24.

3,200 — 1. Kailey Wilson, KL, 11:33.61; 2. Alison Barnwell, Sew, 11:42.37; 3. Macala Fifield, Mon, 12:13.17; 4. Amanda Jensen, Ska, 12:13.50; 5. Mariah Applegate, Gra, 12:14.39; 6. Kari Paustian, Sit, 12:22.68.

100 hurdles — 1. Karley Madren, ACS, 17.19; 2. Hannah Karlberg, Gra, 18.44; 3. Chantell Bennett, ACS, 18.93; 4. Jakeera Garrett, Hut, 18.94; 5. Briana Thibodeaux, ACS, 19.10; 6. Maddy Campbell, Sew, 19.14.

300 hurdles — 1. Lizzy Bennett, Mon, 49.90; 2. Karley Madren, ACS, 50.72; 3. Sarah Cresap, Gra, 52.21; 4. Tina Esbenshade, Yak, 52.40; 5. Kristina Atherton, Sew, 53.75; 6. Hannah Karlberg, Gra, 56.38.

400 relay — 1. CIA (Arneson, Davidson, L. Bauder, M. Bauder), 54.72; 2. ACS, 54.92; 3. Grace, 55.18; 4. Monroe Catholic, 55.86; 5. Eielson, 56.76; 6. Seward, 56.87.

800 relay — 1. Grace (Ihde, Sutton, Tulip, Serventi), 1:51.70; 2. ACS, 1:51.78; 3. Haines, 1:57.06; 4. Seward, 1:57.68; 5. Monroe Catholic, 1:58.28; 6. Eielson, 2:00.56.

1,600 relay — 1. Monroe Catholic (Fifield, M. Schreder, N. Schreder, Bennett), 4:23.74; 2. Grace, 4:28.44; 3. Haines, 4:35.54; 4. Yakutat, 4:41.58; 5. Skagway, 4:45.58. 6. Eielson, 4:46.40.

3,200 relay — 1. Seward (Barnwell, Sefton, Herbert, Atherton), 10:20.34; 2. Monroe Catholic, 10:26.44; 3. Grace, 10:30.05; 4. Eielson, 11:28.65; 5. ACS, 11:41.23.

High jump — 1. Kathryn Medinger, Sit, 4-10; 2 (tie). Brianna Goins, Nin, Bailey Stevenson, SuV, 4-8; 4. Kari Paustian, Sit, 4-8; 5 (tie). Courtney Francis, Eie, Callie Quinlan, ACS, 4-6.

Long jump — 1. Jenelle Bennett, ACS, 14-8 1-4; 2. Kathryn Medinger, Sit, 14-7 1-4; 3. Debbiey Simmers, ACS, 14-6 3-4; 4. Jakeera Garrett, Hut, 14-4 3-4; 5. Gabriella Serventi, Gra, 14-3 1-4; 6. Karley Madren, ACS, 14-1 1-4.

Triple jump — 1. Debbiey Simmers, ACS, 33-2 1-2; 2. Jenelle Bennett, ACS, 32-2 3-4; 3. Alaire Hughey, Sit, 31-11 3-4; 4. Kari Paustian, Sit, 31-9 1-4; 5. Anna Tulip, Gra, 31-1 3-4; 6. Courtney Francis, Eie, 30-8 3-4.

Shot put — 1. Kassi Johnson, Nik, 34-2 1-2; 2. Fran Daly, Hai, 33-3 3-4; 3. Megan Hansen, Nik, 32-7 3-4; 4. Jessica Anderson, Her, 31-7 1-4; 5. Ellen Esbenshade, Yak, 31-1 1-4; 6. Olivia James, ACS, 31-1-2.

Discus — 1. Fran Daly, Hai, 111-8; 2. Kassi Johnson, Nik, 99-8; 3. Megan Hansen, Nik, 95-1; 4. Sara Richardson, Gra, 93-3; 5. Margaret Nale, ACS, 84-4; 6. Demi Obermeyer, Mon, 83-11.