Pair of Warriors win state track and field titles

ANCHORAGE — Two inches per year. That’s Ceil Dunleavy’s goal. Raise the bar in the high jump two inches every year.

The Wasilla High sophomore hit her goal, and earned her second state title in the process.

Dunleavy hit 5 feet, 4 inches to win the 4A girls high jump during the first day of the ASAA/First National Bank State Track and Field Championships Friday at Dimond High School.

“The whole goal for this year was to get 5-4, go up two inches every year,” said Dunleavy, who won the state high jump crown as a freshman with a mark of 5-2.

Dunleavy was one of two Warriors to earn individual state titles on the first day of the two-day meet. Junior Sylvia Tuisaula won the 4A girls shot put with a throw of 36 feet, 1.5 inches.

In the high jump, Dunleavy bested a field that included region champions from Anchorage and the Valley. Service’s Ann Gebauer, the Cook Inlet Conference champ, finished second with a mark of 5-3. Colony junior Chase Stephens, who edged Dunleavy last week to win the Region III Championships high jump title, finished fourth Friday with a height of 5-2.

“I feel like the amount of competition really helped me push myself a bit more,” Dunleavy said.

In the shot put, Tuisaula won the event by nearly three feet. Kodiak’s Richelle Walker was the runner-up with a mark of 33-8.75. Tuisaula also set a personal best with her mark.

Colony also had an athlete place in the 4A boys high jump. Sophomore Brandon Nicholson was third with a mark of 6-3. Nicholson was also fourth in the long jump.

A pair of Colony runners placed in the 4A girls 3,200 meters. Freshman Jill Bowker was fourth and sophomore Cathelyne Powers placed sixth.

State events continue Saturday at Dimond High.

ASAA/First National Bank State Track and Field Championships

Day 1

Friday, Dimond High School

4A boys team scores:

1. Kodiak 15; 2. Kenai 14; 3. Bartlett 10; 4. Lathrop 8; 5. Colony 6; 6. Dimond 4; 6. (tie) South 4; 8. North Pole 3; 9. East 2; 10. Eagle River 1; 10. (tie) West Valley 1.

4A girls team scores:

1. Colony 10; 1 (tie). Kenai 10; 1. (tie) Wasilla 10; 4. Soldotna 8; 4. (tie) West Valley 8; 4. (tie) Service 8; 7. Bartlett 6; 7. South 6; 9. Kodiak 1; 9. (tie) Chugiak 1.

4A boys individual results:

Discus — 1. K. Pilans, Kod 156-5; 2. J. Stephens, Ser 148-6; 3. J. Martines, WV 140-2; 4. D. Best, Sol 134-7; 5. R. Johnson, TM 129-10; 6. T. Tosi, East 129-2; 7. J. Foshee, WV 125-8; 8. W. Tuisaula, Was 124-3.

High jump — 1. B. Hellman, Bar 6-4; 2. J. Welch, Lat 6-4; 3. B. Nicholson, Col 6-3; 4. T .Blanch, Sou 6-0; 5. S. Hursh, NP 5-10; 6. C. Hawk, East 5-8; 7. B. Joyner, WV 5-8; 8. K. Orth, Ken 5-6.

Long jump — 1. J. Jackman, Ken 21-9; 2. T. Duke, Sol 20-11.75; 3. J. Welch, Lat 20-10.75; 4. B. Nicholson, Col 20-6.75; 5. P. Martin, east 20-2.5; 6. B. Alcaide, Kod 19-9.75; 7. B. Pietz, TM 19-1; 8. A. Parker, Dim 18-10.

4A girls individual results:

Shot put — 1. S. Tuisaula, Was 36-1.5; 2. R. Walker, Kod 33-8.75; 3. R. Lega, Bar 32-6.25; 4. I. Casiano, WV 31-11.75; 5. E. Pendergrass, Lat 31-11; 6. A. Washington, Bar 31-6.25; 7. A. Quinn, Sol 31-3.5; 8. D. Glenn, Was 30-1.75.

High jump — 1. C. Dunleavy, Was 5-4; 2. A. Gebauer, Ser 5-3; 3. Z. Keene, Sou 5-2; 4. C. Stephens, Col 5-2; 5. T. Kueter, Bar 5-0; 6. E. Nelson, Chu 4-10; 7. E. Nelson, 5-10; 8. M. Cucullu, Col 4-10.

Long jump — 1. C. Johnson, Dim 17-4; 2. N. Welling, TM 16-9.75; 3. C. Stephens, Col 16-0.75; 4. E. Nelson, Chu 15-8.25; 5. A. Condio, Col 15-5; 6. J. Wilson, Ken 15-1.75; 7. K. Hardining, Ken 15-1.25; 8. C. Bush, Chu 15-0.