Wasilla junior wins a pair of state track titles

PALMER — Olivia Davies is now a two-time state champion in two different sports.

The Wasilla junior helped lead the Warriors girls’ basketball team to a state championship during her freshman and sophomore seasons. Saturday, Davies needed only about five hours to win a pair of titles.

Davies captured the crown in both the Division I girls 100 meters and 200 during the second day of the ASAA/First National Bank State Track and Field Championships at Palmer High School.

Davies, competing in her first season of high school track and field, started her afternoon with a victory in the 100 meters, clocking a time of 13.00 seconds. Later Saturday, Davies won the 200 with a time of 25.99 seconds.

On Friday, Davies finished third in the triple jump, with a mark of 36 feet, 2 inches. Davies, who captured four titles in her first career region meet last week at Houston, also qualified in the long jump, but did not compete in the event at state.

Davies was one of three Valley athletes to win state titles. Colony boasted a pair of first-time state champions. Senior Jarek Schultz finished first in the Division I boys’ discus, with a toss of 152-6. Freshman Patrick McMahon was first in the boys’ high jump, with a mark of 6-0.

Schultz and McMahon were among nine Knights to finish in the top eight in the Division I boys class. McMahon was also eighth in the triple jump (39-4.5). Julian McPhail finished fourth in the high jump (5-8) and sixth in the long jump (19-6). Brayden Reeves was fifth in the triple jump (40-1.5), Samking Germina was sixth in the shot put (44-4.75), Blake Carr was seventh in the shot put (44-2), William Christensen placed seventh in the long jump (19-5), Andres Ramirez-Nunn was eighth in the shot put (43-4.25) and Gavin Block was eighth in the (1,600).

Presley Petersen led the Colony girls, finishing in the top eight in the events. The senior was second in the high jump (5-5), third in the long jump (15-10.75) and seventh in the triple jump (33-1). Lily Sessome was fifth in both the long jump (15-6.25) and triple jump (34-0.75) for the Knights. Hannah Tennesen placed sixth in the shot put (34-3), Abigail Kenley placed seventh in the 100 (13.48) and Grace Looney was eighth for the Knights in the shot put 33.85).

Matthew Daniels led the Palmer boys with a third-place finish in the 110 hurdles (16.10). Larry Cutsforth finished fourth in the 800 (1:57.98) and fifth in the 400 (51.83) for the Moose. Lev Robertson was sixth in the 800 (2:00.09).

Teeana Nicholai led the Palmer girls, placing third in the 100 (13.19) and fifth in the shot put (34-8.5).

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.